Ridge gourd

Loofah, Bitter gourd, Snake gourd, Chinese okra, Ribbed loofah (Eng.)

Luffa is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family. Luffa acutangula is commercially grown for its unripe fruits as a vegetable or mature fruits used as natural cleaning sponges. Its fruit slightly resembles a cucumber or zucchini with ridges. It ranges from central and eastern Asia to southeastern Asia. It is also grown as a houseplant in places with colder climates.

Planning

Difficulty

Moderate

Flowering time

Summer, Spring

Fruiting time

Autumn, Winter

Harvesting

The fruit must be harvested at a young stage (less than 12 cm in length) if growing for cooking purposes. Harvest the seeds and loofah for a natural sponge when the fruit on the vines dry out completely, then pick, peel and harvest the seedsor use the sponge.

Propagation

Seed

Sow seeds in situ, 3-4 seeds per hole, after 2 weeks keep only 2 seedlings and remove the rest. In tropical and subtropical regions sow all year or before rainy season.

Special features

Hedge plant

Quickly cover a fence or trellis to provide a temporary screen.

Geography

Origin

Aisia, India

Natural climate

Tropical

Environment

Light

Full Sun

Soil moisture

Moist

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil PH preference

Neutral

Frost hardiness

Tender

Uses

Medicinal

Good for reducing skin infections, inflammation, constipation.

Edible

The fruit is eaten when it is young.

Personality

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Flower colour

Yellow

Scent

None

Problems

Susceptible to beetles, fruit-flies and caterpillars.

Natal fruit fly

Ceratitis rosa

African fruit beetle

Pachnoda sinuata