{"id":19013,"date":"2022-03-23T12:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T16:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?p=19013"},"modified":"2022-03-23T12:35:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T16:35:32","slug":"growing-luffas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2022\/03\/23\/growing-luffas\/","title":{"rendered":"What are some growing recommendations for growing luffas?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Question:<\/h3>\n<p><strong>I am looking to grow luffas this year and I was wondering what sort of soil medium they should be planted in. I have some experience with mixing in my own additives for indoor plants but, I usually just go with a garden mix from a bag for my herbs, flowers, and vegetables. I wanted to make sure that this would be alright for the luffas and if anyone had tips for me if they&#8217;ve grown them before.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Answer:<\/h3>\n<p><em>Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant<\/em><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>Thanks for your question and what a fun project! I do not have personal experience growing them but here are some tips I researched:<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Being a tropical member of the cucurbit (cucumber family) they require at least 6 hours of sun a day and like heat!<\/li>\n<li>Using the\u00a0soil mix you have had success with growing other container vegetables should be fine, and you could mix in some compost.\u00a0 They like well drained soil, so make sure there is proper drainage in the containers you are using.\u00a0 (Making the assumption you are using containers since you are inquiring about bagged soil). Consider fertilizing with a nitrogen source as the vines start to grow.<\/li>\n<li>Trellis the vines on something sturdy to allow for good air circulation and overall health as they have a long growing season and can rot if left to sprawl on the ground.<\/li>\n<li>Plant in containers\u00a0large enough to accommodate\u00a0good root growth &#8211; at least a foot or more apart (which applies to growing in ground, so you&#8217;d want to accommodate\u00a0this sort of spacing in whatever containers you are using)<\/li>\n<li>If you are starting from seed, soak the seed and start them in April with supplemental\u00a0warmth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Below please find some articles that you may find helpful!\u00a0 Most are from slightly warmer climates but general principles would apply.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/content.ces.ncsu.edu\/commercial-luffa-sponge-gourd-production\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/content.ces.ncsu.edu\/commercial-luffa-sponge-gourd-production&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1648133655072000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3nVISjpi2FH5GOQCphAOHy\">Commercial Luffa Sponge Gourd Production<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; for further reference even though describing commercial production<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/growing-luffa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/growing-luffa\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1648133655072000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DmcY4XeDekLMCAH1mu0d7\">Growing Luffa<\/a><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/ipm.missouri.edu\/MEG\/2015\/8\/Gourds_Natures_Utensils\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/ipm.missouri.edu\/MEG\/2015\/8\/Gourds_Natures_Utensils\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1648133655072000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1I8zgacZmHHI3NJLNZwufB\">Article About Gourds &#8211; U of Missouri<\/a> &#8211; gourd info and growing tips<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Question: I am looking to grow luffas this year and I was wondering what sort of soil medium they should be planted in. I have some experience with mixing in my own additives for indoor plants but, I usually just go with a garden mix from a bag for my herbs, flowers, and vegetables. I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199,201],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ask","category-vegetables"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What are some growing recommendations for growing luffas? - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2022\/03\/23\/growing-luffas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What are some growing recommendations for growing luffas? - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Question: I am looking to grow luffas this year and I was wondering what sort of soil medium they should be planted in. 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