Ridge gourd

Luffa acutangula

Climber15×3.5 mzone 9–12full sun

Will it grow where I live?

Ridge gourd is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Habit: Climber
Height: 15 m
Spread: 3.5 m
Growth: fast
Lifespan: 1 year
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 9–12
Shade tolerance: full sun
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5.5 – 7.5

Uses

Medicinal3 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Ridge gourd: how big does it get?

Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula) grows as a Climber and reaches roughly 15 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is fast.

Ridge gourd: what site does it need?

Ridge gourd tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.

Ridge gourd: is it hardy?

Ridge gourd is listed as hardy in zone 9–12 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Ridge gourd: will it grow in Central Europe?

Ridge gourd: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Ridge gourd. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Ridge gourd: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Medicinal 3/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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