THE GROWING RITUAL

When to Plant:

Loofah loves warmth and time.

-Plant after frost, once nights stay above 55°F.

-Seed Prep: Soak seeds in warm water for 12–24 hours before planting.

PLANTING: Plant ½–1 inch deep, Space 12–18 inches apart. Full sun, rich soil. 

CARE: Water regularly, provide a trellis or fence early, vines grow fast and wide. Let them finish on the vine (important.)

FOR SPONGES AND SEED SAVING: allow loofah to fully mature on the vine. Gourds will stop growing and shift from green to yellow-brown, skin becomes dry and papery.

When the fruit feels light for its size, this is the moment to harvest.

HARVESTING SEEDS: Remove from vine once mostly brown. Peel skin, shake out seeds, rinse and dry thoroughly before storing.

These loofah seeds have been grown for multiple seasons in Central Florida, where they thrive with heat, sun, and space.

These seeds were once shared freely, passed hand to hand, grown with curiosity and good humor. In that spirit, you’re invited to begin in the same way.

As a connection ritual and blessing, take those seeds in your hand before planting and whisper or holler...

Come on, John Malcolm!
Come on, John Malcolm!
Come on, John Malcolm!

Not as superstition, but as an acknowledgment. A nod to lineage, to generosity, and to the unseen thread that carries living things forward.

Plant, tend, and let the season do the rest.