Luffa aegyptiaca. 120 days. Open-pollinated.
Extra Long Smooth Luffa is an open-pollinated gourd variety in the cucumber family.
Vines are vigorous and high-yielding, and can grow to around 30 feet in length with up to 15 gourds per vine. Planting near a fence, trellis, or archway is highly recommended.
Fruits have smooth, vibrant-green skin and can grow up to 3 feet long and 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter with sweet, tender flesh that has a flavor similar to cucumber or zucchini.
Harvest young for use in stir-fries, soups, stews, and salads.
If growing for use as a sponge, allow the gourd to mature on the vine and harvest once the skin turns to yellow-black in color. Allow the gourd to fully dry, then peel off the skin, remove the seeds, and use the sponge for bathing, washing dishes, or other household cleaning.
If growing for use as a sponge, allow the gourd to mature on the vine about 90 to 100 days. Harvest and cure. Once the gourd is dried, peel off the skin, remove the seeds, and use the sponge for bathing, washing dishes, or other household cleaning.
Extra Long Smooth Luffa Gourd
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 12 Light Requirement: Full sun Soil Type: Average, loamy, well-drained Sow Depth: 1 inch Plant Spacing: 3 feet in rows that are 6 feet apart Germination Temp: 70ºF or higher Germination Time: 10 to 14 days Maturation: 120 days Growing Tips
Start seeds 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost. Soak seeds overnight, then sow in peat pots, 2 to 3 seeds per pot. Use a heat mat to maintain a soil temperature above 70°F and thin to the strongest plants once the seedlings have obtained their first set of true leaves. Transplant outdoors once soil temperatures have warmed to at least 70°F.
If direct sowing, wait until outdoor soil temperatures are 70°F or warmer, then plant seeds 1 inch deep in hills, 5 seeds per hill with 5 feet between hills. Thin to the strongest plants once the seedlings have obtained their first set of true leaves.