{"product_id":"ridged-luffa","title":"Ridged Luffa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy I grow it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI grow luffas for the mature fruit rather than for eating. Once fully grown and dried, the skin and seeds come away to reveal the fibrous luffa inside. I use them around the house as scrubbers in both the bathroom and kitchen — a genuinely useful thing to grow as well as a rather entertaining vine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Edible\/useful climbing vine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vigorous annual climber\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFruit:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Long, ridged green fruit\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Young for eating or fully mature for drying\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInventory:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 10 plants\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the kitchen \u0026amp; bathroom\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoung luffa fruit is edible and can be cooked rather like courgette, although that's not actually why I grow it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI leave mine on the vine to mature, then dry and peel them and remove the seeds. What remains is the familiar fibrous luffa, which I cut into useful sizes and use as a scrubber around the house.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the garden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLuffas are vigorous vines and need warmth, a decent growing season and something sturdy to climb. Give them an arch, fence or trellis and expect them to make enthusiastic use of it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey're also simply fun plants to grow — particularly if you've only ever encountered a luffa hanging in a bathroom and hadn't realised it started life looking rather like a large cucumber.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCare\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFull sun, fertile soil and regular water through active growth. Protect young plants from cold and frost. Give the vine strong support and as much warmth as you can; allowing mature fruit to dry properly requires a good long season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat you’ll receive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne established Ridged Luffa plant, ready to plant out once conditions are warm enough.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Garden Between","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67920072081631,"sku":null,"price":4.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/8279\/7023\/files\/Screenshot2026-10-04at4.39.30PM.png?v=1791085542","url":"https:\/\/agardenbetween.com\/products\/ridged-luffa","provider":"A Garden Between","version":"1.0","type":"link"}