In winter, low temperatures often lead to a significant reduction in vegetable production, which becomes a major challenge for farmers. However, in Handong village, Luocheng Subdistrict, Shouguang City, Shandong Province, a loofah grower has managed to achieve higher yields despite the cold. His greenhouse loofahs have been affected by the low temperatures, but they still outperform those of other growers. He attributes this success to proper management during the fruiting stage, emphasizing that effective care is crucial for high yields in overwintering loofah cultivation.
During January and February, when light levels are low, it's essential to adjust both light and temperature for optimal growth. Loofah plants thrive in strong sunlight, heat, moisture, and cold resistance. Therefore, ensuring sufficient lighting during these months is critical. The greenhouse temperature should be maintained between 24°C and 30°C, with a maximum not exceeding 32°C. At night, the temperature should stay between 12°C and 18°C, and the minimum temperature in the morning should not drop below 10°C. In extreme cold, the minimum temperature inside the shed must remain above 8°C. Since loofahs are moisture-resistant, ventilation can be reduced to maintain warmth.
After flowering and fruiting begins, the plant enters a period of rapid growth, requiring more water and nutrients. To support high-yield production, watering and fertilizing intervals should be shortened, and the amount of water and fertilizer increased accordingly. During the early stages (January–February), water is applied once every two harvests of tender fruits (every 20–25 days). Composted chicken manure or human waste mixed with water, or humic acid fertilizer, can be used. If needed, carbon dioxide gas fertilizer can also be released in the greenhouse. From March to May, alternating between quick-release fertilizers and foliar sprays is recommended—watering every 10 days or so, using nitrogen-potassium-calcium compound or organic fast-acting fertilizers at about 10–12 kg per mu. Leaf sprays like Feng Harvest No.1 can also be used every 10 days to regulate plant growth.
For pruning, in dense planting conditions, single-vine pruning is preferred. Early on, axillary buds between the main vine leaves and pods should be removed, leaving only one main vine per plant. As the plant grows, short side vines can be left with 2–3 nodes, allowing for some melons while keeping one leaf after each fruit. Later, thin side vines should be removed to protect the main and well-developed side vines. After the vines mature, new side vines can be allowed to grow alongside the main ones, producing fruits simultaneously.
Under low-temperature and low-light conditions, loofah plants may grow slowly, leading to weak stems and poor fruit development. Cultivating strong vines is key to overcoming low yields. First, delaying the harvesting of the first melon helps balance vegetative and reproductive growth. When the plant has 22 leaves, the first melon should be retained. During the fruiting phase, leaving 4–5 leaves per melon ensures balanced growth and prevents premature aging. If the vines become too thin, remove the weak parts first to promote stronger growth.
Root system health is also vital. Although loofah roots are robust, their growth slows down in winter due to low soil temperatures. Overwatering or excessive fertilization can damage the roots, leading to weak vines. Watering should be done in small amounts, avoiding flooding. Fertilizers should be biological or humic acid-based to promote root development.
Many growers suffered damage this winter due to unexpected cold spells after watering. On cloudy or foggy days, they didn’t check the weather forecast, leading to root damage when snow and cold followed. Therefore, monitoring weather changes is crucial. When watering, ensure at least 2–3 days of good weather, and do it in the morning. After watering, close the greenhouse to warm up the ground.
Finally, disease prevention is essential. Botrytis, sclerotinia, and bacterial soft rot are common winter diseases. A proactive approach—combining prevention and control—is necessary to cultivate healthy, disease-free loofah plants.
Sterilization Container
The purpose of the sterilization box is to store the equipment in the process of packaging, sterilization, transfer, storage and so on. These orthopeadic instruments working mode is suitable for high pressure steam sterilization, not suitable for dry heat sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, microwave sterilization and formaldehyde sterilization. The sterilization instrument box is divided into two parts,the cover and the body. The central area of the box cover is the filter system of the disinfection box, which is composed of quick filter system clasps and filter paper. The clasps need to be fixed by double keys, and the fixed sound can be heard during operation, which can effectively avoid the accidental loss of filter paper. Filter paper can be reused for 1 000 times, has chemical resistance, its chemical properties will not change with time, and its hardness exceeds steel. There is also a safety fit for the filtration system around the box cover, namely a silicone washer and a tension retaining ring. On both sides of the box there are handles, locks and sockets for indicating signs.
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