This unique gourd bears the name of the commonly used cleaning fabric. Did you know you could grow your own?
Proudly touted in an 1888 Burpee catalogue as a “natural dishcloth, and a most admirable one.” Shortly thereafter, luffas became a hot commodity in northeastern US cities.
The pumpkin relative produces fast-growing vines that will take off when trained on a trellis. Vines flower and fruit sporadically over the course of the season. Silver-glazed, dark green leaves and sunny yellow flowers adorn the climbing vines, making for a stunning living wall or natural archway accessory. The beautiful blossoms are highly sought after by beneficial pollinators.
Outside of its obvious aesthetic appeal, luffa gourds have many practical household uses. Tender young gourds (less than 10 cm long) are edible, resembling okra in texture and flavor. Whether you grow luffa gourds for the scouring sponge, as a vegetable for your stir fry or simply as an ornamental plant, there’s no denying the multifaceted value of this one-of-a-kind plant.
- Latin Name: Luffa aegyptiaca
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 120
- Planting Depth: 1.5-2 cm
- Plant Spacing: 30-40 cm with trellis
- Row Spacing: 1.5 m
- Growth Habit: Vine
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
Few plants are as functional as the luffa gourd. It looks beautiful and makes a fine companion in the garden. The fruits can be eaten or used as natural sponges. But make sure to get your seeds ready and started early, as a long growing season ensures the best output.
To get a head start on the growing season, luffa seeds can be started indoors four to six weeks before the last frost. Plant three to four seeds in individual pots, 3 cm deep. Tamp the surface of the soil, water the seeds in and keep the medium evenly moist throughout the germination and seedling phases. Provide plenty of light and keep temperatures at a minimum of 21 degrees. Germination should occur in 7-14 days. When seedlings are 3-5 cm tall, thin them down to one per pot. Move seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and harden them off gradually.
If sowing seeds directly into the garden, wait until the soil reaches a steady 18 degrees. Choose a site that receives full sun and has well-draining soil. Luffa plants should receive 3 cm of water per week. A support structure like a trellis or fence is the best way to maximize production. Growing vertically also improves air flow and keeps foliage and fruit off the ground, minimizing the spread of diseases like powdery mildew.
Prolific vegetative growth demands nitrogen replenishment. Fertilize luffa gourds at least two to three times per season. Vines respond well to training and pruning. One month before the last frost is expected, remove all flowers and small fruit to concentrate energy into the mature gourds. Leave mature fruit on the vine to dry and develop a tough interior fiber. When the skin is completely dry and the seeds rattle, gourds are ready for harvest. The skin is then peeled off and the fiber left in the sun to dry. Luffas can then be cut to size and stored to use for countless cleaning tasks.
Luffa gourds are fun to grow, look beautiful in the garden and at the end of a long season, provide growers with a homegrown, natural cleaning textile.
QUICK FACTS
- Luffa Gourd seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.
