Gourd Luffa

Also known as vegetable sponge. Regarded as an Asian delicacy when harvested as a young fruit but also suitable for growing to maturity and drying for bathroom sponges. 

Indoors: Soak seeds for 2-4 hours in warm water then sow seeds in pots or punnets 1cm deep and place in warm position. 

Outdoors: Soak seeds for 2-4 hours in warm water then sow on small mounds approximately 2cm deep in groups of 3 or 4 seeds per mound.

Pinch out plants when trailing vines reach 150cm to keep within bounds and promote fruiting.

Fruits will produce a better shape if the plant is trained up a frame.

To harvest your own bathroom sponges leave mature fruits in a dry place with the end cut off and the seeds extracted. The flesh will now wither, leaving the familiar network of cylindrical fibre.