Rachel's Loofah Sponge Page

Seeds, Supplies and Crafts for the do-it-yourself enthusiast

The Loofah Gourd is a member of the Cucurbitaceae ( Gourd ) family. The Loofah is spelled several different ways, i.e., Lofah, Luffa or Lufa. It's commonly known as the Washrag Gourd. It is the only plant known that can be raised and used as a sponge.
The sponges are very versatile in that they can be used for bathing, washing dishes or scrubbing. The Loofah is widely used for bathing to invigorate the skin as well as gift giving and crafts.
It is a very fast growing annual that produce vines up to twelve feet or more. I have seen them grow over 20 ft. high in trees and produce dozens of gourds per plant.
When fully matured, you can peel off the dried and crisp outer shell to expose the fibrous sponge. To clean your Loofah you wash it in clean water and then soak it in a solution of bleach and water and allow to dry in the sun. Loofah sponges will last a long time if washed and allowed to dry after each use.

Loofah Seeds


RGS031 Common Luffa ( Loofah ) Sponge Gourd
The ever popular dishcloth, bath sponge gourd. Should be grown on trellis.
  Package of 15 seeds $1.95

RGS104 Thai Angled Luffa
The popular vining okra of the Orient. Many swear that it is the best tasting of all fried vegetables. The young, ridged fruit can be used raw in salads, boiled, stuffed, pickled, and is delicious in soups. This squash-like edible is so good! Seeds are from Bangkok, Thailand.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.50


LUF001 New! Miniature Ball Loofah Seeds
These small soft luffa sponges ( about the size of a golf ball ) are becoming the rage in skin care saloons. Also called hedgehog gourd, as the gourds are covered with spikes when young and green and are very ornamental. Small and round shaped when young, they are eaten at this stage in Asia, they become elongated and more football shaped when mature. Once dried, the skin and spikes literally fall off, leaving a soft, fine inner sponge that is perfect for personal skin care use. Each plant will produce a hundred or more soft sponges. Takes about 120 days from transplanting to mature sponges. Hybrid seeds.
  10 Miniature Loofah Sponge Seeds $2.95

A note from one of our customers:

"Good morning,
This is the best site I have found in a long time----I try to grow luffa about every year with not much luck--never knew what to fed them---gourd books don't say much about that--but here ----you have luffa gourd food --this is so wonderful---not accounting all the other good stuff you have---yes you bet I will be ordering from you come planting time--------thanks again for being out there!" sincerely Aloma

LUF112 Rachel's Grow-your-own Loofah Sponge Kit

Growing your own Loofah sponges is really very easy to do. Each kit contains 25 seeds of Luffa cylindrica known as the common Loofah sponge. These produce the large Loofah sponges grown around the world. We also include 25 seeds of Luffa "Harita" which is one of the best commercially grown hybrid varieties available. This variety will produce loads of uniform shape and sized fruits.
Complete planting and growing instructions included, along with tips on harvesting, drying, cleaning and even selling your sponge harvest.
  $7.95

Bulk Loofah Seeds

  LUF151 500 Common Luffa Sponge Seeds ( Luffa Cylindrica ) $24.95
  LUF152 500 Hybrid Harita Sponge Seeds $24.95


New! Jim's Plant Growth Stimulator for Gourds.
Jim has developed this product through years of testing on his farms. This natural, environmentally safe solution will produce amazing results, producing vigorous plants and larger fruits. We highly recommend you do you own trial test ( i.e. spray one plant with solution, next to a plant not sprayed with solution over the length of a growing season ) to fully appreciate how effective this product is.
This is a two part water soluble product that should be mixed 14.75cc of each part ( we provide measuring spoon with solution ) to one gallon of water and sprayed onto the foliage of the gourd plants. It contains Food Grade H202, ( produced by nature ) Gibberellic Acid ( a natural plant growth hormone ), B1 and other plant vitamins, plant hormones, ( made from natural sources ) micronutrients including Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Sulfur (S) and Zinc (Zn) plus a natural detergent based "sticker" that makes the product stick to the leaves until absorbed by the plant.
This mix will make 16 gallons of solution.
  JPAG04 Plant Growth Stimulator for Gourds $14.95

JPF145 Gourd Vine Plant Food

A perfect blend of time released fertilizers with critical humates for fast growing, healthy vines in early stage, then all the extra nutrients required for large fruit production.
Helps develop vigorous root system and fight off diseases and aids in the uptake of nutrients.
A 16-8-12 blend with humates, copper, boron, iron, manganese and zinc.

Application Rates

Work into soil at time of seed sowing or transplanting. Apply 1/2 cup per vine in a 2 ft. radius around hill.

 JPF145 2½ pounds Gourd Vine Food furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. About 5 cups. $14.95

Loofah Sponges

Luffa with Hang Rope
The perfect bath luffa, individually packaged and includes an attached rope for hanging in the shower, 7-9 inches long, natural, washed luffa sponge. Excellent gift, sealed in poly bag. Shipped flat to save on shipping, but expands to natural round shape when dipped in water.
  $2.95 Ea.
 Case of 10 $24.95 Ea.













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