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Details
Make your own bath sponge! The fibrous internal structure of the gourd converts into sponges after 12” long. They climb or spread just like cucumbers and need a very similar growing environment. When ripe at 12” or when the skin feels loose, cut them from the vine and leave in a dry place with good air circulation. The outer skin will come away revealing the luffa beneath. Wash them in mild disinfectant and place in a warm place to dry completely.
You can also grow these to eat as a vegetable. Luffas are known in Asian Cuisine as “Cee Gwa.” Harvest them for eating when they are 2-6″ long. They can be eaten like a cucumber, or chop and stir-fry with chicken, bamboo shoots, or cashews.
Michigan Seeds and Plants grown on our farm, Renegade Acres, in Howell, MI!
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.
Additional Info
| Botanical Name | Luffa cylindrica |
|---|---|
| Life Cycle | Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate | 3 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate | 21 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds | 1/2 in. |
| When to Sow | Indoors 2-4 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height | 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) |
| Plant Spacing | 12-15 in. (30-38 cm) |
| Hardiness | N/A |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Danger | Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Bloom Color | Bright Yellow |
| Bloom Time | Late Summer/Early Fall, Mid-Summer |
| Other Details | Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater |
| Soil pH Requirements | 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic), 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) |
| Days to Harvest | 90-100, 100-110, 110-120, 120-130 |
| Propagation Methods | From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting | Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds |
| Seeds Per Pack | 10 |
