Smooth luffa

Why I grow it
I 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, which I use as scrubbers in both the bathroom and kitchen.

I grow both ridged and smooth types, but I find the smooth luffa noticeably easier to peel once the fruit has dried, which makes processing them rather less of a wrestling match.

At a glance
Type: Edible/useful climbing vine
Growth: Vigorous annual climber
Fruit: Long, smooth green fruit
Harvest: Young for eating or fully mature for drying
Inventory: 10 plants

In the kitchen & bathroom
Young luffa fruit is edible and can be cooked rather like courgette, although that's not why I grow it.

I leave mine to mature fully, then dry and peel the fruit and remove the seeds. The fibrous luffa that's left can be cut into whatever size is useful and used as a household scrubber.

In the garden
Give it warmth and something sturdy to climb. Luffas are vigorous vines and will happily head up an arch, fence or trellis once they get moving.

They're also an excellent plant for demonstrating that the thing sold as a “natural loofah” in shops is not some mysterious marine creature.

Care
Full sun, fertile soil and regular water during active growth. Protect young plants from cold and frost and give the vine a sturdy support. A long, warm growing season helps the fruit reach full maturity for drying.

What you’ll receive
One established Smooth Luffa plant, ready to plant out once conditions are warm enough.