Luffa Gourds are warm season annuals. Similar to zucchini, the young tender fruits of some varieties are edible and often used in Asian cuisines. The flavor absorbing properties make it a great addition in soups, stews, and salads. Fully mature fruits, when left to completely dry, will produce a fibrous sponge-like material for exfoliating skin or for household cleaning. 

Reasons to Grow Luffa:

• Luffa sponge is a natural renewable resource, wonderful for washing dishes & exfoliation.

• Attract honeybees

• Edible landscape (for culinary varieties that produce sponges too)

• Talking piece with neighbors, friends, and passerby.

• Fun family projects for making sponge crafts
  
  

General Luffa Growing Tips:

• Do not transplant too early, as young plants could be stunned when overnight temperature below 40F. Here in Zone 6a, better growth is observed when transplanted after Memorial Day.

• Maximum sun exposure would be ideal for utmost fruit production.

• Let the vines climb to chain link fence, cattle panel, arbor, trellis...etc. Best fruit yielding when maximum sun exposure is provided.

• If only 1 plant is grown, hand pollination is highly recommended. 

• Plant seedlings at least two feet apart. Prepare each hill with well drained fertile soil with lots of organic matter.

• Harvest edible fruits about two weeks after flowering.

• For harvesting sponge, leave fruits on the vine as long as possible (but must harvest before first frost). If necessary, hang the fruits in the garage or a dry ventilated area to allow fruits to dry up over time.

Luffa sponges are natural alternatives to plastic sponges used in your kitchen. Gentle but effective cleaning scrub for most common household items and surfaces. With proper care, sponges last about 2-4 months.

To use: Saturate in water to soften fibers. Apply cleaning agent and scrub desired surface. Rinse sponge thoroughly in water and allow it to dry out between each use.

When it's time to replace your luffa sponge, bury it in your backyard, add it to your garden compost, or place it on the bottom of your garden pots to decay naturally. Indicators that your luffa sponges need to be replaced is when they begin to tear easily, they fray at the ends, or the effectiveness of the sponge declines.

Grown & processed naturally, without harmful chemicals, fertilizers, or bleach. Each sponge was hand grown, hand processed, and hand packaged by farmer Miky.