| Author |
Garden Gate:  Loofah  |
|
|
Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
 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 |
|
|
LisaLu
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Lisa
Wildomar
Ca
USA
126 Posts |
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... |
 |
|
|
Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
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 |
|
|
|
nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2879 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2879 Posts |
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. |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
|
|
Suzan
True Blue Farmgirl
659 Posts
suzanne
duncannon
pa
USA
659 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 06:51:14 AM
|
| This is interesting, be sure to keep us informed as how you all make out. |
|
|
|
lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
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. |
Edited by - lovelady on Mar 23 2009 07:05:56 AM |
|
|
|
LisaLu
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Lisa
Wildomar
Ca
USA
126 Posts |
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... |
|
|
|
Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
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 |
|
|
|
Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
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! |
|
|
|
jenybea
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Jenny
Caldwell
Tx
USA
10 Posts |
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 !! |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
|
| |
Garden Gate: Loofah |
|
Loofah
