How-to grow loofah sponges at home, parts 1-3

Amazing loofah sponges - they grow on vines. You can sprout them at home near a fence or pole. They need a long growing season to produce the gourds. Plant early. Once mature and dried, you can crack the skin and clean your sponge. Harvest the seeds for the next planting. Rub a dub dub!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• grow loofah sponges

[cowboyfan753]

If you plant the white loofah seeds, would they still grow?

[homegrownfunfamily]

@cowboyfan753 Thanks for the visit. The white seeds come from green gourds or those picked early. They probably won't germinate well because they are not mature enough. When a loofah gourd dries thoroughly the seeds turn black and are more viable. The dark ones sure do sprout. This week I found a lost bag of them outside that had sprouted on their own. Gotta post those photos on HomeGrownFun and start potting the sprouts to share!

[stt60]

What is the shelf life of these. Harvest them in the fall, could you save them through the winter and sell them at market in the early summer?

[homegrownfunfamily]

@stt60 Just this week I found a bag of sprouting loofah seeds that I lost. I'm hoping if I get them going in biodegradable 7" high pots I can maybe sell the loofah plants at my farmers market booth.

[stt60]

LOL Playing God to decide which plant lives or dies, I thought I was the only softy who has trouble doing this. Going to try them in colorado zone 6 162 growing days, and a big greenhouse.

[homegrownfunfamily]

@stt60 Now that's a greenhouse! Think I saw what you refer to on the video linked from you. My appreciation for what you do and why! I grew up in the mountains of Maine and now have a small yard in SoCal. I have a hornworm pic on my homegrownfun site that I can't figure out. It's the instar stage and some doghead-looking things are coming out of it. Are those baby hornworms? I'm hoping to meet someone who knows more about these creatures. Thanks again for the comments.

[homegrownfunfamily]

Good luck, great that you have a greenhouse! Just don't let them dry out and you're good! I visited a pumpkin patch that was selling bottle gourds today for $6 ea. but when you check out that festival I mentioned in Fallbrook, some gourds are pulling down thousands. Thanks for watching the video - it was one of the first ones we put out.

[homegrownfunfamily]

@LoneKnight6212 Thanks for the question. Most folks get 3-4 squash on one vine but it all depends on conditions. It takes months and months to grow loofahs so if you live in a cool climate you'll probably want to start the seeds inside. Let me know how it goes!