| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 6:32:07 PM
Has anyone grown their own Loofah sponges? I read about this years ago and just stumbled across it again and thought I might try to grow them this year. Any tips would be appreciated :) Thanks girls :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 8:31:41 PM
Jeny- So if you let them die on the vine they will dry okay? They won't go all mushy like a cucumber or something?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| jenybea |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 7:43:52 PM
I grew them for the first time last year. 6 plants grew about 30 loofah's. Give or take a few..... Drying was the hardest part. If you leave them on the vine till they are dry you will have no mold problem. But I was not always that good... if you leave them where they will be in a very dry area they have dry without molding. DON'T CUT THEM OPEN ON THE BOTTOM OR TOP OR ANYWHERE for that fact... I did and have some mold beyond use ! From what I can tell I need to hang them like gourds to dry. I have plenty of seeds though... I have a large yogurt container full of seeds... And I probably lost many more.
I just planted my crop for this year ! They have the most beautiful yellow flowers and attract the bees !! |
| Ingrid |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 09:24:54 AM
I was at the garden store yesterday and got some Loofah seeds. I didn't know that they could be grown. I'm going to give them a try and see what happens. I foresee great Christmas gifts with them.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 08:30:17 AM
Toni,
You beat me to it! I was just coming to post the link that inspired me 
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 07:47:08 AM
Toni:
Thank you so much for the link! I am so excited to grow them this year! I'll be using them for drying, I couldn't imagine eating something so stringy...
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
| lovelady |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 07:04:55 AM
My dad grew them one year when I was younger, and I think I may try them this year, too. I remember shaking the seeds out after they dried, then soaking them to peel off the outside. There were always a lot of large dark seeds inside, so it should be fairly easy to save the seeds for next year, and have quite a few to share, too.
I know that when the loofahs are still small you can eat them like a squash. And I can understand the person who thought they came from the ocean. There is something that looks like that, a sea cucumber, maybe?
Here is a link to blog I was reading the other day that talks about processing loofahs:
http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/03/processing-luffas-loofahs.html
She says to keep the ones that are a bit moldy and just soak them in a weak bleach solution to kill the mold/mildew. |
| Suzan |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 06:51:14 AM
This is interesting, be sure to keep us informed as how you all make out. |
| Alee |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 06:45:30 AM
I have been wanting to try doing Loofah too, so I am going to order some seeds. Maybe I will plant then in the alley if they stink that bad.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| nubidane |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 06:18:18 AM
I tried growing last year. The plant has a wierd kind of weedy punky smell. Mine did OK, but I had trouble getting the gourd to dry properly before it got moldy, so the insides(where the luffa is) was all moldy.
I got mine from Shumway seeds
Curious if any other farmgal has any tips. They do have gorgeous yellow blooms. |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 7:32:04 PM
I would like to Lisa. I am going to check around to see if I can get seeds here. Our growing season doesn't start until after the end of May but maybe these are hardier.
Where did you order your seeds from Lisa?
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 7:08:00 PM
Hi Sharon,
I just ordered my seeds, and put them in the ground 2 days ago. I was curious too, I thought they grew in the ocean! I guess you can eat them too...like a squash. They are actually a gourd!
Are you going to give them a try?
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
