Description
- The young fruits are eaten in the same way as courgettes, but they must be picked before they become fibrous. The loofah is valued not only for its edible fruits, but also for its plant sponges, which are an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic sponges, being fully biodegradable and sustainable. Growing loofah helps to reduce plastic waste.
- The plant sponges obtained from loofah fruits are between 30 and 50 cm long, highly porous and of large specific pore volume, with stable physical properties; they are non-toxic and biodegradable.
- The loofah requires a long growing season, as it is a late-maturing plant. Under protected cultivation, this species can give high yields thanks to the constant temperatures and the protection it offers against adverse climatic conditions. Trellising is essential in order to support the long fruits and to maximise the yield.