Luffa Cylindrica – 10 Seeds        

Luffa is a traditional crop that’s been grown across Asia for centuries. It’s part of the cucumber family and produces long, ridged fruits that can be eaten young or left to mature into natural bath sponges.

The young fruits are mild and tender, perfect cooked like courgettes or added to stir-fries. When left to ripen fully, they dry into fibrous sponges – making this one of the most versatile plants you can grow.

Luffa thrives in warm, sunny conditions, ideally in a greenhouse or sheltered garden.

Soak the seeds for 24 hours then snip the edge of the seed to allow moisture to enter. Sow the seeds on their sides into 9cm pots and cover the pots with a clear bag to create a greenhouse effect. Keep at 25°c. Grow on under cover and plant out after the risk of frost has passed. Plant 90cm apart. For sponges: harvest in the autumn when the skin is dry and brown and the fruits sound hollow.

Sow: March – May

Harvest: August – October

Position: Full sun

Spacing: 90 cm

Ideal for: Greenhouses · Warm gardens · Edible and to make sponges!