(Luffa acutangula). Luffa (also spelled Loofah or Loofa), is grown for both its tasty immature fruits – slightly sweet and delicious in soups and stews – and its mature luffa sponges. Resembling a zucchini with ridges, the young fruit is often used in Ghanaian kitchens in place of eggplant. Its huge vines can reach 20 feet or more; average fruit size is about 12 inches long and 2 to 3 inches across. It likes warm weather. Minimum Seed Count: 10

• 100 days to maturity

• 8-12 hours of full to partial sun

• Sprouts in 3-10 days

• Seed Depth: 1”

• Plant Spacing: 18-24"

• Ideal Temperature: 75-90 F

• Frost Hardy: No