For Luffa or Money

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EASY CULTIVATION

The luffa vine will grow under a variety of conditions, since it doesn't require much other than sun and good, humus. rich soil. If you have trouble finding luffa seeds, they can be ordered from Nichols Garden Nursery (Dept. TMEN, 1190 North Pacific Highway, Albany, Oregon 97321), J.L. Hudson, Seedsman (Dept. TMEN, P.O. Box 1058, Redwood City, California 94064 ... send $1.00 for catalog), and Gurney Seed and Nursery Co. (Dept. TMEN, Yankton, South Dakota 57079).

Like its cousin the cucumber, luffa is sensitive to cold and won't tolerate even a light frost. In addition, because of its tropical origin, the vine requires a long growing season. Folks who live south of the Mason-Dixon line will probably be able to simply plant the seeds outdoors in hills after the ground warms thoroughly, but northerners would be well advised to start their plants indoors ... in February or March.

To do so, first soak the seeds overnight for faster germination, then plant two or three per peat pot. Thin out all but the strongest seedling in each container before the small vines become large enough to strangle each other, and set them out after you're sure of warm weather ... but don't gamble, as a cold snap will hinder their growth.

Plant your future back-scrubbers in groups four feet apart, because it's somewhat doubtful that a single plant will be able to fertilize itself. (Some gardeners hand-pollinate the flowers by transferring pollen from the male bloom to the female stigma with a small brush. If your vines are grown indoors and out of the reach of bees and other insects, you'll certainly need to do so, too.)

Rather than let the vine sprawl aimlessly, grow the gourds on upright supports—or place flat rocks under the developing gourds to keep them off the ground—and your yield will be greater.

Like many plants, the luffa likes to be pinched back, so cut off the tips of the vines when the tendrils reach ten feet in length. This action should encourage the development of the side branches upon which the gourds will develop. The side shoots themselves can then be pinched back to promote even greater bushiness and higher yields. (It's also a good idea to pick off the first flowers, and any new gourds that are deformed or unhealthy.)

As a general rule, you can expect to harvest up to 25 gourds from each plant, and it's been estimated that—under ideal conditions—a grower might be able to produce up to 24,000 luffa par acre. With the sponges (or, often, merely sections of them) selling for $2.00 to $8.00 apiece, the plant has strong potential as a cash crop... if you can locate the proper markets. (Health food, department, and drug stores are all possible wholesale customers. Even large variety store chains are potential outlets.)

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