Home GOURD Seven Happiness Luffa Gourd Seed

SEVEN HAPPINESS LUFFA

Luffa cylindrica 100 days. Known as luffa or sponge gourd, this native to China is edible when very young. Start indoors and transplant outside as you would melons. For a scrubber, allow fruit to ripen until the skin hardens and stems turn yellow. Peel off the outer skin and remove pulp by rinsing in running water. Approximately 10 seeds per gram.

Key Features:

Key Features:

Sadly, I also got zero germination for these seeds; I'm not sure how TS is getting 90% germination, but I hope they will revise the info on the seed packet to reflect the recommendations they're giving customers who contact them directly (e.g. use a heat mat, sow directly outdoors, etc). For context, I started these seeds in similar conditions to my ginger, which tends to be challenging to get going in my zone and requires similar conditions to luffa—the ginger did just fine, but the luffa never sprouted. I tried snipping seeds, which has always worked for me with squash and melons, but no such luck. The number of seeds in a packet is small, so I could only retry my indoor starts a second time, but ended up with the same results—zero germination. Super bummed I won't be able to grow luffa this year.

So sorry to hear that has been the case! Our products are backed by our full guarantee. We want you, our customers, to be 100% satisfied with the seed, plants and supplies that you purchase from us. If anything you buy from Territorial proves to be unsatisfactory, we will either replace the item (if available) or refund the purchase price, whichever you prefer (for up to 1 year from purchase). Contact our customer service (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Pacific Time) at either 800-626-0866 or info@territorialseed.com

Nothing germinated!

I'm super disappointed. I couldn't get any of the seeds to even germinate. I tried soaking some of them in a paper towel and used a heat mat! nothing popped up. I did a little bit of research, and it showed that if the seeds float, they're likely not viable.

I put the seeds I had left in the packet (plus I ended up fishing the dud seeds out of the pots I planted them in) in a cup of water! all but one of the seeds floated.

Sigh. I usually have fantastic luck with territorial seeds, but this time I struck out badly. :(

So sorry to hear these didn't germ well for you. Our most recent testing of this seed resulted in 90% germination, so the seed is definitely viable. Luffa can be a bit tricky to get going and can take a while (up to 3 weeks or so) to emerge. The soil temperature would ideally be at least 70�F. Soaking the seeds just prior to planting (overnight or up to 24 hours) can certainly help! We hope you'll give it another try!
As always our products are backed by our full guarantee. We want you, our customers, to be 100% satisfied with the seed, plants and supplies that you purchase from us. If anything you buy from Territorial proves to be unsatisfactory, we will either replace the item (if available) or refund the purchase price, whichever you prefer (for up to 1 year from purchase). Contact our customer service (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Pacific Time) at either 800-626-0866 or info@territorialseed.com

Some like it hot

This is my first time trying to grow luffa - the vines are lovely. I'm not sure if I'm going to get a luffa this year, but I will definitely try again next year. It is now the middle of October 2022 in Portland, Oregon, and the first baby luffas have finally appeared on the vinesI So, we'll see what comes of them. I think I started at the end of May. I planted some seeds outside in the earth, and tried to sprout some inside. I didn't have good luck with the indoor seeds. This was a particularly cool Spring, and the outdoor seeds didn't sprout foreevvvver (July?? Maybe even August?). I contacted Territorial seed, and they told me they sprout their luffa with an added heat source, so next year I will take that into account. I also read it might help to snip the seed. Still excited to try both eating and showering with some home-grown luffas.

More Information

Soil Temp for Germ	65–85°F
Seed Depth	1"
Days to Emergence	5–10
Soil Temp for Transp	60°F
Plant Spacing	3–4'
Row Spacing	4–6'
Fertilizer Needs	High
Minimum Germination	75%
Seeds per Gram	Listed per variety
Seed Life	3 years

Lagenaria siceraria and cucurbita pepo True gourds belong to the genus Lagenaria, and the species siceraria. The different varieties of L. siceraria do not cross with any other cucurbitaceae. All gourds are vining varieties and can grow to 15 feet. They are often tiered along a trellis or fence to save space. Most are grown for their mature shell and unique shapes.

Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.

Culture
• Requires uniform irrigation totaling 15-20 inches of water during the growing season
• Bee attractant flowers or beehives will help yields — misshapen or non-developing fruit is often the result of poor pollination

Direct Sowing
• Plant after frost danger when soil warms to 65°F
• Work in shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC's Complete fertilizer into hill
• Keep soil evenly moist but not wet as too much moisture causes seed to rot
• Bush varieties: sow 3-4 feet apart
• Vining varieties: sow 4-5 feet apart

Transplanting
• Start indoors 3-4 weeks prior to anticipated transplant date in 4 inch pots
• Work in shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC's Complete fertilizer into hill
• Transplant carefully as to not disturb roots

Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Cucumber beetles and squash bugs
• Insect control: Pyrethrin
• Common diseases: Various wilts, leaf spots mildews, and various viral diseases
• Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation, and fungicide applications

Harvest & Storage
• Leave on vine until fully mature, rinds should be firm
• Can tolerate a light frost, but must be protected from a hard frost
• Dry gourds: Wash gently in a solution of 10 parts water and 1 part bleach, carefully removing all dirt, then store in a warm, dry location

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