Roadside Farm

LOOFAH

How to grow and care for Loofah

Loofah sponges are great in the shower and handy for doing dishes in the kitchen, but did you know you can grow them in your garden?

Loofah gourds are produced on vigorous plants that can grow up to thirty feet long. It’s important to provide a site with full sun and encourage fast, consistent growth by maintaining soil moisture and feeding the plants regularly.

The plants are robust climbers and will scramble up or across a strong support like a chain link fence, trellis, arbor, garden arch, tunnel, or other structure.

Loofahs need a long growing season to ripen (150 to 200 warm days) so in more northern areas of the country most gardeners start seeds in 4- or 6-inch pots inside a few weeks before planting time and then transplant them outdoors once the weather is warm and settled. Loofahs are closely related to cucumbers and squash.

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When planting Loofah:

· Soak your luffa seeds for 24 hours. This will soften the seed coat and greatly increase the chances of germination. After they’re done soaking, immediately sow seeds either in a seed starting tray or their permanent home outside (depending on your climate).

· Plant the seeds in 4- or 6-inch pots filled with pre-moistened seed starting mix. Plant them a half inch deep. Loofah seeds can also be grown in soil blocks.

· Cover trays with plastic wrap or a seeding dome to increase humidity.

· Increase germination rates and speed up the sprouting process with a heating mat. Gourds are heat-loving plants

· Once the seeds have germinated remove the plastic wrap or dome to promote good air flow. Keep an eye on soil moisture aiming to keep the soil lightly moist but not wet.

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When to transplant loofah seedlings to the garden:

When the spring weather has warmed and the risk of frost has passed, it’s time to harden off loofah seedlings and move them to the garden. Hardening off is the process of acclimatizing indoor grown plants to outdoor conditions.

How to harden off seedlings:

Hardening off is not difficult and will take about a week in total.

Step 1– Place the young plants outdoors in a shady spot.

Step 2– Bring them back indoors again that night.

Step 3– Continue giving them daily shade for 3 to 4 days, bringing them indoors at night if the temperature becomes unseasonably cold or frost threatens.

Step 4– By day 4, begin introducing increasing amounts of sunshine each day, so that by the time a week has passed, the plants have become adjusted to full sunshine.

Growing loofah in containers:

You can grow loofah in a container but choose one that is large enough to accommodate the rootball of this sizeable plant. Select a pot or grow bag that is around 20 gallons or 18 to 24 inches across. Fill it with 2/3 potting mix and 1/3 compost or aged manure. I would also suggest adding some slow-release organic fertilizer to the growing medium.

A potted loofah plant grows very large so keep that in mind as you choose where to place your pot. Ideally, it would be near a trellis or fence, but you can let the vine trail over the sides of the pot.

Whether you’re growing in a pot or garden bed, you’ll need to maintain moisture and feed regularly. Loofah gourds appreciate consistent moisture but don’t want to be sitting in saturated soil.

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Sun and Temperature:

Loofah gourds need lots of sunlight. Throughout the entire growing season, they should be getting at least 6 hours of full sun. The more light they get, the better. That’s why this plant grows best in at least zone 5.

For your loofah sponge to survive, the temperature must always be above 50°F. It should be even higher if you want the plant to thrive. If the temperature dips down even after the danger of frost has passed, try to maintain warm soil by laying down more mulch, landscape fabric, or a clear dome (if the plant is small enough).

Water and Humidity:

From the very start, you’ll be keeping the soil consistently moist. Loofah needs medium watering, so the soil should never dry out, but never be waterlogged. Keep your loofah watered at the roots only. Getting the leaves or immature fruits wet can encourage fungal growth and invite pests.

Soil:

Loofah does well with most soils as long as they’re fertile and well-draining. Ideally, use a sandy loam as clay soil blocks water drainage. The soil should be rich with organic matter and have a slightly basic pH (about 6.0 – 6.5).

Fertilizing:

All that growth needs lots of nitrogen to support it. Supplement the soil with nitrogen fertilizer a few times throughout the growing time. Most gardeners will apply a slow-release fertilizer just after transplanting and again when the loofah starts to blossom. If you aren’t seeing much growth during the summer, supplement with a half-dose of liquid nitrogen fertilizer every few weeks.

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How To Use a Loofah:

Before the mid-1950s, manufacturers used loofah for bath sponges as well as industrial applications. Loofah was included in products such as water filters, surgical tools and soundproofing before being replaced by synthetic materials. Today, loofah is mostly used for bath and body accessories or household scrubbers.

Skin Care:

The exfoliation properties of loofah make it ideal for skin care. Before using one, you should check that it is not too harsh for your skin. Here's how to use it in the shower or bath:

1. Dampen it under running water to soften the fibers.

2. Apply a body wash or soap on the loofah and rub it together to produce a lather.

3. Gently scrub it over rough areas to slough off dead skin cells and reveal healthy, new skin.

Besides providing exfoliation, a loofah can aid circulation and open the pores to eliminate oil and impurities in the skin.

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