Durgan
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Posts: 113
Joined: October 2011
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Post by Durgan on Oct 31, 2011 18:50:01 GMT -5
www.durgan.org/URL/?LHOFA 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. Apparently the fruit can be stir fried when young, but I only use them for sponges. 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.
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Durgan
Pro Member
Posts: 113
Joined: October 2011
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Post by Durgan on Nov 11, 2011 18:48:25 GMT -5
www.durgan.org/URL/?RHSLN 11 November 2011 Luffa Impregnated Glycerin Soap Luffa impregnated soap was processed today. The annotated pictures depict the simple process.The product is a slightly abrasive soap for removing dead skin. Method: Very dry luffa, crack the skin with a rubber hammer, shake out the seeds, wash and bleach lightly, dry,force luffa into the mould, melt soap in microwave, add selected color, pour into mould, after slightly hard place in freezer to speed up the hardening, cut into hand pieces. Molds are 2 inch PVC pipe.
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Deleted
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Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 13:02:23 GMT -5
I have tried a few times to grow luffas unsuccessfully :-(. I start them very early indoors and they are usually doing quite well in their little pots when planted out. After that it goes downhill, however, a lot of that is my own fault. I have been so busy growing other things that the luffahs have not gotten any attention at all after being planted. One year soon I plan to plant them again and focus on them and get sponges. I want to fill the empty sponges with liquid homemade soap and slice them. I also want to make thin slices of the dried sponge and make natural outdoor porch mats.
I just haven't had the time to spend on growing them properly yet, but it's on my list!
Your's are beautiful!
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Durgan
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Posts: 113
Joined: October 2011
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Post by Durgan on Nov 25, 2011 17:48:06 GMT -5
I have tried a few times to grow luffas unsuccessfully :-(. I start them very early indoors and they are usually doing quite well in their little pots when planted out. After that it goes downhill, however, a lot of that is my own fault. I have been so busy growing other things that the luffahs have not gotten any attention at all after being planted. One year soon I plan to plant them again and focus on them and get sponges. I want to fill the empty sponges with liquid homemade soap and slice them. I also want to make thin slices of the dried sponge and make natural outdoor porch mats. I just haven't had the time to spend on growing them properly yet, but it's on my list! Your's are beautiful! Your area is a bit colder than where I am. About half of mine didn't dry on the vine this year, and removing them and drying is not very successful, since they tend to get mould. Some years the crop is outstanding, but still a bit of a challenge.
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Deleted
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Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 21:58:58 GMT -5
You are slightly further south, but not much. How early do you start your luffas indoors? Do you grow them under artificial lights before planting out?
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Durgan
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Posts: 113
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Post by Durgan on Nov 27, 2011 15:10:04 GMT -5
You are slightly further south, but not much. How early do you start your luffas indoors? Do you grow them under artificial lights before planting out? I start indoors about the 15 of March, so they don't get too large before planting 1 June. Earlier planting out does nothing, since the plants cannot tolerate cold. The plants are in 5 inch pots and only one plant per pot. I am very careful about not disturbing the roots when planting, even if this means cutting the side of the pot. I never use artificial lights even if this means moving the pots in and out to a sunny spot during the day. I have a greenhouse but it can only handle an outside temperature of about minus 10C. Most seeds do not require light to germinate, and after germination they need as much sunlight as possible. Artificial light simply do not supply this need. My opinion is that they are almost useless for the home gardener.
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lmehaffey
Junior Member
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Posts: 45
Joined: December 2011
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Post by lmehaffey on Dec 20, 2011 9:23:30 GMT -5
I plan to grow luffas this season - although I have never tried them before. We do have along growing season, so hopefully they will do well.
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Deleted
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Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2011 12:29:06 GMT -5
I also have wanted to try and grow luffas,I grow gourds each year,just a few for crafts usually the bushel type.This year I want to try the bird egg gourds for crafts,going to plant them as far away from the veg plot as possible maybe up in the pasture behind the barn as for a few years now theres some bug I have not yet seen which is very attracted to the leaves of the gourd plants,when its done with them it goes after my canna lily's leaves,this year it managed to eat its way through a big stand of cannas,couldn't catch a glimpse of it ,the damage looks like bullet holes so its not chewed ,my only guess is its not a caterpillar.
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Post by coppice on Dec 20, 2011 14:41:38 GMT -5
Imehaffey and Cornishwoman some location information ammended from your profile would probably help.
I've grown luffa successfuly at Tilton and had it fail routinely in Barnstead and Henniker (NH). So, where ya grow it makes a difference as Durgin notes.
It is suseptible to all the pests other curcurbitcea (sp?) are prone to. Milky spore --white mildew used to get mine. Which is why I ultimately stopped growing it.
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lmehaffey
Junior Member
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Posts: 45
Joined: December 2011
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Post by lmehaffey on Dec 20, 2011 17:26:12 GMT -5
Good point! I'm in Zone 7-a.
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