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By Press Association 2021
Loofahs growing on their vines in the walled garden at Knightshayes Court in Devon (Liz Abdey/National Trust/PA)
They are best known as back scrubbers but an unusual plant is tipped to be one of the must-haves to grow this year.
Loofahs, which are part of the cucumber family, are native to south and south-east Asia and grow best in greenhouses.
As well as being eaten, they can be used as a sustainable alternative to plastic washing-up sponges.
Senior gardener Bev Todd cuts a dried loofah into sponges (Liz Abdey/National Trust/PA)
The National Trust is encouraging people to grow their own loofahs as they are as easy to cultivate as courgettes.