It has been several years since I've grown luffa gourds. When I went looking for sponges recently, I realized its time to replenish my supply which is getting low. I went digging through my seeds and found that I still have enough to plant. Hopefully, they won't be too old to germinate but just in case they are I am going to add some to my seed order this year. I actually got my first seeds when I went to a yard sale years ago. There was a huge luffa vine growing in a tree and after inquiring the owner allowed me to buy a sponge with seeds still inside.
While they're on my mind, I thought I might share what makes them worth growing. They are so much more then just a sponge and are a great addition to any survival garden. They have multiple uses, renewable, edible and there are even claims of medicinal properties.
First, the luffa buds, flowers and young fruit are edible. The fruits look like cucumbers or zuchini. They have very little flavor (like zuchini) but they take on the flavor of whatever seasonings and foods with which they are prepared. They are great in soups, stews and stir frys. The flowers and buds can be battered and fried or stuffed and baked. The fruit can also be stuffed and baked.
Usually, I don't bother eating many of the luffa fruit because I prefer to wait and harvest the sponges. It takes a long growing season before the sponges are ready to harvest but when they are, there are usually 25 or so large gourds per plant. They need to have a large and sturdy trellis system and growing them on a fence or dead tree is perfect. I just let them grow until the vine begins to die back and then harvest the fruit. I allow the skin to dry on the fruit until it is brittle and cracks easily. At that point, I just peel the skin and then cut the ends off to shake out the seeds. Save the seeds for the next planting. Wash the sponges well in warm water and lay them in the sun to dry. Turn them as they dry to prevent them from molding on the bottom. Some people bleach them but I don't.
Now that the sponges are dried, they are ready to use. They can obviously be used as sponges for washing dishes or anything else in the house. They make great pot scrubbers which won't scratch like steel wool. They are also great for showering and bathing. They can be left long, cut to desired lengths or cut into rounds. They can also be flattened to make them easier to store. They'll puff up again when they are wet.
If the sponge is cut length ways and the core is removed then it can be opened and flattened out. The opened sponges can be sewn and used for many things. They can be sandwiched in between two pieces of material and made into a hot trivet. They can also be used for padding in mattresses or pillows, sewed into placemats, bath mats, Slippers, throw rugs or any other household item. If an opened and flattened luffa is sewn to a wash cloth with the edges finished with a binding then it makes a nice shower or kitchen cloth which is soft on one side and scrubbie on the other.
They have been used as insulation in walls as well as packing material. They can also be used as filtering material in several applications. Use them where any strong fiber is needed. I have read that they can be used in hydroponics for growing plants but I have never tried them for that. I also have never used them for anything medicinal although I will do my own further research on their uses. I do know that they have been used in surgery during wartime when other supplies were scarce.
The sponges and seeds both have a very good market value if you decide to sell them. People like to receive them as gifts. They are easy to grow and very prolific. One gourd, when cut, makes many sponges. WTSHTF I can see them as a good source of income when others need sponges, food or fiber. There are very few plants that are as easy to grow and provide such a good value for very little effort. Rather then storing disposable sponges which cannot be replaced, its better to plan to grow a renewable supply of luffas which are so much more then just a plain sponge.
Southern Wood Elf