How to Grow Luffa Gourds and Get Natural Sponges

Did you know that you can grow your own all-natural, luxurious bath sponges, right in your backyard garden? You don’t need to spend a lot of money to buy them from a high-end boutique.

If you wonder how to grow luffa gourds, I’m here to tell you it’s not that hard. You WILL need a good amount of space, as the luffa plant grows several feet tall and it likes to spread.

What You Need to Grow Luffa (loofah) Sponges

Luffa gourds take a long time to mature. Because of this, you should start your seeds inside at least 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Loofah gourd seeds
• Seeding heat mat (optional, but will help a LOT!)
• Biodegradable pots
• Quality potting soil

How To Grow Luffa Gourds

Luffa plants need between 120 and 200 days of heat, so if you live in cooler climates, you’ll need to start seeds inside or in a greenhouse.

Germination might take anywhere from 10 days to a month, depending on the seeds. Soaking the seeds for 24-48 hours will speed up the germination.

If you plant them in biodegradable pots, you’ll save the plants some of the shock of transplanting (loofah plants are finicky).

Once the last frost has passed for your area, start hardening your plants off for a few days and then transplant to the hottest and sunniest spot in your garden.

Make sure you plant the luffa next to a sturdy fence or trellis, as it needs to climb and have enough support.

If you have a small garden, luffa gourds can grow in large containers 😉

Once your plants are established, make sure you water your luffa plants: they need lots of water to grow. Mulch the plants well, so they retain moisture.

One more thing you can do to ensure a healthy plant is to remove the first couple of lateral branches and the first few flowers.

Luffa Gourd Seeds

Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Luffa gourd seeds are black when mature. To remove the seeds from the gourd, cut off the larger side and shake the seeds out on a paper towel. Let them dry for a week or so, and then store them in a tightly closed container in a dry, dark place.

The best place to get luffa seeds is your own garden, once you grow your first crop of luffa gourds. But if you’re new to growing luffa gourds, you can get seeds from a neighbor, from a seed exchange, or, Amazon.

Harvesting Luffa Gourds

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Luffa gourds are ready to harvest when they turn yellow or brown. If there’s a chance of frost, pick your gourds even if they’re still green.

They’ll be harder to peel, but will still be good. If they freeze, they’ll get damaged.

Watch Jake Mace peel his gourds and listen to him talk about the benefits of using a natural sponge for your daily shower routine.

Can You Eat Luffa?

Absolutely! You’ll just have to harvest it really young, as they become fibrous when maturing (forming the loofah sponge).

Cook luffas just as you do any squash: fried, sauteed with onions and garlic, soup, etc.

This video for luffa curry looks delicious!

It’s time to grow some luffa gourds yourself and enjoy some healthy luffa squash and the luffa sponges.