The grasshoppers really made a dent in my loofah harvest. The grasshoppers ate the plants, ate the blooms of the plants that got left behind and generally ruined my crop. There are three loofah sponges that made it to harvest. A dozen plants were set out and each one should have made a dozen sponges but . . that’s how it goes sometimes.
Aside from the grasshoppers, loofah is easy to grow. It requires a long growing season but I was able to grow it in zone 6 (Kentucky) by starting the plants inside and letting them get pretty big before it was warm enough to set them out. In the spring, when I plant them again, I will talk more about planting and caring for them.
Are you familiar with loofah? Did you know that when the sponges are young, they are edible? I’ve read that the flowers and leaves are edible too but I’ve never eaten any of the plant. I like them as scrubbers. They are easily sliced and I slice them into about 3/4″ slices. They can used in the shower. They can be used in the kitchen for scrubbing pots. I keep one out by the outside faucet where I wash dirty eggs. The dried loofah can be put in the Vitamix or a food processor and ground to make a rough substance to add to soap or I can just grab a bit of it and mix it with the soap when I’m washing my hands to sluff off dead skin cells. Loofah is really an interesting and useful product.
They are harvested when they’ve obviously shrunk in size and weight. The outside skin will feel a bit loose. Some will turn very dark and some will turn yellow when they’re ready to be picked.
Loofah
This one is about 8 or 9″ long. When the skin becomes loose, the whole thing can be slapped against something to crack the skin and then it will peel off but if I can pick them at just the right time, the peeling will slip off almost as easily as peeling a banana.
Loofah
There are tubes that run through the sponge and those tubes contain seeds. Shake the seeds out, dry them and save them for next year’s planting.
Loofah
Some folks will soak the sponge in a weak bleach/water solution to make them nice and white but I don’t bother. Natural is fine with me.
Loofah Seeds
Each sponge should have 30 or more seeds . . there are plenty of seeds for next year’s crop out of just one sponge.
Loofah
I do spray them with water because there’s sometimes a bit of sticky on the outside that’s left from where the peeling was hanging on. It will now sit out til it’s dry (from the water I squirted in it). Then it can be sliced and used.
Depending on what I’m using it for, the slices can last a very long time. Or, if I’m scrubbing greasy pots, the slices don’t last long at all. I was hoping to have at least 3o or 40 sponges but I’ll just be happy to get 3, which is 3 more than I had last year since I didn’t plant any, and hope for more next year.
Jane says
How fun! I have always wanted to grow loofah, but we have a super short growing season 🙁
Vivian Oaks says
I tried growing loofah a couple of times, but it never got big enough to get any gourds on the plants. I guess living in Western PA, there just wasn’t enough growing time. I’ve loved them since the first time I tried one in the shower! Very invigorating!! Maybe I’ll try again next year and start them real early indoors. Thanks for the info about them that I didn’t know.
Judy H says
I think I’ll try growing a couple plants next year!
I’ve never tried growing loofah, but you’ve inspired me!
I had a little bit of trouble with grasshoppers on my okra this year, but they didn’t strip the plants completely until I was getting tired of okra anyway, lol! I wonder if they would be worse with the loofah…
Would it work to hang a mesh net over the plants to protect them?
Bev Austin says
Judy, My granddaughter just gave me the nicest gift. Two lufta slices _ 1″ thick that were filled with fragrant soaps. Love them, they are in my dresser drawers. I want to try one on my skin one of these days.
Linddylou says
Judy, living in a small community in Northern Michigan, you have taught me a great deal. Thanks, never knew where or how a Loofa was grown.
sharon says
I’d like to try loofahs. How big were they when you moved them out? Shall I assume most seed catalogs have them?
thanks so much
Mama Spark says
I never realized they were plants! Not sure I actually gave them much thought. I would like to try to grow some too. Thanks for the info and where did you get seeds in the first place??
Sheri says
So interesting! Thanks for showing what they look like peeled and unpeeled. I had no idea!
Linda says
Thank you for interesting lesson. Learned a lot. Seed are pretty themselves
Stephani in N. TX says
You are just a fountain of information. Now I know a smidgeon about loofas! Thanks Judy.
Machelle H says
I had no idea! That was so interesting and educational – thank you!!
Julie in WA says
Well, I never in my life expected to see how a loofah grew! Naively, I thought they were a sea creature! Thanks for sharing; my education grows simply by reading your blog!
Judy S says
Great post, Judy. My hairdresser gave me some seeds which I gave to my daughter because it’s way to cool here for them to grow, but I’ve always been curious to see how loofah grow. Thanks. I’m going to send this link to DD so she will know what to do!
Dianne says
Oh cool! I’m adding this to my planting list for next year..
Brandy M. says
That is SO cool! Of course I’ve bought loofah sponges all my life and never understood how they were grown. Actually, I always thought they were some sort of sea sponge. I may have to look it up in my Western Garden book to see if we can grow them here!
Thanks, Judy!
🙂
kaholly says
Wow! So THAT’s where loofah comes from! I had no idea. I want to grow some! Maybe I can talk my daughter into including some in her TX garden.
Sharon in Michigan says
Judy, Quilting and knitting aside, for me, the information about loofah has been the most interesting info I’ve read in ages. I am amazed at the whole thing, especially that it is edible and useful as a scrubber. Who would have thought as age 61, I’d be intrigued by loofah, of all things. Thanks for the education!
Linda says
Have reread for a second time, just so interesting. Does the plant like fun sun and where do you buy seed from?
Linda says
Fun sun, don’t know where that came from. Wanted to ask if it likes FULL sun?
Patricia says
Growing your “own” loofa. I want to be like you when I grow up!!!! Where would you get the seeds? It would be a fun project for my Grands.
Would they grow in Tennessee I wonder? Have a great day! I love reading about your “goings on”!
Amy M says
How fascinating! I never knew loofah was a plant. Always learning something from your blog. Hope next year is a better year for your garden.
Mary-Kay says
The first real scrubbie! No plastic in them and totally biodegradable. We’ve used loofahs in the sauna since I was a child. Nothing like the clean feeling after a good scrub with a loofah.