Smooth Luffa, Sponge Luffa, Climbing Okra, Dishrag Gourd (Luffa cylindrica)

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Feb 15, 2006

Smooth Luffa, Sponge Luffa, Climbing Okra, Dishrag Gourd
Luffa cylindrica

This picture offers the size potential (child's rocking chair, by the way!) as well as the size of the leaves.

Thumbnail by Horseshoe
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plant_fiend San Jose, CA(Zone 9b) Feb 15, 2006

Nice job there, Shoe. I think I might try these in my garden this year if I can come up with the space. I have heard these are edible when they are small. Ever tried 'em?

~ Angela

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kniphofia Cramlington, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Feb 15, 2006

Cool!

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Feb 15, 2006

Plant fiend...yep...I tried 'em. Turns out there are better varieties more-so than others for eating. The acutangula needs to be picked fairly young, long before it's "dishrag" stage.

Pick them around the 4-5 inch size, slice and cook. You can at this stage batter and fry them, sautee' them, or add them as is to soups stew. (I prefer them fried!)

L. acutangula (sp?) is the one you want to grow for a food crop ( and also can be used as a sponge if allowed to mature). Luffa cylindrica is the one grown mainly for a sponge crop as it tends to get more fibrous much sooner.

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NatureWalker New York & Terrell, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 03, 2009

What has happened to the picture? I can't see it.

~* Robin

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Apr 03, 2009

Hmm, I still see it.

Try holding down your shift key and click your refresh button. That should reload/reset your pages.

Shoe

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NatureWalker New York & Terrell, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 04, 2009

Thank you very much, Shoe.

I kept clicking refresh, but not holding the shift key down. That brought it into view.

~* Robin

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Apr 05, 2009

Great! Glad you got your pics back. Dave suggested doing that several years ago and I've had to do it a couple times. For some systems it is Shift + Refresh (F5) and other systems it seems to be Control + Refresh.

Hope you have good luck, and fun, growing your luffa (if that is why you were checking it out)!

Happy Gardening!
Shoe

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NatureWalker New York & Terrell, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 05, 2009

Yes Shoe, I'm going to be growing them out again this year; as I gave lots away as Christmas presents.

But this year I want to pick a few of them young, as I want to taste them too. Adding some fiber to my diet as well, like I really more!? Thanks again.

~* Robin

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