Luffa operculata. From dooryard gardens along the Rio Mayo. Produces dozens of 2-3" fruit. Once dry, remove the thin skin to reveal the small scrubber “sponge.” In low desert, plant with summer rains. The small yellow flowers and unusual fruits makes wild luffa an attractive plant for a trellis. Approx. 25 seeds (1.5 g).
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I grew the long luffa last year and it took all season to grow a dozen or so but man they go a long way. I am still using the same quarter I cut close to a year ago to scrub dishes before putting in the dishwasher. Bought these seeds earlier this year and have 3 wild luffa and 2 long luffa that have grown up a trellis and into our mature mesquite here in Tucson. The vines are about 25' in the air and still trying to go higher. I'd say they are about a 1' above the tree canopy. I noticed flowers in Sept but just looked up here in October and there are hundreds of small wild luffa and a few long. Beautiful plant, beautiful flowers, and the bees are in heaven every morning. These are a great addition to any garden even just to bring the bees. Just make sure you have a very tall vertical space and that you plant on the north side of your garden or it will block all sunshine and take over. I guess if you had plants that needed protection from the sun you could build a tall arch system over your garden and train during the year. Oh, FYI, The plant is a huge water hog.
Disculpen yo tengo también bastantes semillas y las luffas en cantidad quien compra para venderles pueden enviar un mensaje a este número +593991814928
I agree about the long vines. I planted this summer before last on a trellis that was in part shade ... the vines really headed toward the sun, and I got a nice harvest. This summer it volunteered in my garden and climbed all the way up into a mesquite tree, at least 15 feet high ... very fun to see the little yellow flowers and luffas hanging up there!
