I know that many of you did not know that you could grow a loofah! Shocking isn’t it! They are really easy to grow! You just need a place for them to vine. I am going to need a bigger place for them to vine next year, because I have vines growing on vines this year.
Here is what my loofah plants look like today, keep in mind, everything else in my garden is dead. It has just been too hot. So, the loofahs have been a little neglected.
Now, this is what they look like when they are on the vine.
The vines are full of beautiful Yellow flowers that open in the morning and close during the heat of the day! They must have very sweet pollen because first thing in the morning my yard is buzzing with bees, ants, humming birds, butterflies, etc.
Here are the 2 loofahs I brought in today.
You can see that one is yellow. It is very light weight and dried out (Thanks to the heat). This one is ready to be peeled. The other one needs to dry out for a couple days.
These are really easy to peel once they are dry. Just peel the outer layer off and give them a good whack. Why a whack? They are full of seeds that you need to shake out.
This is all the seeds from just one loofah! Enough to fill the garden next year! You just shake them out of the loofah once it is peeled. The kids had fun with that part!
This is what it looks like when it is all peeled and seeded. Just give it a rinse. You can soak them in a little bleach water, but we had an organic garden ( I would hate to ruin the organic with bleach).
I cut our loofah in 2 pieces, basically to make my kids stop fighting over it. It was large too! So, it is plenty big enough for two. I think I may try to make homemade hand soaps this year with loofah in them. If I do, I am sure there will be a post about it 
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That’s so cool! Where do you get the plant/seeds?
Melissa. I just bought them at home depot, with my other seeds. They are really easy to find!
I had no idea you could grow a loofah! I always thought they grew in the sea like a sponge! LOL Very cool:)
haha ~ me, too!! I can’t wait to give these a try.
)
What? Seriously? That is so neat. I never knew that!
Silly question but at Homedepot are they just called “Loofah seeds”?
LOL! Homemad soaps are SOO easy and tons of fun! I love making the glycerin soaps w/toys for my kids- they are awesome!
Yep! It says it right on the package! They are in the same family with cucumbers and zucchini. By the way, You don’t want to plant them near cucumber or zucchini, or squash. Apparently they can cross breed. Not pretty
That is totally cool, i to though they maybe came from the ocean like the sponges. Had no idea you grow them. You always have great stuff.
I too thought they were from the sea. I’m totally growing these in my garden next year! Pampering presents for everyone next Christmas!
That is awesome!
How long do they last?
Cari,
I really don’t know. You can use them in the shower till they wear out. I am sure if you stored them dry and unused they would last quite a long time!
So cool! I have to admit that I thought they were a sponge from the sea also.
I’d love to know more about what you grow in your garden. I’m in FL also and always wonder what could possibly stand up to this heat. The loofahs look easy, they may be my test crop.
How Funny (: This is by far the most coolest thing I’ve learned all week!
this is so cool! I didnt know you could grow them either. I thought theu were something more exotic! I think I may try to grow my won next year!
WOW, WOW, WOW
I will SO be growing these next summer. lol