QUESTION: I'm trying to grow luffa gourds for the sponges, but the flowers keep falling off without making fruit. -- W. H. ANSWER: Luffa vines (Luffa aegyptiaca) are generally reliable about producing ...

There’s a remarkable vine that can provide you with a shady trellis, showy flowers, tasty fruit, and perfect bath sponges … and can be grown as a cash crop to boot! The plant–which is a native of the ...

Learn how the luffa plant is processed to make a sponge Lara Brooks explains how to determine when a luffa fruit is perfect for picking and shows how to remove the skin, seeds and meat to produce a ...

Editor’s note: Luffa plants will be sold at the VCMGA Spring Plant Sale on April 2. Last September at Rockport’s Hummingbird Celebration, my friend Janet pointed to a huge vine with long ...

Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca), or loofah, is an annual vine known for its ability to produce natural sponges. As a member of the cucumber family, it features fast-growing vines that can reach up to 30 feet ...

A. If seed isn't available at your local garden center, order luffa from Park Seed, 1 Parkton Ave., Greenwood, S.C. 29649; 800-845-3369; www.parkseed.com. Also called Chinese okra, vegetable sponge ...

When the squash-like Luffa fruit is still young, it is an edible vegetable. However, since the plant grows so fast it is ...

Brightly coloured, synthetic bath buffs and kitchen scrubbers are a familiar sight, but growing your own natural sponges will provide you with a supply of more planet-friendly alternatives. The origin ...

Biking through my barrio the other day, I spotted something new: Doña Lourdes had a new plant decorating her front fence. Closer inspection revealed that the bright yellow flowers grew from a healthy ...