I was visiting our Master Gardener Volunteers working at our Demonstration Garden located at 25550 Harborview Road the other day and was so impressed with the horticultural efforts they have accomplished. While everything looked great, my eyes locked on a trellis covered in vines and bright yellow flowers. Looking closer I could see a number of long, cucumber-like fruits hanging down from the sides and top supports. This display featured a planting of luffa gourds at various stages of maturity. We are all familiar with the luffa gourd being used as a sponge for bathing and cleaning dishes. Did you know that the luffa is also used as a vegetable? Available in both smooth and angled fruit, the luffa is a surprisingly versatile plant being ornamental, edible, and utilitarian.
Originating in tropical and subtropical Asia, the luffa is a member of the cucumber family. Growing as a vine up to thirty feet long, a good-sized well-built trellis is needed to accommodate these plants which require a long growing season of at least ninety days. Preparing the soil as you would for squash or cucumbers, you can either direct seed or start transplants to be put out in the garden at a later date. Plant in a full-sun, well-drained location with plants three feet apart and rows six feet apart. You can expect to harvest about six to seven fruits per vine. As the luffa grows, you will notice that they produce both male and female yellow flowers. The female flowers actually have a small undeveloped fruit at the base of the flower. If pollenated, these fruits will begin to swell and the young, tender fruit can be harvested and used raw or cooked with a taste similar to zucchini or cucumbers. Pick the fruit at about the six-inch size and do not wait too long to harvest. The fruit will quickly expand, losing its tenderness and become pithy as it matures into a sponge. Avoid any fruits that taste bitter.
In order to be used as a sponge, the luffa needs to be fully mature and is best vine-ripened – allow it to turn yellow to brown in color. Let the luffa dry for about two weeks at which time the skin will be hard and brown. The large end of the luffa will open, and from this opening, shake the seeds out. Soak the whole gourd in water overnight which will soften the rind and allow you to peel off the outer skin. Then finish the processing by drying the spongy gourd in the sun.
I have grown luffa locally and they are very squash-like in taste and texture. Making sponges is also very easy to the point where you might have too many luffas! Some of the luffa cultivars commercially available would include ‘Smooth Boy’, ‘Smooth Beauty’ and ‘South Winner’ for the smooth types, and angled types such as ‘Lucky Boy’, Hybrid Green Glory’ ‘Summer Long’, and ‘Hybrid Asian Pride’. The angular luffa gourds have eight to ten raised ridges and are dark green in color. They also tend to have a longer shelve life and have even been called “Chinese okra” as per their okra-like angular appearance.
A very easy-to-grow crop that is a fun gardening project enjoyed by both youth and adults alike, luffa produces food, sponges, craft materials, and even ornamental beauty. Visit our Demonstration Garden located on Harborview Road in Port Charlotte, and you will see what I mean! For more information on all types of edible ornamentals that you can grow in your own yard, or to ask a question, please visit https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteCountyExtension. You can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Xie, Y., Liu, G., Li, Y. & Migliaccio, K. (2023) Luffa- an Asian Vegetable Emerging in Florida. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Stephens, J. M. (2018) Gourd, Luffa—Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem., Luffa aegyptica Mill., and Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
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