As a matter of fact Luffa is a typical terrestrial member of the cucumber family. It is grown as an edible vegetable. In many parts of Asian countries a smooth variety of luffa is also grown, the luffa aegyptiaca or the smooth luffa is popularly known as the dishcloth gourd in these countries. Such type of smooth luffa is also commonly used for scrubbing pots.

Luffas are good to cook and eat when they are appropriate in size. Luffa has multifaceted applications around the world. In China luffas are used as medicinal treatment for rheumatic pain. Indian subcontinent is one of the primary sources of luffa supplies all over the world but it can be grown at every such place where cucumber can be grown. While taking bath luffa helps in scrubbing the skin well. Its use facilitates a gentle action on skin and therefore it is also used in making medicinal treatments for diseases like eczema or psoriasis.

Luffa is one of the common summer annual. Wet tropics are extremely favourable for growing them vigorously. Seeds of luffa should preferably be sown during spring season as this season will provide enough moisture to the seeds. This season also facilitates with fertile and free drained soil, complete sunlight exposure, and strong support for tendrils.

You must keep a close watch on the growth of luffa. As soon as the vine approaches the top of support you should pinch out the tip and try to weave the side shoots preferably with the help of a frame. When you get fruits of luffa you can think of using the way you want. Young fruits are however best for making pickles.

You should pick only the mature fruits if not making pickle. It will encourage the further cropping as well. Once the fruits have been picked up and dried up for a couple of weeks you can obtain the seeds inside. These seeds are best to store for next year’s crop.

In order to prepare luffa, you should break off the stem. The outer skin will come away with no further difficulty. If you like the natural colours then leave it as it is and if not then better soak the luffa in hydrogen peroxide solution or in the household bleach solution. It will come out exactly the same quality as you generally find in the markets.

Bright luffa flowers are very attractive.Luffa flowers generally open in the morning hours and then attract honeybees, blue-banded bees, and carpenter bees. Therefore having luffa in your garden will automatically give you an opportunity to attract these beautiful bees in your garden.

If you have some type of bare fence or shed in your garden then you may like to grow luffa there and convert it in to a productive screen. You can also think of growing them on pergola as this would help fruits hanging down. Luffas are also considered as an unusual gift and are appreciated as well.

Grow Luffas Question & Answers

Grow Luffas Question: 1

Luffa culture how to grow?

Luffa sponges are of the squash family and am looking for information on the culture of them.

Answer: 1.
When I've grown them I wait until the evenings are warm. Plant in hills with 2 seeds per mound or hill. They like to crawl upward so have string and make a "tower" out of string and poles. They're a lot of fun to watch because the luffa grows so fast! Especially when its hot.

Have fun!

Grow Luffas Question: 2

Luffa blossoms - is it too late for fruit to develop?

After several years of trying to get luffa plants to grow, success is mine, two actually. However, they went in the ground later than I would have liked. The plants have gone wild and are growing all over the place. The first blossom appeared today with another bud directly above it. Do luffa blossoms need a male and a female like squash? I ask because both of these blossoms have a "baby" at the base of them so I'm wondering if they are female blossoms and there will be no fruit with no male blossoms. I am hoping there are not male and female blossoms; it would be such a shame to not have any fruit out of these many, many feet of vines.I live near Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Answer: 1.
If you look closely I'll bet there's a male flower hiding in there somewhere, if not, hopefully a bee will bring some pollen in from another source. RScott

Grow Luffas Question: 3

Luffa question?

I noticed that a couple of days ago, my luffa plant started to get buds and small luffas. Is there going to be enough time left to get these little guys into sponges? And is it possible to grow luffas indoors?

Answer: 1.
It depends on where you live. If you live up north there is a chance that your little loofah buds won't mature in time before winter hits. If you live in the south then you have plenty of time.

I would suggest not bringing it inside. They are in the squash family and that family loves the heat and full sun, so keep it outside as long as you can. If it is still warm during the day and it gets cool at night, below 40, just put a blanket over your prized plant in the evening and remove it in the morning after it has started to warm up.

I grew my own loofahs one summer and loved them!!! Used them for kitchen and shower duties!!

Luffas Garden Pictures

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