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This is my very first time growing Luffa gourds here in Michigan. I started the seeds indoors under a light back in April 1st to be ready to be put into the ground in May after the last frost, and they were growing beautifully and at about age 4 and a half weeks my cat Cookie decided in the middle of the night to get into them and she bite off leaves from everyone of those plants there was 7 of them. They died. Yes she was fine but my plants didn't make it. I instantly put seeds into the ground outside directly because I was already behind in the growing season from her actions. Here is a picture of my very first try at a crop of Luffa gourds, but I already know that because the growing season is 180 days and Michigan only has 143 this year (2016) they wont make it, and unfortunately go into the compost pile. All that work for nothing. Ill share some pictures of them, and they look beautiful I know but they wont make it. I am in Hardiness zone of 6A in Oxford, Michigan. Now if Cookie had not been able to get to them and eat them, they would of made it. I would start them indoors around the 23rd of March and keep them under a indoor grow light and I also use a plant heating matt until they have developed their first true leaves which is 2-4 leaves, and move the growing light UP as they grow to not burn them. Once they have those first true leaves move them to a sunny window and if you can purchase a greenhouse stand I would suggest that to keep them in so that they stay at 70 degrees. Here are some pictures of my luffa gourds growing up my house and making luffas but here's one more thing too. If you don't have pollinators to help, then you have to hand pollinate them to get the Luffa to grow, I did this also to help them along.I watched numerous Youtube videos on the subject before I even attempted to do this. I hope this helps. I'm sorry to say but this site has no easy way for me to share my pictures
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