Luffa or vegetable sponge: cultivation

There are numerous varieties of plants that humans give some use to, but although there are many that are well known to all, such as those grown in gardens, there are others that are rarer, such as those of the Luffa genus. . Are are annual climbers that are called plant sponges, since its fruits are used precisely to keep the skin clean.

Therefore, we are talking about plants with which it is possible to fight against climate change, since they allow us to have a natural sponge and not a plastic one. What's more, its growth rate is very fastso you won't have to wait long for it to come in handy.

Origin and characteristics of Luffa

First of all, let's see what the Luffa are like. These are herbaceous with a climbing habit native to tropical America and Africa. They reach heights between 2 and 5 meters, so they are plants that can be grown both in the soil of the garden and in a pot. They produce large green leaves, an average of 20 centimeters, although it is their flowers and fruits that will undoubtedly attract our attention the most.

The flowers are yellow, about 2-3 centimeters long, and almost always appear in clusters but they can do so alone, and they sprout in spring. Its fruits ripen towards mid / late summer, and have the appearance of a zucchini; in fact, as they belong to the family cucurbitaceae since they are very related.

Varieties or types of Luffa that can be grown

There are a few species of Luffa that you should know about. Although they all need the same care, they are a little different:

Luffa acutangula

Known as Cuba scrubber or luffa scrubber, it is a herbaceous plant that has large, 20-centimeter, lobed leaves. The flowers are yellow, and can be grouped in clusters or appear singly. The fruit is 20 centimeters long, sometimes 25cm, and has longitudinal dark green lines.

Luffa aegyptiaca

It is the most cultivated luffa species. It is known as vegetable sponge or scourer. Its leaves are lobed, green, and measure about 25 centimeters. The fruit is elongated, and measures 30 centimeters, being the largest of the genus.

Cylindrical loofah

It is a climber with ovate-cordate leaves, green in color. Its flowers are also yellow, like the other vegetable sponges. AND the fruit is elongated, green and with longitudinal lines of a darker color. They look a lot like the ones in the Luffa acutangula, but this produces them smaller and with more pronounced ribs.

How is it grown?

Luffa is an exceptional plant. Its seeds germinate in a matter of days, and once they do, they grow rapidly. In addition, it produces so many leaves that it gives a very pleasant shade. As if that were not enough, it has yellow flowers that sprout during the spring, and then its fruits ripen. Here's how to grow loofah.

Materials you will need

• Hotbed: it can be a flowerpot, although a seedling tray is better (on sale here). This allows you to sow many seeds and have better control over them.
• Pot or soil: Once the seedlings are at least 10 centimeters tall, you will have to decide whether to plant them in larger pots or directly in the ground. In the first case, it is important that you make sure that the pot has holes in its base; in the second, the land has to be fertile and well drained.
• Substratum: both for the seedbed and, if necessary, the pot. The universal growing substrate (for sale here).
• Watering can with water: the shower must have its shower head so that the water comes out finer and not with as much power. This water has to be rain preferably, but whatever is suitable for consumption will also work.
• Stakes or climbing support: arches, lattices, walls, stakes (for sale here),… It is necessary that the Luffa has a support.

Step by step

1. Fill the seedbed with the substrate, almost completely. Press a little when you are done, as this will compact the soil and you can see if you need to add more.
2. Water. The soil has to be moist before placing the seeds on its surface.
3. Sow the seeds, ensuring that they are separated from each other. If you are going to grow them in a seed tray, put two in each socket; and if you are going to have them in a pot, it should measure about 10 centimeters to sow a maximum of two seeds in it.
4. Cover them with a thin layer of substrate. This way they will not be too exposed and will be able to germinate better.
5. Finally, place the seedbed outside in a sunny location.

From now on, you have to water from time to time by the tray method; that is, you have to put a plate or a tray under the seedbed, and fill it up every time you see that the soil begins to look dry. Once the seedlings are 10 inches or larger, you can plant them in larger pots or in your garden.

In case you choose to grow Luffa in the ground, it is important that there is a meter of separation between plants; otherwise, its development would not be as expected, since its stems would intertwine and it could be the case that one of them cast too much shade on another specimen, weakening it.

Plant maintenance loofah

The vegetable sponge is a plant that does not need special care. In fact, You just have to ensure that it does not lack sunlight, and water a couple of times a week because it does not resist drought. But it is also important that it is fertilized in order to achieve greater fruit production.

The subscription will be made throughout the season, that is, from when it is about 10 centimeters high and is transferred to a larger pot or on the ground, until it finishes flowering. Organic fertilizers should always be used, such as manure from herbivorous animals or compost for example; in this way you will not run any risk.

Perhaps the only downside is that is vulnerable to many insects that quickly become pests, such as aphids or aphids (Aphis), leaf miners (Liriomyza), mites (Tetranychus), White fly (Aleurodes), stem borers (Melittia cucurvitae), and fruit worms (Diaphania). Luckily, it is possible to greatly minimize the risk of attack by removing the weeds, and keeping the plant well watered and fertilized.

In addition, pests can be controlled with preventive and repellent treatments. For example, yellow sticky traps (for sale here) control whitefly, aphids and mites, and diatomaceous earth (for sale here) is useful against practically any small insect, measuring 1 centimeter or less.

Luffa Harvest

When it finishes blooming, the Luffa will produce its fruits that you can take them manually when they reach their final size; that is, when they are approximately 20-25 centimeters long, and are green. Then, you just have to peel them and you will have your loofah.

Do you dare to grow a loofah? Here you can buy seeds:

No products found.