Luffa

Common Names: Loofah, Sponge Gourd, Sink Towel Sponge

The luffa gourd is a vegetable sponge. It is closely related to cucumber. It is an annual climbing vine which produces a fruit containing a fibrous vascular system. When separated from the skin, flesh and seeds, the fiber network can be used as a bathroom sponge.

Cultivation:
Luffa is a warm season, cold sensitive genus originating in India. It requires a lot of space, so plant seeds in hills spaced 6 feet apart in a single row. Provide a trellis or plant along a fence. Luffa needs plenty of moisture while growing. It prefers a pH of around 6.0 to 6.8. Water deeply and cover the bed with mulch, keep the mulch away from the stem. Excessive water can result in poor growth and root disease.

The well known species of luffa grown are:

• Angled Luffa
• Smooth Luffa
• Whoopup Creek Luffas
• Sharply Ridged Luffas

Drying of Luffa
Harvest luffa when the gourd is light weight and seeds rattle inside. Carefully wash the fully matured gourds to remove any debris. Gently rinse the gourds with a disinfectant. The disinfectant can be a household bleach mixed with water. Place the gourds in dry area with good circulation and out of direct sunlight. The gourds should not touch each other. Turn the gourds every couple of weeks for even drying.

Uses of Dried Luffa

• Dried luffa are used as enthralling decoratives. They are polished with a soft cloth and paste wax or dipped in a solution of shellac and denatured alcohol to enhance the look of the fruit.
• They can be polished, shellacked and cut to create beautiful birdhouses.
• They are used as scouring pads, bathing sponges or cleaning tools.
• Dried Luffa aegyptiaca is most commonly used for herbal medicines.
• Luffa acutangula is most commonly used in the dried form as scrub brushes and medicines.
• Dried form is also used for culinary purposes.
• They are used as bathroom accessories.
• They have been processed into potholders, doormats, gloves, sandals, and stuffing for mattresses and saddles.