Luffa Pumpkin Seeds

Luffa Sponge Gourd Seeds (Luffa cylindrica) 15 seeds

Originally from Asia, this squash is very popular for making vegetable sponges. The fruits, which are both decorative, are green and elongated. They can be eaten very young. But they quickly take on a fibrous consistency that will be used to make vegetable sponges when fully ripe.

Cultivation of Luffas (vegetable sponge):
They like all types of soil: rich, clayey, calcareous, stony, alkaline, neutral or even acidic as long as they are well drained and exposed to sun, heat, a little humidity and good fertilization.

Sowing Luffa:
Warning: Luffa is sometimes very slow and capricious to germinate. Maximum care and respect for growing conditions are essential.

From March to May in a warm place (22-24°C) in a mini-greenhouse, in a box or in a pot (2-3 seeds per pot) in quality seed compost. You can also sow them in coconut pellets. Cover the box or pot to maintain a high humidity level to activate germination. Keep moist until emergence then monitor to avoid rot (damping off of seedlings). Air regularly. It is also very important to label the seedlings well.

From April to June (depending on the climate and region) in open ground in a pocket, in well-prepared soil. Crumble the soil and if necessary, mix in some potting soil, well-decomposed compost or any other amendment.

Transplanting:
Transplant into the garden or pot as soon as the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves.

Where to plant luffa?
In April-May in the vegetable garden when frost is no longer a risk. Allow a planting distance of at least 1 m to 1.5 m between each plant.

Luffa can also be grown in a pot. It must have a minimum volume of 20 liters. Put a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot and fill with a mixture of compost and potting soil or rich potting soil. You will need to water it and fertilize it regularly.

The plant can climb a trellis or creep on the ground. However, it is advisable to make it climb so that the fruits can flourish without hindrance. On the ground, the fruits often have a curved shape.

When to harvest them?
Young Luffas are harvested for consumption when the fruit is firm and no longer than 12 cm. It is eaten like zucchini, raw, sautéed, steamed, in soup or prepared in vinegar like pickles.

How to make a sponge with loofah?
The fruits are picked when ripe, approximately 4 months after sowing, when the skin begins to turn brown or crack.

Empty the fruit. Put it to dry and then soak it for several days. It is then cleaned. You can then blanch it.

After drying, the dry fiber remains to be used as a gentle, natural, plant-based scrub.

Uses and virtues of Luffas:
The best known use of Luffa fruits is as a horsehair glove with a very gentle exfoliating action, recommended for people suffering from eczema or psoriasis.

The Luffa massages and circulates the blood, removes dead skin, prolongs the tan and facilitates hair removal, making the skin clean, smooth and firm.

Finally, Luffas have many medicinal properties that have been known for a very long time.

This natural sponge is biodegradable and compostable

Reproducible seeds harvested exclusively in the Pot'à'Jo garden, a horticultural and permaculture market garden of 1500m². Everything is cultivated there with deep respect for nature and their inhabitants. I have been growing my own seeds from seed to seed for years.