During Alphabe-Thursday’s Rainbow Summer School, I chose to write about my green luffa gourds. Now, we’re up to G, and I’m revisiting those luffa gourds. We had a killing frost, and it made it much easier to see where the gourds were in the garden.
I harvested them over the weekend. There were quite a few nice big ones. Some of them were rotting due to our excessively wet weather.
To see if they were big enough to have sufficient fiber in them to make good sponges I put them to the test of throwing them onto the cement patio. This one broke apart–a sign it was not good.
Throwing this one just split the skin, so it was good.
I had to peel the skin off it. That was not quite as easy as it sounds. Those long stringy things are so tough they could be used to sew a pair of pants together. My fingers were cold and wet and soggy.
Finally, I had to go get a specialized fancy tool to help peel the skin off. Don’t laugh; it worked quite well.
When it is completely peeled, I washed it off and then set it on the chair to dry. I’ll keep turning it every few days to make sure the moisture doesn’t just settle to one side.
This piece of sponge comes from one that was rotting, so I picked it about a month ago. It still needs the seeds removed. If I want it lighter in color, I can soak it in a weak bleach solution.
I can slice it for bath sponges. I can cut it the long way and use inside a hot pad.
They are supposed to be some of the strongest natural sponges. To keep it strong longer, it needs to thoroughly dry between uses.
I certainly think I’ll try growing them again. Hopefully, it will be a bit drier, so they don’t rot. I’ll have to play with them a lot more once they have dried.
Be sure to visit Jenny Matlock for more Alphabe-Thursday G posts.
Teresa
Eden Hills 
I have no clue of such things to use as sponge but it looks like it works very well
Mine aren’t quite ready to use, but I’m hopeful they will be good.
I didn’t realize this is where luffas came from. Thanks for sharing.
I was really surprised when I saw the seeds in a catalogue.
I really learned something new…gourds that make luffas! Very interesting ! Thanks for sharing and for visiting my letter G post today.
On a whim a few years ago, I grew some loofa gourds and would like to try it again. I didn’t know about the throwing to the ground test to see if they are sponge worthy.
I wonder if putting some kind of support screening, under the growing luffa would help with the rotting? Nice sponges! I love ’em! Of course, I have to buy mine 😉
It’s just the wet weather. The ones at the top of the cattle panel were even rotting. Hmmm. If they turn out, I might have to send you one or two. Did you notice I have quite a few there.
So cool! I’ve never seen them grow before . I have used loofa sponges and they are really good . Neat post and thanks for the interesting demonstration .
I only know zucchinis (courgettes) I never saw this kind of vegetable. Very interesting !
That’s awesome! Looking forward to following this as they . . . mature? 🙂
Now that they are picked, I just have to finish peeling them, wash them, let them dry and then get creative! Thanks for stopping by.
Wow they look brilliant I am sitting here thinking I would love to have one in my shower best look out for the seeds might grow in uk and then I have next years Christmas presents
They do require a long growing season as they originate in the warmer climates. I had to start mine inside in March.
I’ve got to plant my seeds next year , need to figure out a good place to plant them. You’ll have plenty of sponges , they did great.
~ Be Blessed ~
Wow, what an amazing gourd! I had no idea they functioned as sponges 🙂
Very interesting. I don’t think our growing season would be long enough to grow these, but Jon’s mother would have a field day if we could grow them!
I started mine inside in March to extend the growing season. They are very slow to germinate and get started, so a gallon pot worked fine.
That was very interesting. When I think of gourds I think of the tan round ones. I never would have thought sponges came from gourds.
Wow, that was really interesting..
Absolutely never knew about luffa gourds!
I had no idea this is how those sponges were made. Pretty neat! You’ve taught me something today!
=)
I love your special tool! i really want to try this next summer … i don’t know if i get enough sun, but it would be a cool crop!!!
Hey! I wanna come and smash some luffa gourds on the cement!
You could probably sell time doing that for stress relief!
What a neat post! I didn’t know that’s how you even tested them. I’d like to grow some, too, but I don’t think I can afford the specialized equipment required to take the skin off! ha!
Thanks for a GGGGGreat link to Alphabe-Thursday’s letter “G”.
This was a neat post.
A+
Thanks so much! This is really a fun meme.
Do you ever sell any of those?? I really enjoyed this post. Good work!!
This is the first time I’ve ever grown them, but I’d like to sell them as part of the farm market. Right now I’m playing and learning.
That was fascinating! This is the second usage of a spoon I’ve seen in Alphabe-Thursday. The other was used for peeling ginger.
They are the next Swiss army knife!
Now, that throwing tip is new to me – I’ll try it next year.
It seems to work. I was surprised how big they had to be before they had enough fibrous stuff to make good sponges.