Harvesting Loofah or Luffa Vegetables

Luffa vegetable, also spelled as loofah or less commonly loofa, is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the pumpkin, squash and gourd family. 

Luffa vegetables are similar in taste to zucchinis and cucumbers, with some varieties exhibiting a sweeter taste than others. In those pictures, Luffa has smooth skin. However, there are two types of luffa, both are edible and both are part of the gourd family along with their cousins the cucumbers, watermelon, zucchini and squash.

Luffa  vines grow best in full sun. They occupy a lot of space and require a trellis for support and to climb on and spread out. Luffa plant is native to Asia and grows best in hot weather, acidic soil, and at least six hours of sunlight.

The unique luffa gourd fruits are eaten or dried for use as natural sponges. Luffa gourds take about 90 to 120 days to grow. The fruits can be eaten raw or cooked when young, however they become large and fibrous once mature and can be used as natural sponges.