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The small yellow flower of the Loofa |
Published in Grass Roots Magazine 2014, and Live out Loud 2013.
The loofa (Luffa cylindrical) is a wonderful plant for its
diverse range of uses. An annual vine of the Cucurbit family (related to
pumpkins and zucchinis), it grows quickly over a trellis or fence, putting on a
display of lush green furry leaves, yellow flowers and delicate tendrils.
Commonly the plant is familiar as a bathroom sponge, made from the dried out
mature fruit. It also makes for tasty eating if the fruit is picked young at
approximately 10cm in length. The taste is similar to zucchini, but with a
little extra pleasant tang. Prepare just as you would for zucchini.
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Loofas on the vine, nearly ready for picking |
Last season I grew one in a pot. The plant thrived producing
an armload of fruit. So it may be an ideal plant to grow as a screen on a
balcony. Loofas are easy to grow; in spring, prepare a hole (or pot) with good
compost and sow three seeds per hole. Seeds are available to purchase from
heirloom seed suppliers such as Eden Seeds, or you can save your own from the
previous seasons crop. When the seedlings emerge, discard the weaker two.
Loofas are one of the hardier members of the Cucurbit family. They are
reasonably tolerant of a dry spell and exposed conditions, but for optimal
performance keep moist. From my experience they are fairly resistant to powdery
mildew that will often decimate pumpkins and zucchini, making it a good
alternative.
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The young fruit ripe for eating |
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May and June are the months for harvesting the mature loofas
to make into sponges. Most gardening books advise to leave the fruit to dry
either on the vine, or picked and left undercover, before processing. However,
in our climate they have a tendency to go mouldy and decompose. This season,
determined to produce a lovely loofa sponge free from mould stains, I am
picking and processing before the fruits completely dry.
I picked a mature fruit (at about 25 – 30cm long) and left
it to dry out for only a week on top of the fridge. The end of the fruit had
just begun to turn black at this stage. If you wish to leave the fruit to dry
completely, it will be ready when all the skin has turned black. The rest of
the process is easy. Soak the fruits in a bowl of water overnight to soften the
skin. Peel and squeeze out any remaining pulp. Hand wash in warm soapy water
and leave to dry in the sun. Walla! You now have a beautiful homemade
sponge.
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The homemade loofa sponge |
If your sponge has discolouration from mould, it can be
bleached or dyed. To bleach, soak in diluted lemon juice, or hydrogen peroxide
for an hour, then leave in the sun to dry. To add a splash of colour, place the
sponge in left over water from either boiled beetroot or purple carrots. Add to
the water just after cooking, when it is still hot, and leave to soak
overnight. Rinse well and it is ready to use.
Loofas make lovely handmade gifts. Dress them up with a
plaited handle made from twine or wool, looped through the end of the sponge by
making a small hole, and then knotting the ends of the plait together. Additionally
the sponge can be used for general household cleaning, try it as a dish sponge.
The only challenge with growing your own loofas is deciding
between how many to eat and how many to leave on the vine to mature for
sponges. I better plant a few more vines...