Ridged gourd or angled Luffa gourd(Luffa acutangula) and smooth gourd ( Luffa cylindrica) are commonly called patola among the Tagalogs and locally known as kabatiti among the Ilocanos and Ibanags. A tropical member of the Cucurbitaceae, the patola plant is an annual vine with tendrils and large, cylindrical fruits that are edible when young. Most patola varieties are monoecious. Male flowers develop in a cluster, whereas female flowers develop singly or in association with male flowers. The lower nodes of patola usually bear only male flowers, followed by nodes having both male and female flowers, which are followed by solitary female flowers at the uppermost nodes.
The mature, dry fruit consists of a hard shell surrounding a stiff, dense network of cellulose fibers. These dense network of cellulose fibers serve as support and dispersal of hundreds of flat, smooth black seeds.They are called luffa or loofah sponge which is commercially manufactured as body scrub.
Patola is closely related to cucumber and modified cultural practices for trellised cucumber production can be used. One must keep in mind, however, that luffa is a tropical plant which requires a long growing season and warm temperature.
Selection of Varieties
There are two species of patolathat can be planted for production namely:
- Angular patola (Luffa acutangula) – or ridge gourd, in (Tagalog) patola, (Ilocano) kabatiti and in (Bisaya) buyo-buyo.
- Sponge gourd or Smooth loofah (Luffa cylindrica)
Soil and Environmental Requirements
Patola is an easy plant to grow and adapted to humid tropics. In the Philippines, it can be planted during the wet and dry seasons of the year with high temperature and adequate moisture during the dry season. However, for optimum production, select soil types with high organic matter and in a well-drained soil, clay loam to sandy loam soils, although it can be planted in any soil type.. This crop can be profitably grown in rain fed and irrigated farms but not productive in poorly drained soils. Productive months in growing patola is from June to September and from February to May if there is adequate irrigation.
Land Preparation
Prepare the field as early as possible to give enough time for the weeds and stubbles of previous crops to decompose. Plow and harrow 2 to 3 times alternately at one week interval. Plow at a depth of 15 to 20 cm. Harrow twice to break the clods and level the field. A well-pulverized soil promotes good soil aeration and enhances root formation. Furrows should be set at 2.5 to 3 m distance.
During rainy season, raised beds are recommended to avoid water-logging. Application of lime one month before sowing at the rate of 3 tons per hectare is recommended.
System of Planting
Soak the seeds in water overnight before planting to facilitate germination. The seeds are planted direct in the prepared furrows. During wet season, drill 2cm. deep and plant 2 to 3 seeds per hill on the ridges of the furrows at a distance of 2.5 m between hills to avoid water logging.
One week after planting remove weak seedlings after emergence (DAE). Thinning will be done to avoid overcrowding of plants. The recommended spacing will give 2,500 plants per hectare.
Trellising
Trellising should be done as soon as the plant starts to crawl. Madre de cacao/ipil-ipil post can be used as trellis to facilitate the growth of vines. G.I. wire and nylon twine can also be used. Provide the plants with trellis to produce fruits of good visual quality. Trellising is also essential during the wet season to minimized fruit rotting and malformation.
Trellis sample
Train the vines to climb the trellis by tying the stem lightly on the vertical pole or ladder-like trellis until it reaches the overhead trellis to facilitate good growth.
Training the vine
Weeding and Cultivation
Cultivation is necessary to loosen the soil around the stems and to cover the exposed portion of the roots. Weeding must also be done simultaneously with cultivation to have healthy and robust plants. When the plants are big enough, cultivation is done enough to kill the weeds between the rows and to cover the low portion of the furrows untouched by a cultivator.
Weed the area at 14 days after emergence. Cut the weeds close to the ground every 14 days or as needed. Do not uproot the weeds or cultivate in between the rows as this will harm the roots of the plants. Disturbed roots will affect the growth of vines and result to low yield,continue weeding until the crop has attained considerable vegetative size to cover the trellis. When the trellis is completely covered with the vines it shuts out sunlight needed by the newly germinating weeds, suppressing their growth.
Fertilizer Application
The kind
and amount of fertilizer to apply depends on soil fertility and soil type. To
achieve optimum yield, have your soil analyzed at the Soil Laboratory nearest
you to determine the right nutrient requirement of the soil.
In the absence of soil analysis, apply the following fertilizers at the time
and amount specified.
|
Time of Application |
Type of Fertilizer |
Amount of fertilizer |
Stage of the crop |
|
Basal |
Complete (14-14-14) Organic (fully decomposed animal manure or commercial organic fertilizer |
1 tbsp or 10 g per hill 3,000 bags per hectare |
Before planting or at 2 to 3 true leaf stage. At sowing time |
|
Sidedress |
Urea (46-0-0) Complete (14-14-14) |
1 tbsp or 10 g per hill 1 tbsp or 10 g per hill |
28 days after emergence |
|
Sidedress |
Urea (46-0-0) Complete (14-14-14) |
4 tbsp or 40 g per hill 4 tbsp or 40 g per hill |
56, 70 and 84 days after emergence same amount |
Irrigation
Insect Pests and Control
Crop protection strategy should be based on the population and degree of damage of insect pests and diseases attacking the plants.Patola is very resistant to most insect pests of cucurbits except fruitfly. Most common disease is downy mildew.
Pests
1. Fruitfly
Adult fruit fly lay eggs on the young fruits. The eggs hatch into small larvae then start eating the fruits.
Cut and burn the infected parts. After removal of the infected fruits, spray insecticide recommended by the authorize dealer.
2. Thrips
It is a very small crawling insect on the lower side of the leaves. Spraying at night was found to be effective in controlling thrips. During daytime, insects hide and cannot be controlled by contact insecticides.
In case of of severe cases, spray for two consecutive nights using different chemicals at a time.
3. Caterpillar
Larva eating shoot tips and leaves. Spray with insecticides.
Diseases
Downey Mildew
Spots that are irregular in shape usually appear in the surface of the leaves. The spots increase rapidly in size until the whole leaf dies.
Control Measures:
- Plant resistant varieties
- Restrain nitrogen fertilization and irrigation
- Fungicide application if symptom is becoming severe
- Do clean cultural management practices
- Practice crop rotation
Pest
|
Control
|
Yellow
beetle
|
Fipronil
|
Leaffolder
|
Methomyl
|
Aphids
|
Lambdacyhalothrin
|
Harvesting
For use as vegetables, 12-15 days after fruit setting, harvest immature fruits using a sharp knife to cut the peduncle when they are about half the size of a mature fruit. Older fruits become bitter and fibrous and are inedible. Harvesting is done by hand with the use of sharp knife. To avoid the damaging effect of sunlight on the fruits (drying of the ridge), harvest early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
For use as sponge, fruits of the smooth loofah are harvested when they are fully mature, which is indicated by yellowing of the base and apex about 4 -5 months after planting. When cut, part of the stalk is usually left on the fruit for convenience in handling.
Post Harvest
Immature fruits of loofah are easily damage. Pack harvested fruits in 10 kg capacity polyethylene bags to maintain freshness. Careful wrapping and packaging is needed to enable long distance transport. Storage life of young fruits is 2-3 weeks at 12-16 degrees centigrade.
The best sponges are from mature fruits but still green fruits of smooth loofah. They are processed by immersing in running water until the rind disintegrates. When the rind has disappeared, the pulp and seeds are washed out. The sponged are then bleached with hydrogen peroxide and dried in the sun.
NUEVA ECIJA FRUITS & VEGETABLES SEED CENTER
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija
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