Loofah – 5 Seeds

Loofah (Luffa cylindrica) is a very fast growing climber. Its leaves are 7 – 20 cm across and have three lobes. Flowers are bright yellow. The fruits which grow to about 60 cm in length are oblong or cylindrical, smooth and contain many seeds. The dry fruit of Luffa cylindrica can be used as a sponge. Young green fruits can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.
Common names: Smooth luffa, sponge luffa, vegetable sponge gourd, climbing okra, dishcloth gourd, Chinese okra

Growing Loofah

Indoor Sowing: Late Winter and Early Spring.

Direct Sowing: Spring.

• Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours to 24 hours before planting.
• You can direct sow in Spring once all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are consistently warm, ideally between 20-30°C
• Choose a spot with full sun and provide a sturdy trellis or support system for the vines to climb on.
• Make a small hole, plant 1 – 2 seeds per hole, and cover them with about 1.5-2 cm of soil.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated to encourage germination.
• Alternatively you can start the seeds indoors in Late Winter or Early Spring.
• For indoor sowing, fill small pots with compost and plant the seeds about 1.5 to 2 cm deep.
• Keep the pots in a warm location with a sunny window, as loofah seeds need warm temperatures of around 25-30°C to germinate.
• Cover with plastic wrap or a seeding dome.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated to encourage germination.
• Average germination time is 7 to 14 days.
• Once the seeds have germinated remove the plastic wrap or dome to promote good air flow. Keep the soil lightly moist but not wet.
• In Spring after the risk of frost has passed, it’s time to harden off loofah seedlings.
• After a week of hardening off, plant the seedlings in an area that gets full sun.
• Provide the seedlings with a strong trellis.
• Loofah plants need regular watering.
• Can also be grown in large containers.