Luffa Cylindrica Vine 10 Seeds, Sponge Gourd, Egyptian Cucumber, Smooth Loofah

Luffa Cylindrica
Also known as: Sponge Gourd, Egyptian Cucumber, Dishrag Gourd, Smooth Loofah

This intriguing vine is part of the Cucurbitaceae family, along with cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and other gourds. Although it is native to India it's grown commercially in China, Korea, Japan and Central America. The annual climber is most commonly grown for the fibrous interior of the fruits and used as abrasive sponges in skin care, to remove dead skin and to stimulate the circulation. Also used for filtering and other cleaning projects. The fruit of this species can grow 1 to 2 feet in length and 4 to 5 inches thick. It will sport gorgeous yellow blossoms the size of a fist that are pollinated by bees.

When the Luffa is less than 7 inches long, it’s actually edible—slice it up in salads or cook it like squash or okra. The young leaves, shoots, flower buds, as well as the flowers can be eaten after being lightly steamed. The seeds can be roasted as a snack, or pressed to produce oil.
Medicinally it is bitter tonic, emetic, diuretic and purgative and useful in asthma, skin diseases and splenic enlargement. It is used internally for rheumatism, backache, internal hemorrhage, chest pains as well as hemorrhoids. The fruits are anthelmintic, carminative, laxative, depurative, emollient, expectorant, tonic and galactagogue and are useful in fever, syphilis, tumors, bronchitis, splenopathy and leprosy. Kernel of seed is expectorant, demulcent and used in dysentery. Seed oil is used in leprosy and skin diseases. It has purgative property and is used for dropsy, nephritis, chronic bronchitis and lung complaints. It is also applied to the body in putrid fevers and jaundice.
It will require a long, warm growing season and a lot of space, so plant seeds in hills spaced 6 feet apart or space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart in a single row. Provide a trellis or plant along a fence. Prepare the soil and fertilize just as you would for squash or cucumbers. Fruits touching the soil develop decay, so mulch will be helpful.
Over all a multitasking plant and a guaranteed garden conversation starter.

This offer is for 10 seeds.