Growing Luffa, also Loofah, plant sponge

Cucurbitcaea : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S S           S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P             P P P P

(Best months for growing Luffa in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 45 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 11-12 weeks. Use as a back scratcher.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Peas, Beans, Onions, Sweetcorn
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

24 May 10, Heather (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can anyone tell me the best time to plant Loofah seeds? I keep getting them started, forever buying seeds, they come up, healthy seedlings, I plant them out, then they die. We are 90 mins North West of Brisbane on the rim of Daguilar range.
26 Sep 10, Hellen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have tried a few times to get my seedlings to not die on me until I tried growing them in Jiffy 8cm peat pots which I transplanted into a well composted place in my garden.pot and all. Tried it this way because i read somewhere that loophas hate having their roots disturbed. Sccess at last.
19 May 10, dixiebelle (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I grew Luffa's in ACT, hoping maybe to get some loofahs from them. They took a while to really get going (after a good rain) then the vine took off, but wasn't til towards the end of Summer that any flowers finally came on. I was surprised they actually formed fruit, and thought it was too late by then anyway, but then they grew & grew, and even into Autumn, the vine & fruit were still green and growing well. I didn't do anything particular to help them grow, but perhaps will try pinching the tips to encourage more female flowers next year! I was going to leave them on the vine to dry, but a few mornings of frost put an end to that. I took off the large fruit, and the next day, the frost had killed the vine anyway. I am trying to dry the fruit out on the sunny laundry windowsill, and hope that does the trick!
18 May 10, Char (Australia - temperate climate)
I was able to buy these from Ebay australia.. just did a Luffa seed search
17 May 10, George Willcox (Australia - temperate climate)
You can get these on-line from Green Harvest Seeds Look them up via a web-search to get the URL Hope this helps!
17 May 10, Kathy (Australia - temperate climate)
where can I buy these seed in australia
18 Feb 10, Jayaprakash (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can I find Luffa seeds??
02 Feb 10, Celeste (Australia - tropical climate)
Loofas will tolerate the dry conditions but will grow pretty much anywhere.I have always left the sponges dry on the vine. What are the advantages of peeling them green other than the whiteness? My vine is now two years old.It diddn't get cold enough last year to kill it off. As this is the first vine I grew where I live now, I'll be interested to see if it survives another year and how it behaves.
31 Jan 10, diane (Australia - tropical climate)
I'm fascinated at the idea of needing to plant luffa seeds :>) Seeds from dried fruit seem to grow wherever they land for me. Anyone want some?
03 Sep 15, James (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Diane, do you still have some loofa seeds that can be given away? I'm very interested in growing these awesome plants! hope i can get your reply soon. thanks :)
Showing 71 - 80 of 93 comments

Hi while all my other gourd plants have died off over winter my luffa seems to be powering on as if it prefers winter and has lots of little luffahs and flowers coming on It doesn't even appear to be affected by frost Is this normal luffa behaviour?

- Karen Flakelar

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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