loofah gourd - grow your own sponges
loofah / luffa
- Position: full sun, sheltered and warm
- Soil: moist, well drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Hardiness: tender annual (indoors only)
Make bathtimes ‘home-grown’ with these Loofah seeds! Grown very much like a cucumber, the tender, tendril-climbing vine has rough-textured leaves typical of cucurbits, and bright yellow flowers from which the ovoid fruits with spiny ridges begin to form. Young fruits can be eaten like courgettes but if left to mature, the skin can be picked off, the seeds removed, and the fibrous body used as an abrasive sponge. Grow in a warm, humid environment for best results. - Growing instructions: Sow two seeds 2cm (1") deep, using a good quality seed compost, to a 10cm pot in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill. For best results, germinate (up to 21 days) in a heated propagator 25-28C (77-82F) and keep moist, but not wet. Pot on seedlings as they grow, keeping them well-watered and warm, then harden off and plant out into a greenhouse bed or rich soil in a sunny, sheltered spot at 50cm apart after all threat of frost has passed. Plants will need supports to scramble up (netting/canes). Limit each plant to 5-6 fruit to encourage larger loofahs to form. Protect plants from slugs and water thoroughly in dry spells.
- Sow: April to June
- Harvest: July to September
- Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten, except young fruit; don't eat if bitter