Luffa needs plenty of moisture while growing. It prefers a pH of around 6.0 to 6.8. Water deeply and cover the bed with mulch, keep the mulch away from the stem. Excessive water can result in poor growth and root disease. Damping off can be a problem with young seedlings if growing in cool wet conditions, and fruit rots may cause losses if the fruit are allowed to grow on the ground.
Gourds are heavy feeders and require fertile soil.
Nutrients and water may be reduced in late summer to slow growth rate and encourage fruits to harden off. Although Luffa can be left to grow along the ground, best yields and fruit quality are obtained by using a support structure or trellis so the fruit rests on the ground as little as possible. The vines can reach up to ten or twelve feet. The fruit will be preceded by lovely yellow flowers. The fruits are green, smooth and look like cucumbers, reaching 12 to 18 inches in length.