Luffa cylindrica 'Emerald'

• Long, cylindrical fruit with smooth skin
• Eat young fruit
• Mature for dried luffa sponge
• Matures in 55 days
• Full sun

A dual purpose gourd, Emerald can be harvested when young for use as a fresh vegetable like cucumber or zucchini, or left to mature for use as a luffa. Our replacement for Miriam Sponge Gourd, Emerald needs trellising to keep its smooth 45-50cm (15-20") cylindical fruit straight. Fruit becomes very fibrous as it matures and can then be dried for use as a luffa sponge.

1gr - Approx. 9 Seeds

Direct sow or transplant in late spring once the soil is warm. For transplants, start seeds indoors during the first two weeks of May. Optimal soil temperature: 25-35°C (77-95°F). Seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.

Sow seeds 2cm (1″) deep. Sow 3 seeds in each spot where you want a plant to grow, and thin to the strongest plant. Space summer squash 45-60cm (18-24″) apart in rows 90-120cm (36-48″) apart. Give winter squash and pumpkins even more room with a minimum of 90-120cm (36-48″) apart in rows 120-180cm (48-72″) apart.