Planting Loofah
Most of us believe that the loofah we use in the shower or bathtub to soften the heels of our feet comes from sponges harvested from the sea. Loofah, however, is not a sea creature. It is actually a plant, also known as luffa. The "sponge" is the seedpod, which forms a dense mass of cellulose fiber that is what you use in your shower. Loofah is an annual and considered a tropical plant, believed to have originated in Asia. However, this rather exotic plant is much easier to grow than you might think. There are just a few things you need to keep in mind when planting and growing loofah. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Planting Loofah
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Choose a site in full sun. Also, choose a site where your mature loofah can have strong support, such as a chain-link fence, sturdy trellis or pergola. Loofah is a large vining plant, reaching a size of 20 to 30 feet.
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Locate a patch of humus-rich soil with good drainage for your loofah.
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Plant your loofah seeds directly into the ground in the spring after all danger of frost has passed, or start the seeds indoors. Loofah is an annual and, therefore, most often grown from seed. In warmer areas, such as along the Gulf Coast of the United States, plant loofah seeds directly into the ground immediately after the last frost in the very early spring. In colder climates, start seeds indoors during the winter. It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for the loofah seeds to germinate. Their growth is a bit sluggish at first until the roots are well-established. After that, loofahs grow rapidly. Loofah has a long growing and blooming period---usually from early spring through early fall.
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Water enough to keep your loofah seeds evenly moist after planting, but do not overwater. Once your loofah is well-established and growing rapidly, it will not need to be watered as often; however, give additional water if you ever notice the leaves drooping.
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Tips & Warnings
Loofah is also sometimes known as "Chinese okra," and the fruits can be eaten. Pick when young and tender to avoid the bitter taste often associated with the fruit. For tips on harvesting your loofah to use as a sponge, see: Luffa.info. There are different varieties of loofah available, with some not growing to be as large as the loofah commonly grown for use as a sponge.
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Comments
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I love loofah!
