Luffa Gourd
🌱 **Botanical Family**: They belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash.
🍃 **Growth**: They are climbing vines that can grow up to 30 feet in length and need a support structure like a trellis.
🍈 **Fruit**: The fruit starts green and fleshy, maturing into a fibrous, spongy texture used as a natural sponge when dried.
🍴 **Edibility**: When young, luffa gourds are edible and can be cooked similarly to squash, commonly used in various Asian dishes.
☀️ **Climate**: They thrive in warm climates with ample sunlight, typically in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 11.
💧 **Care**: They need regular watering and well-drained soil, and are sensitive to frost, so they should be started indoors or after the last frost in cooler regions.
🔨 **Harvesting**: For sponge use, they are harvested when brown and dry; for culinary purposes, pick them when they are still tender and green.
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