Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca)

Very unusual.

I love these luffas. So highly ornamental and they produce such useful products!

I've always wanted to try growing them.

Found some videos and the fruits are much larger than I envisioned.

http://luffa.info/luffagrowing...

Harvesting
http://luffa.info/luffaharvest...

Wow, really attractive! The blooms look much like hibiscus ~~ I wasn't expecting that.

Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca)

Well, that explains it.... I've always thought okra blooms resemble hibiscus blooms as well. Climbing okra being one of the common names.

I never knew you could eat this when small. How small? How does one prepare it?

You can eat them exactly like zucchini when they are about the same size. 6 inches long, perhaps. We never ate them, though, because we like to let them all ripen.

Thanks for the links to the videos @dormantsrule I think I'll give them a try! Don't plan on eating one though!

Dave, I see that you have grown them on a pole, which is great, but I'd like to grow them on my field fence. Do you think they are too heavy for that?

dave said:You can eat them exactly like zucchini when they are about the same size. 6 inches long, perhaps. We never ate them, though, because we like to let them all ripen.

This is a beauty! The banner, and the plant! I've never seen Luffa growing before, and I was surprised to hear that it's edible as well as useful. And hardy too! If I can find a spot for another vine, I might have to give this a try!

Lovely banner, Dave!

Natalie said:Thanks for the links to the videos @dormantsrule I think I'll give them a try! Don't plan on eating one though!

Dave, I see that you have grown them on a pole, which is great, but I'd like to grow them on my field fence. Do you think they are too heavy for that?

We have grown them on many fences and they do very well. They'll ramble and ramble and ramble on and on and on! The vines aren't terribly heavy, though.

Thanks Dave! Sounds like I've got some in my future!

All my fences are in shade.

@Dave Thanks so much for the beautiful picture and all of the information on this interesting plant.

I have a question about luffa @dave, Katie, Jon, or Abagail.

1. Will luffas self sow if you leave the pods on the vine?

2. If I plant them them on my side of a fence (which has trees and rolls of wire, and other yard trash on the other side), will they grow all over the trash, up the trees, and hide it all?

3. If they will self sow, are they invasive? (Sure don't want to cover Texas with our own version of kudzu vine.

Thank you

We have had some come back from re-seeding but it is very rare. They are definitely not invasive and you shouldn't rely on them reseeding year after year, even though there is a good chance.

Will it grow up over the wire and trash? I'd say yes. It makes a gigantic vine if the conditions are right.