Plant Calculator
Enter the approximate length and width of the area you will be planting and click 'Calculate' to determine how many Luffa cylindrica 'Luffa (Loofa) Sponge' you will need.
*Correct and successful spacing is complex and depends on project conditions.
Luffa cylindrica 'Luffa (Loofa) Sponge'
Gourds, Luffa (Loofa) Sponge
Just rub off the skin of this squash and you have a sponge. Grow your own Luffa gourds and discover even more uses for this fascinating, porous fruit. Easy, heavy-bearing, carefree vines, these gourds can reach anywhere from 6 inches to 2½ feet long, and about 4 to 7 inches in diameter. They ripen to dark green in late summer, and should be left on the vine until the skin begins to shrivel. When this occurs, harvest them and scrub the skin away, revealing the porous, dense network of tan-colored matter within. They will be full of seeds; just cut the gourd to desired size and shake out the seeds. They're ready to use!
- Fast-growing vine for edible immature gourds
- Mature fruits dry into natural bath sponges
- Best harvested young for cooking, mature for crafting
- Long warm season crop that loves heat
- Category: Vegetables
- Hardiness Zone: 10-11
- Height: 120-180 in
- Spread: 72-120 in
- Spacing: 48 in
- Temperature: 60 to 95°F
Soil Moisture
| • | Average Water |
Attributes
| • | Fast Growing |
Growing & Maintenance Tips for Luffa cylindrica 'Luffa (Loofa) Sponge'
Give gourds plenty of sun, long-season warmth, and lots of room or a strong trellis. Water well while vines are growing, then let shells mature fully on the vine if possible. Cure harvested gourds in a dry, airy place.