Remember when mom said eat your vegetables because they are good for you. Well, I would like to talk about a vegetable good for your skin.

It's the luffa sponge gourd, once a novelty and now a popular bath sponge. Yes, you can purchase one in a fancy boutique but why not raise your own. The trick is peeling the outer layer to reveal the awesome netting within.

The luffa gourd sometimes called the rag gourd or sponge cucumber has large cylindrical fruit. There are two species but the Luffa cylindrica is the most popular.

The fruit when young can be eaten in salads or stir-frys but the dried cellulose fiber is what we are after.

The inner part or sponge material does have an invigorating effect on your skin. The coarseness of the luffas texture stimulates blood flow and removes dead skin cells. And, for a great back scrubber leave a large one whole.

They also make great dish sponges or pot scrubbers. You will find endless uses for this wonderful fruit.

So, let's grow a luffa gourd. You can start plants indoors and transplant or plant seeds one-inch deep next to a wall or trellis. The vines can be grown on the ground but a trellis helps the gourds shape nicely. The gourds will grow 12 to 30 inches long and are very heavy.

Luffas are long season vegetables 110 to 120 days so plant early. You should let your luffas dry on the vine until their skins are paper thin and yellow-brown. Picking them early gives you lighter colored sponges, but the thicker skin is harder to peel.

Allow the gourd to dry and leave the stem in tack, stored in a cool well ventilated space. The drying process will take 2 weeks to 2 months and immature fruit will not dry properly.

Cut the stem ends off and shake out the seeds for next years crop. Submerge the gourd in water and allow them to soak for 15 minutes. Drain and make a shallow cut the length of the gourd. Being careful not to cut the fibers within. Peel the outer layer back and lift out the sponge. Knead the remaining seeds out of the fiber. Throw the sponges into the washing machine. Add a little soap and bleach and wash on a short hot water cycle.

Remove, spread them out to dry and you've got luffa sponges.

Growing your own sponge requires a garden experience, but you will be the center of attention because all your friends will want one for Christmas.