I planted some Luffa seed…plants are already vining eight feet, but not a single flower yet…is that typical?
I grew luffa for a few years in a row. Mine had flowers on it though. The vines went everywhere like yours are doing.
It is normal. Luffa is a climber. What some people do is prune the main head off to let it grow side branches
Some ~8’ vines on ones here and no bloom yet either. They usually develop late for us, barely beating the first frost.
Didn’t beat the first freeze. The plants did survive a couple light frosts, but it got to 29 last night (probably more like 26 down on the ground). Plants are zapped.
A bunch of immature fruits, nothing useable. I tried peeling the green ones, but they’re just spongy and moist.
I have grown luffas ,several different years , for the sponges.
They are a pain to clean.
Best I could do is put in a tub of water, and let the skin rot a little. Then blast with water and peel. still tedious .
Anyone have any tips to clean the sponges ?
Also . I grew the ridged luffa , last year . Eat when young,
Like a squash , but slimy like okra. Really good.!
It is very easy to clean . Wait until it is completely dry. You are not supposed to clean a wet one.
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When it’s dry just beat it on something the skin and seeds will crack and fall off , very easy to clean
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I agree. Let them dry out and then it is a lot easier to get all the skin and seeds off. That is what I did. They last a long time.
Reviving this thread to see if anyone else is currently growing luffa? It’s my first year trying it. Saw someone growing it in Colorado who harvested green and dried them out to sponges, so I figured I could manage over here in my longer growing season…but, I started them later than I wanted, and the plants are still small. Only 2-3 sets of real leaves and growing slow. I’m guessing that’s because it’s been a really cool spring? It’s also been crazy wet and the leaves are starting to brown around the edges and look sick. Hoping this isn’t a lost cause.
I grow luffa, both smooth ones, and the ones with ridge. You should have plenty of time to grow it and harvest luffas.
luffas have early season, mid season and later season. I used to grow later season ones and had never had good harvest. Couple of years ago, I learned from one of my neighbor , also got some early bloom type. I have luffa all season long ever since.
What type of luffa are you growing? Very long ones, more than 3 feet long? Short and fat ones? Or everything in between? Smooth skin ones, or rough skin ones? Green skin ones, or White skin ones? The early bear ones usually have first female flower around the 6th-7th leaves and it will keep producing till later fall.
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My wife grows them, my pup eats them, i stay away from them
Wow, I needed to research more before I got the seeds! I bought them from southern exchange. Looks like I got “culinary gourd” not the ridged one. Description says they grow 12-24”.
What do you recommend? Open to any opinions and advice! I really want to make them work.
Depends on what are you going to do with it. I eat the young luffa. I really like its flavor. I can eat it everyday without being tired of it. So my selection focused on its tenderness, and flavor. Thev rigged ones actually taste better , a little sweater than smooth ones.
Luffa is very easy to grow, way easier than grow cucumbers. I usually start the seeding indoor and let it grow couple of feet or more in the pot. Before I plant it in ground, I strip the bottom leaves off, and coil the leafless stem, then plant/bury the stem with rest of the roots. The buried stem will grow roots which helps take in more nutrients and water to make the plant stronger and more productive.
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This is great to know. I’ve never eaten it; I bought it to grow to dry and make sponges. It certainly does not like the near constant rain we’ve had. Looks like 3 more days and then we dry out. I started mine with my pumpkins and melons all late this year- like a month later than I like. Just got bogged down with life. I will take these notes and modify for next year!
Here in NC, consumable luffa is generally called climbing okra. The pods must be picked when small and tend to overgrow quickly. The vines can be aggressive, and the pods are not easily seen until they’ve gone to seed. I have some old pods and seeds, but I don’t grow it anymore. I would much rather allocate freezer space for blueberries.
I planted some Lufa this year. It was an impulse buy at a local nursery, so I have no idea what type it is. I sure hope that I get a harvest.
I wanted to but didn’t get to starting the seeds. Maybe still could…
Tried bitter melon seed saced from last year and they were all hollow!! So no bitter melon either. 
I grew luffa many years ago. It was great to see them and actually use them over the years. I have tried growing them at my new location with no luck at all, unfortunately. I will try a new method next year by using a trellis to let the vine trail up on. Maybe that will work.