trefle.io · Taken May 12, 2022 by CLAUDIA SOFIA AYLUARDO PALACIOS (cc-by-sa)
Cucurbitaceae
Chinese-okra
Luffa acutangula
Also known as Ridge gourd, Luffa gosa, Cucumis operculatus, Cucumis acutangulus
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Vegetable · Vine · Tropical · Edible · Luffa · Loofah · Climbing Plant · Cucurbit · Warm Season · Garden Vegetable
Chinese okra, or ridged luffa, is a vigorous tropical vine that needs a sturdy trellis, full sun, and consistent moisture to produce its best harvest of edible young fruits. Plant in rich, well-draining soil and water regularly during the growing season, reducing frequency once the plant is established. Harvest fruits young for eating, or allow them to mature fully on the vine to produce natural loofah sponges.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist, especially during flowering and fruiting; avoid waterlogging · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- 60°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 9a-12b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina, Caroline Is., Chad, Chagos Archipelago, China South-Central, China Southeast, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Gulf States, Gulf Of Guinea Is., Haiti, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Laos, Leeward Is.
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle
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