Luffa. Sponge Luffa

[Durgan]

18 October 2011 Luffa. 18 October 2011 Luffa

Some dried luffa were picked today and prepared for use. There are about 20 fruit on the three vines. Luffa take a long season and my area is at the limit.
The un-dried sponges will be left on the vine until dry, then processed.

The shell is removed from a very dry fruit, then the ends are cut off and the seeds shaken out. A fruit is considered dry when it is orange/yellow in color and it rattles when shaken due to the seeds being loose inside the shell. The prepared sponges are washed on a gentle cycle in the washing machine, or they may be washed in a bucket. If badly stained some bleach is beneficial. The sponges are then dried and later they will be impregnated with soap mold for washing the body. The gentle fiber impregnated with soap is a fine scrubber for removing dead skin, much in demand amongst my family and friends. The sponges last forever and is great for washing sinks and bathtubs. Some seeds previously collected have been viable for five years.

[leighcat]

Awesome!! Thank you for sharing. I have some Luffa seeds but I haven't prepared my yard for planting anything yet...long story. I can't wait until I am able to plant them!!

[Trishagirl]

Great job Durgan I love your pics! I want to grow some too!

[misfitz]

Wow, that is so cool! I thought those only came from the ocean, LOL. That's totally going on the "plant this when I have a garden" list.

[peppermint66]

Like misfitz, I thought these came from the ocean, have always heard them being called sea cucumbers! So cool that you can grow them in your garden! I am complete and total envious awe of your gardening/harvesting skills! By the way, looks like you had a beautiful day today to work on them in the sunshine! Blessings to you!

[mommy2krj]

Silly question...what is soap mold? And do you have pictures of them with it in them?

I had no idea that something like that grew on a vine either. Crazy the things you learn!

[Durgan]

Silly question...what is soap mold? And do you have pictures of them with it in them?

I had no idea that something like that grew on a vine either. Crazy the things you learn!

I will be posting soon, the method of embedding the luffa sponge with soap. I have to buy the soap from a hobby store. I do have a suitable mold to hold the soap in the sponge, while it hardens.

[pat in east texas]

I planted them about 20 years ago. And harvested, and harvested, and dried, and dried. Very prolific. Still have some of them.

[valerian]

I'd like to try those, but don't know if I could grow them here in North Carolina.