Description
Luffa (Summer Sweet, SPONGE GOURD) - 7 Seeds
(Luffa aegyptiaca)
This luffa sponge variety produces large fruits on vigorous climbing vines, which can be dried for your own homegrown sponges. Although slow to start, when established and with warm weather, these are vigorous plants and can reach 6m.
Sturdy support is vital as the fruits are heavy and must be kept clear of the ground to prevent rotting.
Sowing Guide
- Soak seeds overnight before planting.
- Sow in warmth (65°F or 20°C) 15mm deep from 4 weeks before the last frost undercover. (18-22 days to germinate)
- Remove weaker seedlings, as they do not transplant well.
- When 7-10cm high, gradually acclimatise outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
- Site the plants in a warm sheltered position with good drainage; these will need full sun and warmth to thrive and sturdy support. (110 days from germination)
- Plant out at least 60cm apart and avoid feeding or the crop will be reduced. They will start slow and when established and with warmer weather, will quickly accelerate.
- Keep moist throughout the summer and stop watering in autumn as fruits mature.
- In autumn, mature gourds will begin to turn brown and dry, turning yellow/brown, feel light with the outside skin loose.
- Harvest remaining fruit before the first frost and mature in a warm, well-ventilated position. When fully dry, the blossom end cap can be broken off, and a vascular bundle can be pulled up the side of the gourd-like a zipper. The sponge will pop out and be very wet and white. Quickly rinse the sponge in water to prevent the plant juices from oxidizing on the sponge and remove the seeds at this time. The sponges can be rinsed in a 10% bleach solution to whiten them.
All orders ship from Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Where We Ship
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All over Australia, including WA & TAS. We do not ship seeds outside Australia.
Processing Times
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Order dispatch or packing time, 1 to 3 business days. Weekends and public holidays excluded. Transit time is additional.
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Western Australia orders are packed each Thursday and handed to Australia Post on Friday. Place WA orders before Wednesday 11:59 PM Sydney time for Friday dispatch.
Delivery Options and Prices
Standard Post and Parcels, Australia Post or courier
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Typical delivery time, 3 to 10 business days. Remote WA and NT may take longer.
| Order contents | Price |
|---|---|
| Seed packets only, or any seeds or garden supplies up to 200 g | $3.95 |
| Upgrade seed packet delivery to tracked letter | Add $4.00 |
| Mixed items 200 g to 400 g | $5.95 |
| Mixed items 401 g to 2 kg | $8.95 |
| Mixed items over 2 kg, including seed potatoes, tubers, canes, rhizomes | $13.95 |
| Free Standard on orders over $150, any weight | Free |
Free letter option for small seed orders
Seed packet orders under 1 g qualify for free untracked domestic letter shipping when the order value is $40 or more after discounts. Delivery for untracked letters may take 5 to 12 business days, sometimes longer.
Express Post and Parcels, Australia Post or courier
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Typical delivery time is 1 to 3 business days. WA, NT, TAS, and remote areas may take longer.
| Order contents | Price |
|---|---|
| Seed packets only | $16 |
| Seed packets and bulk weight-based seeds up to 500 g | $19 |
| Bulk seeds 0 to 500 g | $19 |
| Bulk seeds 501 g to 1 kg | $21 |
| Bulk seeds 1.01 kg to 3 kg | $26 |
| Bulk seeds 3.01 kg to 5 kg | $45 |
| Bulk seeds 5.01 kg to 10 kg | $80 |
| Bulk seeds 10.01 kg to 15 kg | $120 |
Important for WA Express
We do not provide Express parcel service for WA orders because Quarantine inspection delays delivery, which defeats the purpose of Express.
State Specific Requirements and Fees
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Western Australia, add $6 per order for Quarantine inspection. All WA seed orders go to Quarantine WA for inspection. Tracking (if any) is activated after inspection, which may take up to 10 business days from our packing date. Delivery within WA generally takes an additional 1 to 5 business days after release from Perth Airport.
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Tasmania, add $3 per order for Biosecurity paperwork. Maximum 1 kg per seed line item. Biosecurity Tasmania restrictions apply.
Tracking and Delivery
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You will receive a dispatch email with a tracking number when your order ships from our warehouse. Some small-value orders may ship as untracked letters.
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Signature on delivery is available. Add $3.95. If not selected, the carrier may leave the parcel in a safe place, your letterbox if it fits, or at a collection point. ID may be required for Registered or Signature services.
Delivery Timeframes and Late or Missing Orders
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Dispatch and delivery times are estimates. Events outside our control, such as weather or carrier delays, can affect timing.
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We use Australia Post guidelines to decide when an order is considered late or missing.
When an order is considered missing
| Service | Usual delivery time | Time before an order is counted as missing | Review period before replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy delivery | 3 to 7 business days | 20 business days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Express delivery | 1 to 3 business days | 5 business days beyond Australia Post’s estimate | 2 to 3 business days |
Delivery guarantee
If your order is lost or damaged in transit, we will work with you on a fair resolution, which may include a full refund, an upgrade to tracked delivery at a subsidised rate, or a one-time replacement. If we resend an order, that replacement is final and is sent at your own risk. No further refund or replacement will be provided.
Important Notes
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We process orders after receiving cleared payment.
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Postage rates are per order. We may combine multiple orders to the same recipient at the same address into one shipment.
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Shipping charges are not discounted during product sales.
Need Help?
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Phone, 1800 733 399
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Business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm NSW time (AEDT or AEST depending upon daylight savings)
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Address, PO Box 148, Riverstone NSW 2765
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ABN, 63 634 537 492
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship outside Australia
No. We only ship within Australia.
How long does Standard delivery take
Most orders arrive in 3 to 10 business days. Remote WA and NT may take longer.
How long does Express delivery take
Most orders arrive in 1 to 3 business days. WA, NT, TAS, and remote areas may take longer.
Do WA orders have delays?
Yes. WA orders go through Quarantine inspection. Tracking activates after inspection.
Can I get a signature on delivery?
Yes. You can add a signature on delivery for $3.95.
When is an order considered missing
We follow Australia Post guidelines. See the timeframes above.
Estimate shipping
Shipping Restrictions
Western Australia Customers: We can ship most seed line items, except Quarantine WA restricted seed lines to WA. To help us ship your order as quickly and efficiently as possible, please do not include any seed items prohibited in WA; they are listed with the label 'NOT to WA'. Due to quarantine restrictions in WA, there is a 10kg seeds limit per variety. WA orders require additional handling time. Please remain within an approved limit when ordering seeds. We review every WA order before dispatch and remove (or reduce) excess seed quantity from your order to comply with WA biosecurity regulations. Please check further information here
Tasmania Customers: We can ship seeds to Tasmania. Please do not include seed line items labeled 'NOT to TAS'. Please note that the maximum allowable limit per permitted seed line item is 1kg per order.