(Luffa aegyptiaca "Luffa')
Luffa Gourd is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Southeast Asia, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the vines of this plant reaches the length of 30-50' and features several 12-24” smooth, green and cylindrical luffa gourds. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, and is used to make luffa sponges!
Genus: Luffa
Species: aegyptiaca
Variety: Luffa Gourd
Also Known As: Smooth Luffa, Sponge Luffa, Climbing Okra, and Dishrag Gourd.
Native to: Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, West Himalaya.
Introduced into: Albania, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Brazil South, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Florida, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Haiti, Illinois, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jawa, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Louisiana, Malawi, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico Central, Mexico Southwest, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, North Carolina, Pakistan, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Réunion, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is., Somalia, South Carolina, Southwest Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Tonga, Transcaucasus, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Virginia, Wallis-Futuna Is., Windward Is., Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity: 60 days
Growing Habit: Vine
Hardiness: Tender. These tender annuals originated in the tropics and can't stand cold weather or frost.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Summer
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Warm, Hot. These tender annuals originated in the tropics and love hot weather. They can't stand cold soil so don't plant them until it has warmed up (ideally to at least 70 degrees F). Use black plastic to warm the soil if necessary.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 60°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 70°F. Don't plant out until the soil temperature is close to 70 degrees.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot). Full sun.
Water: High. The plants need an evenly moist soil for maximum productivity. The best way to water Gourd is with soaker hose, as wet foliage can easily lead to fungus diseases.
Feeder: Heavy. Gourd is a hungry and fast growing crop and needs a steady supply of nutrients.
Suitability: High heat, Needs lots of space.
Small Gardens?: Yes.
Containers?: No.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes. Gourd flowers attract bees, butterflies, and pollinating moths.
Maintenance: Medium
Height: Up to 30'
Spacing: 5-6'
Sow Depth: 1"
Produces: large, dark green gourds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-11
Soil Preparation
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0, Ideal 6.3-6.5: Gourd is a hungry and fast growing crop that produces a lot of biomass. To do this it needs a well drained, moisture retentive, fertile soil, with lots of organic matter. It doesn't do well on acid or saline soils.
Soil Preparation:
Standard Mix, 1 cup per plant, in top 6" of soil, 1 time: A cup of standard mix per plant will supply any additional nutrients required. Incorporate it into the soil with the compost. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:
- 4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
- 2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
- 2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
- 1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
- 1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)
Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
Compost (Nitrogen), 2", in top 6" of soil, 1 time: Gourd have a very vigorous root system, which may go down 6 feet in its search for nutrients. Add 2˝ of compost or aged manure to the top 6˝ of soil, to supply nutrients and to increase the ability of the soil to hold moisture.
Start Indoors
Soil temp for germination: 65°F to 100°F, optimal 80°F to 95°F, optimal 86°F.
Total weeks to grow transplant: 7 to 8 (Spring/Summer), (Fall/Winter).
Germinate:
1 weeks before Last Frost Date: Gourd is usually started indoors, because spring growing weather is often less than ideal and by starting indoors you have stocky little plants ready to put outside. This is better than having to wait for seed to germinate in cold soil. Cucurbits in general dislike transplanting, so start them in individual containers. I like to use 4˝ pots as they allow you some time before the seedlings must be planted out. If containers are smaller than this you may have to pot them up before planting out, which is an additional chore. Plant two seeds in each pot. After they have both emerged, you should remove the inferior one (pinch it off to avoid disturbing the remaining one).
Harden Off: 1-2 weeks after Last Frost Date. Allow the starts to adjust to outdoor temperatures. Place outside for one week before transplanting into their bed.
Transplant Outdoor
1. Plant them as deep as their first true leaves. If cold weather threatens to return, you can cover them with cloches.
Warm, Hot: These tender annuals originated in the tropics and love hot weather. They can't stand cold soil so don't plant them until it has warmed up (ideally to at least 70 degrees F). Use black plastic to warm the soil if necessary.
When outdoor temp: 60°F to 90°F, optimal temp 65°F to 75°F.
When min soil temp: 70°F. Don't plant out until the soil temperature is close to 70 degrees.
Spacing: 36.0", (3 per 3'x3') plants per sq ft. Plant 4 seedlings per mound or hill, spaced 3' apart. Thin to best 2 - 3 seedlings per mound.
Intensive beds: Gourds grow into big plants that need a lot of space. They are spaced 24" apart. You could plant your Squash down the center of the bed and fill in the rest of the space with a fast growing crop. This plant is an excellent contender for vertical gardening.
Because gourds spread out, it's a good idea to plant at the edge of the garden, where they have minimal impact on their neighbors. The vining types can then wander off into vacant space.
Support: Optional. Bush varieties don't need any support; the vine varieties take up a lot less space if grown vertically on trellises or cages.
Start Outdoors
When outdoor temp: 60°F to 90°F, optimal temp 65°F to 75°F
When min soil temp: 70°F. Don't plant out until the soil temperature is close to 70 degrees.
Seed Depth: 0.5"-2.0". Sow the seed 1/2" deep in cool soil and up to 2" deep in warm soil
Spacing: 36.0", (3 per 3'x3') plants per sq ft. Plant 4 seedlings per mound or hill, spaced 3' apart. Thin to best 2 - 3 seedlings per mound.
Intensive beds: Gourds grow into big plants that need a lot of space. They are spaced 24" apart. You could plant your Squash down the center of the bed and fill in the rest of the space with a fast growing crop. This plant is an excellent contender for vertical gardening.
Because gourds spread out, it's a good idea to plant at the edge of the garden, where they have minimal impact on their neighbors. The vining types can then wander off into vacant space.
Summer Crop:
3-12 weeks after Last Frost Date: In hot weather the large seeds germinate and grow quickly and soon produce vigorous young plants. Because of this there is little point in going to all of the work of starting them inside.
Support: Optional. Bush varieties don't need any support; the vine varieties take up a lot less space if grown vertically on trellises or cages.
Water Needs: High. The plants need an evenly moist soil for maximum productivity. The best way to water Gourd is with soaker hose, as wet foliage can easily lead to fungus diseases.
Fertilizer Needs: Heavy. Gourd is a hungry and fast growing crop and needs a steady supply of nutrients.
Watering, regularly: Water, 3 quarts, regularly, 2 times a week. Keep the plants well watered. Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Side Dressing, regularly: Compost tea, 1 quart(s), regularly, every 3 weeks. Give each plant 1 quart of liquid feed of compost tea every 2 - 4 weeks.
Side Dressing, when 3" tall: Mulch, 2 inch(es), when 3" tall, 1 time. OPTIONAL: Mulch is helpful with these widely spaced plants, to keep down weeds and conserve moisture.
Watering, during fruit production: Water, 1 gallons per plant, during fruit production, 2 times a week. The soil should be kept evenly moist at all times, but particularly when the plants are bearing fruit. Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Support: Optional. Bush varieties don't need any support; the vine varieties take up a lot less space if grown vertically on trellises or cages.
Harvesting
Harvest the fruit when they are 4 to 7" long, which should be about 4 to 6 days after pollination. Generally it's better to harvest them when still fairly small, though often they are still good when twice this size. If you pick them while they are small it's easier to consume all that are produced, so less are wasted.
Storage
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: °F
Storage Length: 0-14 days
Seed Viability in Years: 4 - 5 Years
Germination Percentage: 75%
Suggested Varieties
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(Amaranthus tricolor 'Perfecta')
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(Amaranthus cruentus 'Red Garnet')
Red garnet Amaranth is a heirloom, warm weather annual leaf vegetable that is native to Mexico and South America, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-7' and features erect stems, oval-shaped, burgundy red leaves, and large dark red flower spikes. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, tolerates drought, and it's edible!
(Monarda fistulosa ‘Wild’)
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(Brassica oleracea 'Early Jersey Wakefield')
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to England, but was first grown in the United States in 1840 by Francis Brill of Jersey City. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features dark-green, conical heads averaging 5" in diameter and weighing 2 to 3 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbits safe (in moderation), can be used as a trap crop for aphids, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Calendula officinalis ‘English Marigold’)
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(Carum carvi ‘Caraway')
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(Daucus carota 'Chantenay Red Cored')
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(Daucus carota 'Cosmic Purple')
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(Daucus carota 'Danvers')
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(Daucus carota 'Rainbow Blend')
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(Daucus carota 'Scarlet Nantes')
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(Daucus carota 'Tendersweet')
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(Allium schoenoprasum ‘Onion')
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(Trifolium incarnatum ‘Crimson’)
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(Coriandrum sativum ‘Leisure')
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(Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’)
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(Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Candy Stripe’)
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(Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Radiance’)
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(Anethum graveolens ‘Dukat')
Dukat Dill is an annual herb that is native to the Mediterranean and Asia but can be commonly found growing throughout the Midwest, northeastern, and west coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3-5' and features stiff hollow stems, sweet-scented, bluish-green, feathery foliage, and compound 10” umbrella-shaped umbels that are topped by yellow aromatic flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, lacewings, ladybugs, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, repels aphids, spider mites, and squash bugs, is rabbit safe, tolerates deer, its leaves are used as an insect repellent, tolerates drought and light frost, is used to flavor soaps, is used to make insecticides, is both edible and medicinal and self-sows!
(Foeniculum vulgare ‘Florence')
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Florence Fennel is a perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean but can be commonly found growing throughout most of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-5' and features a rounded, branching, celery-like stalk, yellowish-green, feathery foliage and umbrella shaped heads of tiny yellow flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, damsel bugs, hoverflies, lacewings, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, tolerates deer, is used to flavor air fresheners, perfumes, soaps, and toothpaste, the leaves are used to repel insects, tolerates drought and light frost, is used to make dyes, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Tagetes erecta ‘Naughty Marietta’)
Naughty Marietta Marigold is a compact annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing on banks and slopes throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 6-12” and features divided green foliage and aromatic flower heads with yellow petals with mahogany streaks at their base. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Tagetes erecta ‘Sparky Mix’)
Sparky Marigold is a compact annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing on banks and slopes throughout the central and eastern United States. This plant grows up to 9-12 inches tall and has green foliage that is divided. Its orange and yellow flowers have wavy petals and emit a pleasant aroma. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Tagetes Erecta ‘Kilimanjaro White’)
Kilimanjaro White Marigold is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 18” and features divided green foliage and 2-4” white/light yellow flower blooms. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, is resistant to deer, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, is used to make dye and insecticides, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Mentha Pulegium ‘European’)
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European Pennyroyal is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Northern Africa but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-12” and features hairy stems, mint scented, lance-shape, toothed leaves, and small lilac to pinkish-purple colored flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, makes essential oils, leaves are used as a rodent repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Mentha spicata ‘Spear’)
Spearmint is a perennial herb that is a native from Europe and China but can be commonly found growing in wetlands and along streams throughout most of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features erect, hairy stems, 3” aromatic, oval-shaped, sharply toothed pointed leaves and 4” tapering terminal spikes that bare pale purple or pink flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, butterflies, and damsel bugs, repels ants, aphids, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, mice, squash bugs, and white flies, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is used to make essential oils and potpourri, its leaves are used to repel rodents, is used to flavor toothpaste, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Tropaeolum minus ‘Empress of India’)
Empress of India Nasturtium is an introduced, cool-weather annual flower native to South America that grows in moist mountainous areas throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 12” and features rounded light green leaves and 2 1/2” 5-petaled bright red aromatic flowers. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, repels squash bugs, self-sows, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is used to make insecticides, has medicinal properties, and can be sued as a trap crop for aphids!
(Tropaeolum minus ‘Jewel Mix’)
Jewel Mix Nasturtium is an introduced, cool-weather, annual flower native to South America that grows in moist mountainous areas throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 12” and features rounded light green leaves and 2 1/2” 5-petaled peach, pink, yellow, orange, and red aromatic flowers. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, repels squash bugs, self-sows, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is used to make insecticides, has medicinal properties, and can be sued as a trap crop for aphids!
(Petroselinum crispum 'Italian Giant')
Italian Giant Parsley is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-16” and features flat, dark, glossy green leaves. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, is used to flavor perfumes and repel insects, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Penstemon strictus ‘Rocky Mountain’)
Rocky Mountain Penstemon is a native perennial flower that grows throughout the southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3' and features large lance-shaped green leaves, tall stems, and bluish/purple tubular flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, hoverflies, and ladybugs, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, and is used as a cut flower!
(Limnanthes douglasii ‘Poached Egg Plant’)
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Poached Egg Plant is a native annual flower that can be found growing throughout wet grassy areas of California and Oregon. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 6” and features green fern-like foliage and aromatic 5-petaled white flowers that are yellow at their base. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, self-sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Raphanus sativus 'Early Scarlet Globe')
Early Scarlet Globe Radish is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Southern Europe, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 9” and features 1" round red radish with crisp white flesh. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates light frost, is rabbit safe, repels beetles and carrot fly, can be used as a trap crop for Japanese Beetles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Raphanus sativus 'French Breakfast')
French Breakfast Radish is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Southern Europe, but was first offered by James J. H. Gregory of Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1875. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-7” and features 3" red oblong radish with white tips. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates light frost, is rabbit safe, repels beetles and carrot fly, can be used as a trap crop for Japanese Beetles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Raphanus sativus 'German Giant')
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German Giant Radish is an Amish heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Germany, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-6” and features 3-4" red skinned, round radishes with white flesh. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates light frost, is rabbit safe, repels beetles and carrot fly, can be used as a trap crop for Japanese Beetles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Raphanus sativus 'Watermelon')
Watermelon Radish is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Northern China, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 9” and features large globes that are greenish white on the outside and have a bright red/pink inside. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates light frost, is rabbit safe, repels beetles and carrot fly, can be used as a trap crop for Japanese Beetles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Raphanus sativus 'White Spear Sprouting')
(Achillea millefolium 'Rubra')
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Red Yarrow is a native mat-forming perennial that can be commonly found growing along roadways and in fields and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2' and features erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, repels beetles, and flies, the leaves are burned to repel mosquitoes, is used as a compost activator, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetic cleansers, dye, essential oil, and liquid plant food, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Achillea millefolium 'White')
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White Yarrow is a native mat-forming perennial that can be commonly found growing along roadways and in fields and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, repels beetles, and flies, the leaves are burned to repel mosquitoes, is used as a compost activator, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetic cleansers, dye, essential oil, and liquid plant food, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!