Luffa gourds are grown predominantly to be natural and sustainable sponges, however, the young fruits can also be harvested for cooking. There is a distinct difference between picking tender fruits for the kitchen and harvesting luffa sponges for the bathroom, so when are luffa ready to harvest?
Getting the timing right on both fronts is important. If you want to eat luffa gourds they are best young, as they become bitter and unpalatable when mature. On the other hand, harvesting luffa sponges requires patience as they need to mature on the vine.
