How to Grow a Loofah Sponge

Loofah or Luffa sponge, the spelling is about as interesting as the sponge itself. Did you know you could grow your own Loofah sponges? I had no clue until my son-n-law's son; my grandson; gave homegrown Organic Loofah sponges for Christmas gifts. He gave us organic seeds so this year I will grow my own Organic Loofah sponges.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Loofah/Luffa Seeds
• Grow lights
• Potting soil
• Garden space

1. 
    
   Loofah and seeds

   ORDER SEEDS:
   
   If your aren't lucky enough to have someone have given you Loofah/Luffa seeds you'll need to order some. I'm not sure you can get them locally but I have found them in our catalogs.

2. 
    
   Jung Seed Catalog

   KNOWING WHAT TO ORDER:
   
   OK you've got seed catalogs out and you can't find sponges listed in the index. Loofah/luffa are actually considered a gourd. Now what you know that try looking it up again.

3. 
    
   Grow lights

   START SEEDS INSIDE:
   
   Plant seeds in the spring. It is best to start your seeds in a mix of moist peat and perlite.
   *Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent the moisture from escaping.
   *Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light.
   *Always use a pot with a hole.
   * Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while.

4. 
    

   WHERE TO PLANT:
   
   Loofah/luffa require 50-75°F, They do best in full sunlight coming from the South/East/West. So when planning your garden or flower garden leave the right space for them.
   *1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat is the mix you want to use to start your plants.

5. Good luck.

Resources

• Plant Care
• Jung Seed
• Savannah flavor
• Gurney's
• Little Greenhouse

[AudreyBrown]

on 3/11/2009 How novel! Never knew you could grow your own loofah. I always assumed it came from the sea...haha!

[AmyRose]

on 3/10/2009 Great overview, 5*

[sandyheart]

on 3/5/2009 this sounds like fun. save one for me.

[LissaK]

on 3/3/2009 How interesting! I also had no idea that you could grow these things, that saves money from having to buy them in stores.

[eyeopening]

on 3/2/2009 This would be so fun to try. Thanks for your help. :-)