Natural loofahs or luffas are easy to grow from seed in your own backyard. They produce biodegradable, environmentally friendly sponges from a gourd in the cucumber family. You may eat raw or cook small 6-inch loofah fruit as you would a squash or wait until the fruit matures to one and a half to two feet long to process into a vegetable sponge.
Sow seeds in North Florida by mid-March directly in the ground in an area that has full sun, well-draining soil and always use a sturdy trellis or fence. Full sun means 6 hours of sunshine each day, but a little shade in the afternoon is okay. The seeds need to be planted about 1/2 inch deep and space them one foot apart. But be prepared, the vigorous vines can grow over ten feet long. Loofah-covered trellis arches can create a nice focal point in your garden.
You may start harvesting when the skin of the gourd feels loose and pliable. Some say harvest when the fruit becomes light weight and the seeds rattle inside, others say wait for the loofah fruits to turn brown on the vine before harvesting them. Use clippers to cut the tough stems.
If you have timed it right, the skin will fall off very easily. Peel the brown skin off the fruit and you will be left with just the spongy, fibrous loofah sponge. But if the gourds are hard and brittle, let them soak in water for a few hours or overnight.
If you experience frost while growing a fall crop, harvest all the large fruit and peel them quickly before they decay. Some underdeveloped fruit may have fiber worth peeling. Throw each gourd hard to the ground. If the skin cracks, try peeling, if the gourd breaks throw it away. I do not suggest composting unless you can maintain a hot compost pile long enough to kill and break down the many large seeds.
Submerge the peeled sponge in a bucket of warm water, squeeze and soon it will become flexible. Be sure to get rid of any pulp or slimy feeling by changing the water frequently.
The large black seeds can be removed by shaking the gourd over a container. To make it easier I cut my sponges into six-inch pieces and the seeds fall out easily. Each gourd will contain close to 100 seeds! If you do this outside in your garden be careful or you may have loofah seedlings coming up everywhere.
Leave the sponge to dry fully in the sun but rotate it so all sides get the same sun exposure. If there are brown spots on the loofah, you may use a very light 2% bleach solution (1 oz. or 2 tablespoons of bleach in 5 cups of water) for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Do not soak overnight in bleach. I know from experience it causes the sponges to turn white and the fibers start to break down. Make sure the sponges are completely dry before storing.
Dry the seeds at room temperature for a few weeks and they will be ready for your next crop. Refrigerate or freeze in airtight containers for long term storage.
Natural loofahs are stronger and more abrasive than traditional sponges, making them better options for cleaning. Loofah sponges also make great holiday gifts.
IFAS Luffa
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/luffa
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| One loofah planted in a Vertical pallet garden |
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