Loofah: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how should you sow luffa under cover?
Sow luffa under cover in spring, allowing roughly four to six weeks of growth before planting after frost danger has passed. Adapt the start to your climate and available warmth rather than a fixed month. A simple roof or cold greenhouse may not be enough: seeds and seedlings need warm, stable conditions. The long season required for mature fruit makes this early start useful in cooler climates.
Soaking in lukewarm water for around 24 hours may help germination. Sow in fairly deep pots or cells with drainage holes, filled with moist, freely draining seed compost. Place one or two seeds per container at the depth shown on the packet, cover and water gently. Biodegradable pots are not compulsory.
Keep compost moist without standing water and monitor temperature, especially at night. Emergence can be slow or uneven. Once shoots appear, provide plenty of light and ventilate without chilling the plants. After the first true leaves develop, retain the strongest seedling per pot without pulling at its roots. Acclimatise plants outdoors gradually. Do not move them into cold soil or leave them cramped in containers for too long.
When and how should you sow luffa outdoors?
When and how should you plant luffa?
How to care for this plant
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Keep fruits off the soil
When squash fruits develop on the ground, place a board or tile beneath them to separate them from damp soil without pulling the stems.
How do you harvest loofahs (sponge gourds)?
