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Luffa Sponge Gourd Production Practices for Temperate Climates

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Luffa Sponge Gourd Production Practices for Temperate Climates HORTSCIENCE 29(4):263–266. 1994, and distillate flowers, which are followed by solitary distillate flowers at the uppermost nodes (Omini and Hossain, 1987). Increasing Luffa Sponge Gourd Production the number of distillate flowers would in- crease yield potential (Omini and Hossain, Practices for Temperate Climates 1987) and hasten maturity-important factors for a tropical plant grown in a temperate cli- Jeanine M. Davis1 mate. Two greenhouse studies in 1989 and Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Mountain 1990 indicated that removing the first four to six lateral shoots would hasten distillate flower Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 2016 Fanning Bridge development (J.M.D., unpublished). In con- Road, Fletcher, NC 28732 trast, preliminary research in Missouri indi- Additional index words. loofa, loofah, Luffa aegyptiaca, Luffa cylindrica, cultural practices, cated that most fruit is set on lateral and sublateral shoots and that pinching out the flowering, yields main stem encouraged early fruit set (C.D. Abstract. The objective of 2 years of field studies was to begin development of a luffa sponge DeCourley, personal communication). gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.) production system for a cool, temperate climate by studying My objective was to begin development of the effects of planting date, planting method, in-row spacing (30.5, 61, and 91 cm), and a luffa production system for a cool, temperate pruning techniques on yield and quality of luffa sponge gourds. High yields of mature climate by studying the effects of planting gourds were obtained when transplants were field-set as soon as the danger of frost had date, planting method, in-row spacing, and past. Highest marketable yields were obtained when plants were spaced 30.5 cm apart in pruning techniques on yield and quality of the row and the first four lateral shoots were removed. Plants spaced 91 cm apart produced luffa sponge gourds. gourds with the largest diameter, whereas plants with 30.5-cm in-row spacing produced the highest yields of gourds with bath sponge diameters (5.1-7.6 cm). Plants spaced 91 cm Materials and Methods apart and topped at node six obtained high fiber density, strong fibers, and excellent visual appeal, but low yields. Yields were competitive with yields obtained in warmer climates. Two studies were conducted in Fletcher, N.C., on a submountain plateau with an eleva- tion of »631m at lat. 35°26'N, long. 82°34'W. Luffa sponge gourds are tropical and sub- Ample information on growing luffa sponge This region has an average of 188 frost-free tropical members of the Cucurbitaceae and gourds is available for home gardeners days, a mean annual daily temperature of 13C, have been cultivated for centuries in the Middle (Johnson, 1984; Stephens, 1988; Whitaker, and an average annual rainfall of 1470 mm East and India, China, Japan, and Malaysia 1977), but the recommended practices are not (Byrd, 1988). (Porterfield, 1955). The plant is an annual vine necessarily appropriate for commercial pro- In 1989, the influence of three planting with tendrils and large, cylindrica pepo (berry) ducers. Most research relevant to commercial dates (29 May, 12 June, and 26 June) and two fruit that are edible when young (Okusanya et luffa production has been conducted in the planting methods (direct seeding vs. trans- al., 1981). The mature, dry fruit consists of a tropical and subtropical climates of West Af- planting) were examined as a factorial in a hard shell surrounding a stiff, dense network rica and India (Dubey, 1983; Okusanya, 1978, randomized complete-block design with four of cellulose fibers (sponge), adapted for sup- 1983a, 1983b; Okusanya et al., 1981, 1988; replications. Plots consisted of three 6-m rows port and dispersal of hundreds of flat, smooth, Okusanya and Lakanmi, 1985; Omini and spaced 1.5 m apart, center to center. Data were black seeds (Shah et al., 1980). Hossain, 1987; Singh et al., 1976). Only a few collected from the center rows; outer rows Using luffa sponges for personal hygiene studies have been conducted in temperate cli- served as guard rows. and household cleaning is common in many mates (Bai et al., 1985; Ko et al., 1978). Seeds from high-quality luffa sponges were countries. In the United States, the demand for Okusanya (1978) suggested that the natural obtained from China through J.A. Ayers (Earth luffa sponge products for skin care is increas- absence of luffa outside tropical and subtropi- Products, Lapeer, Mich.). Transplants were ing. Currently, most luffa sponge gourds are cal regions was due, in part, to poor germina- produced in the greenhouse in plastic flats produced in tropical or semitropical environ- tion at low temperatures and a need for high with 5 × 5-cm cells. Seed were soaked in water ments such as Taiwan, Korea, El Salvador, light intensity and temperature for optimum for 24 h and sown, two seeds per cell, in a Guatemala, and Colombia (Davis and plant growth. soilless peat–bark mix on 28 Apr., 11 May, DeCourley, 1993). Wholesale prices of $0.40 Luffa sponge gourd plants are similar in and 24 May. Plants were watered daily with to $0.50 per sponge (Davis and DeCourley, growth habit to cucumbers (Cucumis sativus 100 mg N/liter as 20N–4.4P–16.6K. 1993; D. Brinker, personal communication) L.). Substantial yield increases can be ob- The experiment was conducted on a coupled with the rising demand for luffa prod- tained by training cucumbers to a vertical Delanco loam (fine loamy, mixed, mesic, Aquic ucts and a desire for new, high-value crops trellis rather than growing them on the ground Hapludults). Okusanya (1983b) suggested that have stimulated interest among some North (Hanna et al., 1987; Russo et al., 1991). If luffa L. aegyptiaca grew best in a neutral pH soil American growers. gourds contact the ground, fruit rot, discolored with high fertility, particularly N and P. There- sponges, and misshaped gourds may result; fore, on 19 May, 84N–291P–134K (in kg·ha-1) Received for publication 12 July 1993. Accepted for thus, luffa plants also benefit from being trained and 1121 kg lime/ha (for a pH of 6.5) were publication 3 Nov. 1993. This research 7695-7643 to trellises (Porterfield, 1955; Sinnott and broadcast-applied to the soil and incorporated. was supported in part by North Carolina Agricul- Bloch, 1943). Results from three on-farm tests Beds were shaped to 15 cm high × 1 m wide, tural Research Service, Raleigh, and the U.S. Dept. in western North Carolina in 1989 demon- and a black polyethylene mulch (0.08 mm of Agriculture Special Grant P.L. 89-106. I grate- strated the benefits of using black polyethyl- thick) and drip-irrigation tape (Ro-Drip, 46- fully acknowledge materials supplied by Roberts ene mulch and drip irrigation for luffa gourd cm emitter spacing; Roberts Irrigation, San Irrigation Products, seeds supplied by John Ayres, production (J.M.D., unpublished). Marcos, Calif.) were applied in a single opera- and technical assistance from George Cox. Use of Most luffa cultigens are monoecious. Stami- tion. Holes were punched 46 cm apart in the trade names does not imply endorsement of the nate flowers develop in an inflorescence, polyethylene mulch using a bulb planter. On products named nor criticism of similar ones not named. The cost of publishing this paper was de- whereas distillate flowers develop singly or in each planting date, seed (that had been soaked frayed in part by the payment of page charges, Under association with a staminate inflorescence in water for 24 h) were sown two per hole (25 postal regulations, this paper therefore must be (Takahashi, 1980). As with most monoecious mm deep) or 4-week-old transplants were set hereby marked advertisement solely to indicate this cucurbits, the lower nodes of luffa usually bear out. A 1.5-m-tall vertical trellis system was fact. only staminate inflorescences, followed by constructed of 10 × 10-cm wood posts with a 1Assistant Professor. nodes having both staminate inflorescences 2.5-cm-diameter steel pipe as the horizontal HORTSCIENCE, VOL. 29(4), APRIL 1994 263 I CROP PRODUCTION I top wire. Individual strings were suspended pulled apart. Visual appeal was rated on a scale did not develop on the lower portion of the over each plant to help train plants to the top of of 1 to 5 (1 = poor with loose, broken, uneven plant (Omini and Hossain, 1987; Takahashi et the trellis. Direct-seeded plants were thinned fibers; 3 = good with fairly close woven, even al., 1980), in this study, there were a few to one plant per hole 3 weeks after planting. fibers; 5 = excellent with close woven, even pistillate flowers (one or two per plot) present The first four lateral shoots were pruned from fibers and a smooth finish). Data were ana- on the lower plant nodes (nodes 5 and 6; data all plants, and plants were trained to the strings lyzed by an analysis of variance and protected not shown). By 18 July, flowers and fruit were as needed. A hive of honey bees was posi- least significant difference (MSTAT-C, Michi- present on all plants that had been transplanted, tioned near the field at first bloom. Pest prob- gan State Univ.). but only on direct-seeded plants that were lems were minimal; fungicides and insecti- sown on 29 May (Table 1). The largest number cides registered for gourds were applied as Results and Discussion of fruit was present on plants transplanted on needed for powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) the two earliest planting dates. and cucumber beetle [spotted, Diabrotica In 1989, using transplants resulted in a Dried gourds harvested immediately after undecimpunctata howardi Barber and striped, better plant stand than did direct-seeded plants the first killing frost were the highest quality Acalymma vittata (Fabricius)] control.
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