Hey Dave, luffas

How are your Luffa's doing?? How big is your biggest one??
We should have a contest to see who's luffa is the biggest!
Just wondering because I think you and I both grew them for the first time this year, and mine are coming along nicely.
Mollybee

Tried them this year, they grew, bloomed beautifully, lots of bees for pollination, but none set on. Any idea what could have gone wrong??

Sue, ya know I planted these things last yr too and nothing happened. I think it was b/c I tried too hard, b/c this yr all I done was planted the seeds and forgot them, with an occasional watering I just left them alone and watched them grow. I planted them on my chain link fence in the full sun and they went crazy!! The longest vine is about 20' long and it is still growing. I planted about 8 vines and I have about 20 luffa's and some of them are really hugh!!
Want one?? If you want we can trade a whole one that has seeds in it for something, that way you can have a new luffa and the seeds! e/mail me

My luffas did really well this year, actually. From about 10 plants, we got about 15 nice gourds. They are all consistently about 18 inches long and a little wider than a baseball.

They took 129 days from germination to the first harvest, and 152 days to the last harvest (also the first frost). They were still blooming and setting on new fruit when the frost hit.

These are very neat gourds and I really enjoyed growing them. I was astounded at how much time they needed, however, to produce fruit.

I harvested almost exactly 10 ounces of seed (at 500 seeds per ounce, that's 5,000 seeds). Next year I'm going to grow about 3 times as many luffas as I did this year.

http://davesgarden.com/gj/dave/viewentry/1533.html

Dave

Nice looking pics dave! (Nice looking journal too! So jealous.) I've gotten to where I plant luffa and also most of the gourds where there is already an established climbing area...fence by the chicken area, the fence around our fruit tree area, up the legs of the deck and onto the deck and then on up to the roof! (Makes a nice sunblock!) Have even planted them along the edge of the garden where the woods begin and let them grow up the trees!) I sure love a low maintenance garden! OzarkSue, I couldn't begin to guess why yours didn't set (you could always try the Epson's Salt spray next yr tho)...I wouldn't give up, they will come!

Great pics Dave,gonna try them next year too,from Molly's seeds' Another idea that I'm doing,is naturalizing our chain link fence' Whatever vines,grow on it,I leave,don't rip down in the fall' I'm getting a nice natural effect,not the shiny look anymore' In the winter,the birds like to harvest some of the spent vines for nesting too'

Beautiful pics. Dave
Think I will try them on the chicken yard fence next year. Can't hurt and might work. I will use the epson salts trick if they don't set on right away. even if I don't get any they will serve as shade for the chicken yard. :0

OK !!What do you do with them when you pick them?Dry them and then peel,or peel and then dry????

Don't take them off the vine until they are completely dry. They will be completely brown and feather-light. Also, shaking it forcefully, you should hear seeds rattle inside.

When it is completely dry, remove it from the vine, and pop a hole in the top or bottom of the fruit. Then lower the gourd, hole-side down, into a 5 gallon bucket and shake it until most or all of the seeds have fallen out. They will literally rain about 300 seeds per fruit into the bucket.

Once the seeds are out, then just peel off the brown skin. I find it is easiest to use a dull "butter knife", gently prodding the skin away from the sponge, starting at the top and working my way down.

Hope this helps!

Dave

Well,I guess I'm outa luck then.We are expecting snow tomorrow and I had to pick them.They are no where near drying,same with the birdhouse gourds.Oh well,theres always next year.Thanks Dave

Well this is my second year growing them but I Only got about two out of it and the biggest one is 19" long and
10 1/2" round. I got a late start planting them this year.

hmmm, wind I haven't measured mine yet but I think I will in the a/m and I will let you know!! hee hee
As for me, I went out today and counted 25 on my vines. The frost has killed off my vines already so I am going to have to pull them and bring them in. I'll have luffa's everywhere!! LOL

MY skins are starting to dry out and the Swan Gourds are starting to turn brown. Everything is turning out ok so far.
25 that's a lot of Luffa lol.

Hey Wind, Has the frost gotton your's yet? or are your vines still alive?
If ya need any luffa seeds, let me know b/c I think I will have plenty!LOL

MollyB my vines has been dead for a about a month, and I have the luffa in the house. I thank you for your offer and will let you know if I need some.

oopsie!! I guess I need to go bring mine in the house!!

Good luck with them, when they are dry I will share some projects that you can do with them and maybe you can share some idea's with me.

O Wind That sounds like fun!! I would love to trade idea's with you, I really do need some good ones since I have soo many of thes dang things!
KIT
Mollybee

They make wonderful wreaths, and I also use them in soap,sort of a built in sponge.

i fill them with homemade soap too, great for the body! Also you can make slip on sandals that keep the dry skin off the bottom of your feet and after they wear out, just pull the sewn on material or leather off & throw them in the compost heap. Would love to hear everyones uses for them.

ladystepper do you slice your luffa before adding the soap? I also use scent oil in the soap and sew the luffa into different shapes, then pour in the soap.

OOOO ya'll are just full of good idea's!! I will surely have to take a few notes so that when I get all mine dried out I can try some of your idea's!
Keep them coming ya'll!
hee hee

Molly they make wonderful christmas presents.

Wonderful idea Wind, I think I will have to get myself busy with that. That will take care of a few people on my list heehee Maybe I should put them in a basket along with some scented soaps and oils and and and O goodie now I can get started!!

windsurfer, i didnt think about slicing them before adding the soap, but have done it after the soap has set up. I think your idea would make it easier (makes it kind of like a soap mold) I like your idea of sewing them into shapes. I will have to try that.

Ladys I just cut them into 1/4 inches and the sew them into the shape of hearts and sometimes I add 2 or 3 together and make butterflies. I then put them into a container and old can,old plastic stroage containers(the mold) then mix scented oils in soap mixture, pour the soap into the mold making sure the luffa is completely covered and let cool. Then you have a soap with a built in scrub pad, very good for feet,elbows and any place you would like to scurb.

Now if I am dyeing some material for my quilting projects, I will dye a few luffa's for later projects. I dye eveything that I can think of.

At first I thought "What in the world am I going to do with all these luffa's??" But now I know!!! Thanks ya'll, These are some real good ideas and I plan to try them all!
YIPPPEEE!! Can't wait for them to dry out now, for sure!!!

Me to, the waiting is killing me. I can't wait for my Swan Gourds to dry, my airbrush is ready to go to work.
MOLLYB have fun and be sure to share pictures of your projects.

O you bet Wind, and the same goes for you...I can't wait to see your "airbrushed gourds"!! I have made several trades for different types of gourds, and I can't wait until spring so I can get these going also! I will surely get idea's from you on those too LOL

Dave.. Thank you for show the pictures from Hyperlink for Luffa and , I did not know what it look alike that just got from my friend send me few seeds of Luffa and wonder when suppose to start plant of this seeds? Please tell me... Thank You !
RedRose

Hey RedRose, I am pretty sure positive that you are suppose to plant your luffa seeds in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. That is when I planted mine, and they done real good!
HTH
Mollybee