I don’t know what I used to think growing luffa sponges would entail. Did you know you can eat them while they’re young? I won’t be doing that with my diy loofah sponge. Instead, I’ll be hanging them to dry to use as sponges and plan to teach you to do the same! Are you ready to grow luffa sponges?
Hot to start growing luffa sponges in your backyard.
You’ll learn:
- Where to buy luffa sponge seeds when growing luffa sponges?
- Soil and location for growing luffa sponges
- Watering your luffa sponges
- What’s the growing season?
- All about harvesting and drying
- A summary of “do’s” and “don’t’s”
Where to get seeds when growing luffa sponges
I learned I could GROW luffa sponges while I was on another blogger’s website who was writing about how challenging it was. Well, a challenge sounded good so I bought some seeds.
I remembered reading the luffa seeds would take a very long time to germinate, but mine only took tops two weeks! Once I bought the seeds, put them in the ground and they popped up almost immediately. No soaking or chilling required!
Soil and location for growing luffa sponges
You should use rich, well-draining soil so that’s what I put them in. We have sandy soil here in West Central Florida so I was sure to mix in some quality, home-made compost.
With the well-draining characteristic of the sand and the rich humus and nutrients from the compost, it ended up being the perfect combination of sand: soil.
For location, your vines need lots of sun exposure! My luffa vines get sun all day long and they love it. You want to make sure your luffa sponges grow on a stick or trellis so the 1-2 foot (Yes, you read that right!) gourds don’t rest on the ground to potentially rot.
I set mine up by a fence and they took off and took over! Here’s a picture of how they started out. (This picture was taken June 27, 2018, and the seeds were planted May 17, 2018!):
Water
I live in Florida so we get a fair amount of water from the rain. Actually, I’ve probably turned my hose on a total of 10-15 times since May! Needless to say, our electric bill has been pleasantly low all summer because we haven’t had to use our well quite as much. Thanks, Mother Nature!
On the dry days, I give the base of the vines with all my luffa sponges a nice soak so I can maintain a consistent schedule for growing. I’ve also mulched them since the rain is slowing down a tad bit here in September. My luffas are thriving!
If your luffa seeds get waterlogged, they won’t survive. So if your yard puddles after rains, then you can do yours in pots! Just make sure to have a good, strong trellis for them. By August 3, 2018, my vines looked like this:
This looks all fine and dandy but I read that vines can grow up to 30 feet! When I started growing luffa sponges I didn’t believe it at first but proven wrong. Don’t worry, I’ll show you a picture! The twine strung between the posts was weighed down by leaves and thick stems. Next year I’ll construct something out of wood and wire.
Growing season
Luffas love hot weather. They can take around 4-5 months to reach maturity so I’m nearing that date now. Planted in mid-May, I’m at the four-month mark. If you live in a cooler location with a shorter growing season, your luffa will take longer to mature. I got my first bloom on August 13, 2018, and boy was it pretty. Soon after I got my first bloom, I noticed my first gourd. The gourd is high up in a nearby lemon tree.
Below you’ll see my first flower, my first gourd, and how intense the luffa vine took over. I love them and they love the luffa flowers so I’m totally okay with the bee party that takes place every day all day. I’ll really miss them when they go but look forward to the next year. If bees aren’t your thing, don’t plant luffas or plant them somewhere that you don’t have to pass by so often.
Harvesting and drying
I’ll be harvesting my luffas soon. Different folks advise different ways to determine when the luffa are ready to harvest. Some say to wait until they turn brown and the skin dries and others say to harvest and peel them once the skin feels “loose”.
If you wait until the skin is brown they’re much harder to peel. After I peel my luffa gourd, I’ll scrub them clean and let them dry a couple of weeks.
These gourds were supposed to be a hard-to-grow vegetable, but they worked out flawlessly in my yard! Also, these would make a GREAT Christmas gift! If you’re thinking about growing luffa sponges, I say YES, definitely do it.
To summarize on growing luffas:
DO:
- Plant your luffa seeds in a well-draining, sunny area.
- Construct a strong trellis to support your vines all seasons.
- Admire all the bumblebees you’ll attract.
- BE PATIENT! Once you see that first bloom and gourd, it’ll take off from there
- Buy your seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. (No, I am not an affiliate, I just really love them!)
- Tell me if you’re growing luffa grouds so we can chat about it!
- Send me pictures of your vines!
- Read my post about how to harvest luffa sponges called Harvest Luffa Sponges: How to and When to Harvest!
- Use a luffa sponge for dishes because it’s the best!
DON’T:
- Harvest them too early.
- Shade them because the flowers close, this is normal.
- If you’re scared of bees, plant them near the house.
- Plant them on a fence that is already falling apart… I guess I’ll finally be fixing the fence after the season is done!
- Overwater them. Remember, waterlogged seeds means so germination!
More on growing luffa sponges:
Lisa Miller says
I saw a luffa plant for the first time at our Virginia State Fair last fall and I fell in love with the plant!! This will be the first time I try to grow it. A neighbor said to wait until it’s consistently 60 degrees or higher and we are finally reaching that so I am planting mine tomorrow!! Can you believe it froze end of April early May here. So unusual! It was hard to find seeds. I ended up ordering off Amazon. How many luffa’s do you usually get on one plant? And how many seeds do you plant in one spot? 4/5? Thank you for any help!!! I am new at gardening, this is my first year.
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Lisa!
Aren’t the luffa plants awesome!? Your neighbor gave you great advice – luffa plants love warm weather. I planted my seeds about 1 foot away from each other and I can’t remember completely, but I think I got 6-10 gourds from each separate vine. I’m SUPER late planting mine this year and will actually be trying them in containers this year! I’m so glad you started gardening – I think everyone should try to garden once in their life. I hope you love it! The weather down here in W. Central Florida has also been very strange. It was COOL yesterday morning but two days ago I was outside at 8am and SWEATING! Crazy stuff, for sure. Well, I wish you the best of luck with your luffas and any other crop you grow this season. Feel free to keep me updated on your progress! Thanks for sharing with me, Lisa!
Heather says
Hi,
I have been growing Loofahs for a few years. I live in the California desert. I also use our own compost. I don’t think you always need a trellis. You can plant near a hearty tree. I use my palm trees and big plumeria trees, citrus trees. I also choose to wait til they dry on the vine. It just to me makes more sense. I think it’s just a preference. It is messy but since we compost it really is just fine. And each loofah give so many seeds. It’s like a gift that keeps on giving. I also agree with the flower comment. I just love the pretty yellow flowers and the bees oh…so amazing.
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hello from Florida, Heather!
I agree you don’t always need a trellis, but some folks don’t have a hearty tree like you and me! I was lucky to have planted my luffas next to the pig citrus tree in the pictures above. It definitely acted as a trellis! If I were to plant my luffas in any other part of the yard, though, a trellis would be required. It absolutely depends on the person’s situation and resources, for sure! I waited for a few to dry on the vine and they actually turned black. I’m in W. Central Fl. so, again, this really depends on the climate and type of season in the specific area. What worked best for me was to pick them a little early before totally dry, peel them, spray them, and let them dry on their own. A little more labor-intensive, but it’s what worked for me. Yes, each luffa really does give so many seeds! It’s amazing! I’m late this year on getting mine in the ground but I can’t wait to see the beautiful flowers and bees come back! Thank you for stopping by to let us know what works for you. It’s so wonderful to hear how other people grow the same crops because it really is often a preference, climate, and resource-driven. Let me know how your luffas turn out and stay safe! Cheers. -Chelsea
Sue Sidzina says
How many seeds did you plant? I have 2 pots with 2 seedlings each with this being my first year. I have limited trellising so trying to figure out if this is too many.
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Sue! I believe I planted 6 seeds and they all came up. I had a high quantity of luffas! Each plant will need to be trellised. If the trellis is sturdy, you could probably use one trellis for multiple plants. That depends on the size and sturdiness of the trellis, though. Additionally, depending on the pot size, you might want to thin them back to 1 seed per pot unless your pot is large enough to properly handle 2. Regardless, if you do thin back to 2 plants I think you should end up with a nice luffa harvest at the end of the season! Good luck and keep me updated. Let me know if I can answer any more questions. Stay healthy! -Chelsea
Terri says
How old is too old for seeds?
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Terri! Great question! It’s a slightly complicated one to answer because it all depends on how you’ve stored your seeds over time. Many seeds can be viable up to 2-6 years if stored in the correct way consistently. Certain crops, such as corn or peppers, are best planted within the 2 year mark as their chance of survival decreases after 1.5-2 years. For crops such as beans and tomatoes don’t do so well after 4 years and lettuce and cucumber seeds can be viable for up to 6 years. Be sure to store your seeds in a dark, cool place always. I used to leave my seed box in the shed and quickly realized my gardens weren’t growing because the seeds were in bad shape from the constant temperature swings here in Florida. If the shed had been temperature controlled, I would’ve had a better chance. I hope this helps! The great thing to know is that planting old seeds won’t hurt your garden, or the plant if it grows. Good luck to you and thanks for stopping by!
Diane Larson says
I was wondering since I picked my luffah sooner then I should have…. The seeds are still white. Is it worth planting them or just throw them away?
THanks!
Diane
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Diane! I’m not sure I completely understand your question. You feel you picked your luffahs too soon and the seeds are white? What does the inside of the gourd look like when you peel it?
Michele says
Hi, loved your article! I have been growing lufa’s this year for the first time, and I love it.
I grew mine in a pot to start out, then transplanted them into the ground. I used parts of an old gazebo frame with wire for the vines to crawl out on. It has worked out real well.
When picking I waited until the vine on the top of lufa was brown to pick mine, I waited a day or so before taking the opposite end off and then shaking them in a bucket to catch all the seeds. I then soaked them in water about an hour to remove the outer hull, I rinsed them in cold water then hung them to dry.
The only thing I have wondered about is the thickness of the lufa itself. Ones I have seen in the store are thicker, mine however are not.
I’m wondering if your lufa’s were thick or thin, and if they were thick, do you think it was the seeds you bought that helped?
As an after thought, with all the lufas I have gotten and the ones still growing I could strat a lufa farm!🙂
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Michele! I’ve never tried transplanting them, that’s awesome it worked! I’ve read about luffa farms and think it’s awesome! Let me know if you ever start one. Thanks for stopping by and talk soon I hope!
barb oliver says
I live in SW Iowa ,started the seeds from bakers early under gown lights in the shed ,planted them in the grown after it got warm enough they was about 1-2 feet tall by then ,they took off like crazy the vines are amazing , here it is in Sept. not 1 luffa , what is my problem please I did notice yesterday I got a couple of buds but they wont grown that fast that id get any would they its been over 130 days ,im so unhappy about this we don’t get a lot of rain in our area so I know they didn’t get to wet , thank you any advice would be helpful
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Barb! My luffas took a VERY long time to start growing actually luffa vegies/sponges. I would say to make sure you’re watering consistently and give the vines time. Even watering is very important and it’s better that they’re a little wetter than they are dry, in my experience. If for some reason it doesn’t work for you, next year make sure they’re getting consistently watered and possibly try starting them even earlier inside before transplanting. But for now, I’d say to just stay patient! Buds are a great sign! Good luck to you and let me know how it goes. Gardening is often trial and error.
Gina says
Thanks for the article. I was wondering what was the easiest way to get the seats out without damaging the luffa
Thanks for sharing
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
I let dry just enough to where the seeds actually dry out in there, and then you just shake them right out! Before you cut into the luffa it’ll sound like a rattle when you shake it. Good luck, Gina!
Valerie McDavid says
Started growing the luffa last month. No flowers yet. I read somewhere you are suppose pick off the first set of leaves so that you get more vines( flowers) have you heard if this? I Just put up a high dome hot house would this be enough lite for the plants. Thank u in advance for the info
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Valerie! My plants took quite a while to flower and I did NOT pick off the first set of leaves. My vines grew an amazing amount of luffas, more than I could believe! Make sure they’re watered and weeded and wait for those flowers. When mine started to flower, they really took off. Luffas do need full sun. Mine had sun all day long and thrived. BUT that doesn’t mean it’s not possible for them to grow with partial shade, all crops and areas are different. Remain patient and wait for those beautiful yellow blooms. They’ll come! Good luck and keep me updated if you think about it! Thanks for stopping by, Valerie!
Dunia says
I just bought 2 little luffa plants about 4 days ago, they are sky rocketing! you have covered every question i had about growing them, thank you for being so informative and helping me with my first time growing luffa !!
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Oh, Dunia, that is such great news! If you think about it, feel free to keep me updated. I’m so glad this post helped and good luck to you!
Laurie says
Well…this was a fun article!
I’ve never grown luffas, but you’ve gotten me interested.
And I wonder what you’ll DO with all of those luffas? They look huge! I didn’t catch it—do you cut them down to a more manageable size? They look pretty cool how they are!
Thanks for the post.
Found you on the Oak Hill Homestead blog hop.
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Laurie! I’m so glad you liked the article. Growing luffas is SUPER FUN to do. I suggest everyone does it if they have the space!
I actually wrote about what to do with luffa sponges (here’s the link —> https://growwhereyousow.com/2019/02/11/luffa-sponge-uses/ ). My husband uses a whole luffa sponge to bathe with. I cut them down to the size I want. I use one to exfoliate my face at the sink, another one for my feet in the shower, and I wash my dishes every day with a luffa sponge! There are so many uses! If you grow them, let me know how it goes. I’d love to know! Thanks for stopping by and participating in the hop!
candy says
I have grown different gourds before but this want to try luffa. Will let yo know how it goes. Found you on Simple Homestead Blog Hop.
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
PLEASE DO let me know, Candy! I can’t wait to grow them again this summer. I’ll be putting up a sturdy trellis soon!(: Thanks for stopping by!
Laura Guliano says
This article was just what I needed! A teller at Home Depot have me 20 seeds and ALL are growing quickly. However, they are all inside. I live in Queen Creek Arizona & I am terrified to put them outside for fear of the heat. They are 3-4″ lomg. When would you suggest I take them outside to transplant? Thank you in advance for the help. You’ve got me motivated!
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Laura! I can not imagine growing luffas inside because of the amount of room they require. If you have a hefty amount of space to give them to vine out and grow luffa gourds, then you could try them inside! I think if it were me in your position, I would probably transplant them and keep a very close eye on them. Transplant them somewhere where you have the option to give them more shade if you need to with shade cloth or something of the sort. Make sure they don’t dry out and even water them double if you need to! The thing with luffas is that they really need space. My vines took off and some of them were 20-30 feet long! It was CRAZY! I am SO happy I’ve motivated you! Let me know how it goes and if I can give you anymore (hopefully useful) advice!
Dena says
I live on a farm with livestock and chickens not to all the wild life that make their way through our property.😊 I wondered if you could tell me if it’s harmful to animals if they were to eat some while it was growing on my fence?
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Dena! First, I want to say that I AM NOT a veterinarian or a doctor. Everything I write about is from my personal, self-taught experience, not from a professionally educated standpoint. With that being said, throughout my experience, luffa plants and luffas are not toxic to livestock. I’ve given the leaves to my chickens and pig with no repercussions. My ducks also would poke their head through the fence and nibble the leaves. I’ll be planting them again this year! Good luck to you and thank you for stopping by! PS) Remember to have a very strong fence for your luffas!
Laura McCammon says
I am currently waiting for my seeds to arrive in the mail. I have grown just about everything except Luffa. I had a great harvest of decorative gourds a few years ago. I grow birdhouse and dipper regularly. I assume growing Luffa is relative to growing the other gourds. From your GREAT information, I feel I can have a good harvest of Luffa. Your article covered everything I had been concerned about. One thing I’d like to ask you is if you have any tips on starting the plants from seed? I’m not always successful at that. Thank you for writing in detail and in being so thorough! I’m going to check out your other articles! Btw, I live in North Mississippi, where it’s very dry during summer months. Also, my soil is loamy with almost no sand. Any tips for that? Thanks again!
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Laura! I am SO excited that you’re going to grow luffas! The only gourds I’ve ever grown are luffas, but I would assume they’re similar. My smile is so big right now from your kind words. I’m in West Central Florida and always plant from seed with direct sow. I actually never have the best luck with starting seeds – isn’t that funny…and tragic but, you know! For my luffa seeds, I just stuck them right in the ground and waited, making sure to water them enough. As for you being in a dry area, I’m in a very wet, rainy area and rarely had to water my seeds. When I did water, I just made sure I never soaked them to the point of standing water. Just water them thoroughly and let them be! (: One thing you could try is planting some seeds directly from the packet and then soaking a few other seeds and planting those to see which works best for your location. I’ve read folks doing both. As for your soil, loamy soil is often the best soil to plant in. I would suggest just making sure you till your planting spot very well so that the luffa roots have the opportunity to grow without being stuck and stopped by compacted soil! You’re doing to do great and your luffas will be wonderful. Just make sure you have a great trellis up! If you think about it, let me know about your progress. Good luck, Laura and happy homesteading!
Dharmendra says
nice information about growing luffa at home.
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Thank you, Dharmendra! I’m so glad I could help in some way. Thanks for dropping by and letting me know you were here! -Chelsea
Penny dunkley says
Wow im amazed, just like you i thought luffas came from the ocean, i am definitely going to grow some, thanks for the info😀
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
I’m so happy you’re going to try growing luffas! I’m sure it’ll be great and hope to hear an update! Thanks for stopping by, Penny!
Amanda says
This is a great article, thank you so much!! I plan on planting some seeds this spring. Earlier in the month I ordered seeds from Baker Creek and I purchased the loofa seeds. I am so excited to try growing them. Thank you for the great info!
Chelsea Wells-Barrett says
Hi Amanda! I am SO sincerely excited for you and I do hope you keep me updated. I can’t wait to grow loofas again this summer! I’m going to put a better trellis up for them, though. Baker Creek is also where I ordered my seeds from and I was so pleased. Thank you for sharing with me and let me know how it goes! Best of luck to you!
mrsluvit02 says
Wow. I do learn something new every day, thanks for teaching me about luffa sponges.
Kathleen
Let’s Create
thegreenacrehomestead says
I’m so glad you were able to learn from this post! Thanks for stopping by, Kathleen!
candy says
Saved both of your post about growing these luffa from seeds and harvesting. Plan on my own next year. Found you on Simple Homestead Blog Hop.
thegreenacrehomestead says
That’s great Candy! I look forward to seeing how it goes for you, thanks for stopping by!
Sabrina says
I planted a few seeds in March and I got my first louffa in June. It is still green and growing. Hoping to harvest soon 🙂
thegreenacrehomestead says
They’re so fun! I just harvested my first couple. My suggestion is to let them turn totally brown on the vine. It’ll be a little more annoying to peel but they’ll already be dry and ready to use!
Chas Greener says
This was a fascinating read, and I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
thegreenacrehomestead says
Thank you, Chas! Growing luffas will be something I look forward to every summer now. See you next week at the hop!
Catelyn says
Hello! How many little seedlings did you plant to yield the size vine you have? I don’t want to plant too many and end up with a jungle I can’t house haha.
thegreenacrehomestead says
I believe I planted two seeds in each hole and that was more than enough! Each one of my seeds sprouted so I had to thin them. Right now I have 15 luffas! Good luck to you!
Sue says
Love your post and will planting some next spring, here in tx.
thegreenacrehomestead says
Oh, yay! They’re so much fun. If you think about it, drop back by and let me know how it goes! Thanks for stopping by, Sue, and good luck to you!