Sponge Luffa Gourd

Sponge Luffa Gourd

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Sponge Luffa Gourd are commercially grown for making sponges! These open-pollinated, smooth, black-green, tapered cylinder luffa can be eaten at the young stage at 6-inches long or left to mature at 20-inches-long. These heavy gourds weigh 1 1/2 pounds each on 20-to-30-foot vines. Grow on arches or fences for impressive twining, lush foliage, and yellow blossoms. In many parts of tropical Asia where luffa is grown year-round, it is an important crop for nutrition. Similar to cucumber or zucchini, luffa's succulent, sweet, tender taste and flavor-absorbing properties lends itself well to stir-fries, soups, stews, and salads. When left to completely dry, luffa's rind peels away like paper, leaving a dry and fibrous skeleton that can be used for crafting into luxurious natural sponges for exfoliating skin or for household cleaning.
 
Also Known As: Luffa Gourd, Egyptian Cucumber, Vietnamese Luffa, Loofah Bitter Squash, Loofa Melon, Lufa, Chinese Okra, Chinese Cucumber, Chinese Zucchini, Silk Gourd, Se Qua, Cee Gwa, Sikwa, Sponge Gourd, Dishcloth Gourd, Vegetable Sponge, Cylinder Luffa, Hechima, Vegetable Sponge, Patola, Ridged Gourd, Luffs, Estropajo

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Plant Name:
 Luffa Gourd, Sponge (Smooth)
Latin Name:
Luffa aegyptiaca or Luffa cylindrica
Days to Germinate: 7-14
Days to Harvest: 85 / 110-140
Germination Rate: 90%
Test Date: 11/24
Growth Habit: Vining
USDA Zones: 4-13
Lifespan: Annual, Perennial 9-13
Brand: TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade
GMO: No
Pollination:
 Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No
Seeds Packed For**: 2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.


Planting Instructions:

 

Soil Preparation:

To prepare soil, remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade the soil 8-12 inches deep and turn each shovel of soil over completely to cover the plant materials with soil. You may add fertilizer (see "Fertilizing" below) or 2-3 inches of organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay over the planting area at this point. Till to mix this organic material into the top 8-10 inches of soil. Make rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high or hills 12 inches high, surrounded by trenches. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. Prepare a vertical trellis sized 5-feet or larger for the planting area.
 

Planting:

Luffa Gourd thrives in hot climates, but can be started early indoors in temperate climates to yield mature gourds. Prepare seeds by soaking for 24 hours in warm water. Sow the soaked seeds indoors in small containers 3-4 weeks before the last average frost date in Spring, then harden off seedlings before transplanting. Or, directly sow the seeds outdoors in Spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is at least 70F.

To plant, make 1 inch deep holes spaced 12 inches apart in raised beds down rows spaced 6 feet apart, or in hills spaced 6 feet apart, then plant 2 seeds in each hole. Cover thinly with soil and water after planting. After the seeds come up and plants are 3-4 inches tall, thin to 2 plants per hill. Luffa Gourd prefers humid climates and can grow up to 30 feet long vines. Trellising is recommended.
 

Planting Depth: 1 inch
Within-Row Spacing:
 12 inches, trellis
Between-Row Spacing:
 6 feet

 

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants enough to keep them from wilting. If the weather is really dry, plants should be watered at least once a week. Sandy soils need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

Weeding: Keep plants as weed-free as possible. When plowing or hoeing try not to dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder rooters which may slow the plant's growth.

Fertilizing: You may optionally add scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of garden area. Work into the soil and leave the surface smooth. For small gardens, use 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer for each hill. Scatter the fertilizer evenly over a 2 foot by 2 foot area. work it into the top 2-3 inches of soil. When blooms first appear, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of fertilizer around each hill. Do not let fertilizer touch the plants. Water the plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and always follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: Check the plants daily and if spots or mold appear, treat the plant with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. Please always follow label directions.
 

Harvesting:

Luffa Gourd for consumption is best harvested when 4-8 inches long, when the dark skin can be pierced with a fingernail, and the seeds are still soft and white. Luffa Gourd for sponge production may be left to fully mature on the vine until the skin is brown, dry and peels away naturally. Drying can continue indoors after harvest; rotate luffa regularly to allow all sides to become well-dried. After luffa is fully dried, peel skin and shake out seeds. Alternatively, soak gourds in warm water for several days to remove skin easily and rinse out pulp and seeds, then let dry for about a week.
 
 


Nutrition Facts:
Calories 50
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.3 g 0%
Saturated fat 0 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 19 mg 0%
Potassium 403 mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 13 g 4%
Dietary fiber 2.6 g 10%
Sugar 4.6 g
Protein 0.6 g 1%
Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 8%
Calcium 0% Iron 1%
Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 5%
Cobalamin 0% Magnesium 4%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.