Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa)

**Durgan** · 05-23-2009, 07:59 PM

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Loofah 23 May 2009 Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa)
(aka. Luffa, Luffah, Loofa, Loofah, Sze Qwa, Cee Gwa, Sponge Gourd, Dishcloth Gourd)
Seeds were started indoors on 20 April 2009, and placed in the outdoor garden on 23 May 2009. The bed was heavily mulched to inhibit moisture evaporation. My Zone 5 is marginal for the growth of this plant, since the fruit must be ripe on the vine before sponges can be made, and this takes about 180 days. This plant is not frost tolerant.

**pat in east texas** · 05-24-2009, 10:04 AM

I grew some about 25 years ago just to see if they would thrive here. They did!! And how!! I shook the seeds out of them, cut them to size, used them for bath and dish scrubbers, and I still have some of them. If I ever plant this again, it will be only ONE seed, and not a fence-length full.

**ArmyOfFive4God** · 05-24-2009, 08:59 PM

I'm growing these this year. I have 4.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-24-2009, 09:02 PM

I would love to grow these but it is too cold where I am. I have seen a woman on another site grow them in Australia then with her handmade soap pours a fair amount onto the loffah and lets it cure. Voila, a soap scrubber for the bath! They look great. Good luck!