Flower of the loofah or Luffa cylindrica

There are many plants that are useful to humans. Who else who least knows a few that are edible and perhaps some that are medicinal. But, Did you know that there is one that can be used to keep our skin clean? Yes, that species exists and is the Egyptian loofahmuch better known as vegetable sponge.

It is grown mainly for its fruit, which can be, as you may have already guessed, an essential accessory to take care of hygiene. Would you like to know what care it needs and how you can make the most of it?

Origin and characteristics of the vegetable sponge

View of loofah plant

The loofah it is a climbing plant with an annual cycle native to Asia and Africa where it lives in regions with a tropical or subtropical climate. It can reach a height of 4-5 meters, using its tendrils. The leaves are palmate, green, and its flowers are yellow, consisting of five petals. The fruit is very reminiscent of cucumber: it is long, up to 20-30cm, and about 4cm thick.

Its growth rate is very fastSo if you need a bit of shade in the summer, feel free to plant it near a lattice so it can climb over it.

What care do you need?

Fruits of the loofah or Luffa cylindrica

Give it these cares so that it can produce a large quantity of fruits:

  • Location: outside, in full sun.
  • Soil or substrate: it is indifferent, but it is highly recommended that it has good drainage, something that can be achieved by adding perlite, washed river sand or similar to the soil or substrate.
  • Irrigation: frequent. It should be watered 3-4 times a week in summer and every 3-4 days the rest of the year.
  • Subscriber: important to pay with Organic fertilizersLike guano, throughout the season.
  • Multiplication: by seeds in spring. Direct sowing in seedbed.
  • Uses: as a vegetable sponge. It is wrapped in newspaper for two months and, after that time, the skin is removed. If it is light brown in color, it will be a very good sign, as this will indicate that it has dried well. Then, we will only have to put them in a container with water to clean it for about 30 minutes and finally let it dry on newspaper.
  • Rusticity: it does not support cold or frost.

Did you know this plant?