Comments (71)

• 6

  UbiqueContributor - April 4, 2021

  Hi Redneck, 

  Sorry to say this but, I stopped using Loofahs years ago when I found out that they can harbor bacteria. I don’t use those scrubber sponges either for the same reason.

  Here’s some info on the loofahs:

  https://www.southernliving.com/news/loofah-bacteria-dermatologists#:~:text=A%20loofah%20scrubs%20dirt%20and,trapped%20in%20its%20delicate%20weave.&text=A%201994%20study%20published%20in,patients%20with%20weak%20immune%20systems.

  But maybe, they taste really good and will be a lot of fun to grow. They look really interesting from the pictures.

   
  • 7

    RedneckContributor - April 4, 2021

    Seems to me, this issue could be attributed to any scrub device.  I’m sure any sponges or similar people have in their kitchen would be the same.  I’d hate to see the lab results from my kitchen scrub sponge.   I also note in that article, they picture plastic ones and not natural ones.

    Seems like you have two options in using them if this is a concern.  1) Take them out of an enclosed tub/shower & allow them to dry between uses.  2) Since they are so large & you can grow so many, slice them into rounds maybe 2″ thick, and dispose after use.

    

     
  • 6

    UbiqueContributor - April 4, 2021

    Hi Redneck, 

    The video showed a synthetic “Buff Puff” product but the article does refer to both Loofah and Buff Puff. 

    It caught my eye because of the issue with weakened immune systems. Some folks may need to understand this or if it is safe for them to use.

    You are correct that this issue can be attributed to any scrub device, which is why I no longer use those items, at least in the way most people do. For example, to work around this, I cut smaller pieces out of the flat scrubber pads for single use and dispose of them immediately after use.

    I do use a Buff Puff, but with stringent conditions for drying. I track when I swap them out also because these items aren’t like wash cloths that get laundered. 

    My husband never had a problem with his Loofah because he used to blast it down the centre with the shower sprayer and dry it thoroughly between uses. He used a whole one because it was great for getting his back.

    Anyway,  I wish you well with this new project. I always enjoy hearing about your experiments and learn a lot from you.

     
  • 7

    Alicia - April 6, 2021

    I’ve discovered the Salux which is a sheet bath scrubber that you can bunch up like a pouf or stretch across your back.  Much easier to pack for travel too.   It hangs and dries between showers.  I also wash it in a bag in the machine (no dryer) with the towels.  Has lasted years and never had any issues with mold or bacteria.  I’ve found knock offs of the original Salux at the dollar store (typically smaller and less exfoliating).

     
  • 6

    UbiqueContributor - April 6, 2021

    Alicia,

    Thank you very much for this info. I have immune concerns, so I’m always on the lookout for items that will be safe for me to use or have in my home. Much appreciated 🙂

     
• 4

  Liz Klein - April 4, 2021

  Always learning new things each time I log into this site! Didn’t know that this plant existed. 

  I love me a good loofah shower. Seems like once a month I use my plastic $5 loofah and do a good exfoliation over my whole body. All the other times I use a wash cloth, which doesn’t give as good of an exfoliation, but still not bad. After I use the loofah, or wash cloth, I just wash it with the dirty clothes to sanitize it. You do have to air dry the loofah though because your dryer will melt it.

  You’ll have to do some tests with your natural luffas Redneck. I’m curious to how it will turn out. Do you have an awning or something like that first picture has them growing on?

   
  • 3

    RedneckContributor - April 4, 2021

    I most certainly will test them out.  I’m thinking of letting them grow on the fence next to my blackberries.  You can see the blackberry canes in the background.  Otherwise, I have another one of these trellises that I make from fencing & welded tubing.  This is where I grow my pole beans.

    I do like to experiment with new varieties & plants.  This year I’m trying out a different amaranth & gonna grow upland rice for the first time.  And now I’ll have to find room for the luffas.

    

     
  • 6

    UbiqueContributor - April 4, 2021

    Liz,

    Something I learned about scrubs is to use ordinary white table sugar which contains AHA’s (Alpha hydroxy acids) contained in expensive commercial products.

    In the shower, I use sugar in the palm of my hand to gently scrub and exfoliate my skin. Afterward, my skin is soft and smooth. People used to comment on how clear and nice my complexion was and I told them just a couple of times a week with white sugar.

    Sugar is not great for our insides, but apparently works pretty well for the outside. Just remember to be gentle as with any scrub.

     
  • 5

    Liz Klein - April 6, 2021

    Ubique, 

    I don’t drink coffee myself but used to work in an office with a coffee machine. I would take the old coffee grounds and bring them home and spread them out on a cookie sheet and leave it in the sun to dry. If you don’t dry them, they’ll mold. 

    Once dry, I put them in a mason jar and had that in my shower. When showering I would sprinkle a bit into my hands and exfoliate my skin with them. Worked well and smelt great. 

    Just one way to try and recycle and reuse something. 

     
  • 5

    UbiqueContributor - April 6, 2021

    Neat idea, Liz. I will have to try that. I like to reuse and recycle, too.

     
• 5

  Josh CentersContributor - April 5, 2021

  I might try to grow some this year. I have seeds. My father-in-law is trying to get me to grow a type that’s called “climbing okra” or “Chinese okra,” though it’s not actually okra, but a luffa. We have a baby due in July, so I’m not quite as ambitious with the garden this year.

   
  • 4

    RedneckContributor - April 5, 2021

    New baby = Life as you know it gone forever.  🙂

    From my reading, Chinese okra is just another name for the luffa.  One article stated the young luffa taste & are used similar to okra.  In that case, we southerners will use it in soups & gumbo, plus slice it thin, coat with cornmeal & fry.  A perfect summer meal would have fresh tomatoes, corn on the cobb, green beans & fried okra.  Can’t wait for summer!  Our temps are headed for high 70s & 80+ this week so guess I will plant my sweet corn.

     
  • 5

    UbiqueContributor - April 6, 2021

    Aww Josh! Congratulations to you and the Mrs!

    You are growing the best crop of all this year – a baby!

    Next year you will have a little gardening buddy to help you 🙂

     
• 7

  Lindsey - April 5, 2021

  Hooray! Someone else trying to grow their own luffas!

  I made an attempt last year but it didn’t end well. I was too ambitious with the garden and started all my seeds way too early so I didn’t have any luffa sprout. This year I am making a second attempt and being a tad more patient about planting. The only person I’ve seen grow their own luffa is Epic Gardening on YouTube but he’s in Southern California with the perfect weather for them. Since I am in the Midwest, I’m not sure how this will go.

  Good luck! I’m excited to learn how it turns out for you!

   
  • 4

    Liz Klein - April 5, 2021

    I wish you the best of luck this next year Lindsey! 

    Why do you want to grow luffas? 

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - April 5, 2021

    I’ll answer why I’m trying it.  First of all, I like to experiment with new items.  Some work… some don’t.  In my climate of north Mississippi, it should grow like a weed.  From what I understand, it is not bothered by disease or insects, which happen to be high on my list of favorable characteristics.  It is dual purpose in that when young the fruit are edible and have some decent nutrition.  When old, they become a sponge.  I imagine in a crisis, it could be valuable as food, personal hygiene & barter.

    But also sometimes I just like to grow things that show how amazing & diversified nature can be.  I’ve grown glass corn for the sheer beauty of the corn.  I grew this a few years back & mainly used them for fall decoration.

    

     
  • 1

    Lindsey - April 6, 2021

    That is beautiful corn!

     
  • 4

    Lindsey - April 6, 2021

    Hi, Liz. Thanks for the luck!

    I want to grow luffa to have some biodegradable sponges. My household isn’t very adventurous with food. Both sorrel and sunchokes were down-voted by my fiance, and most of the children that visit us get “kid food” (hotdogs, chicken fingers, etc.). The fiance is more likely to give a luffa scrubbing sponge a try than to eat luffa.

    I might try cooking them for myself but I’m mostly interested in the sponges.

     
  • 5

    RedneckContributor - April 5, 2021

    I’m excited too.  In the Midwest, you probably would want to start your seeds indoors on a heat pad & grow lights.  Mine are nothing fancy & I got the pad & lights from Amazon.  The luffas need a long growing season so this will help you out a bunch.   Below is a pic of my setup that I’ve been using for my jujube that I’m starting from seed.  I put the tray outside yesterday as our temps are near 80 now.

    

     
  • 3

    Alicia - April 6, 2021

    We have jujubes in the produce store near me when in season.  How do you eat them or are they for another purpose?  Like luffahs.

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - April 6, 2021

    You eat them two ways.  If you eat them once they first start to color up, they eat like a small, crisp apple.  If you let them mature on the tree, they shrivel up like a date.  Another name for jujube is Chinese date.

    And yes, like luffa, they are supposed to be trouble free.  No attacks from bacteria, fungus or insects.  I have around 150 apple trees and most are under continual attack and require multiple sprays each year.  Could be I replace my apples with jujube.  Time & testing will tell.

     
  • 4

    Alicia - April 7, 2021

    I can’t imagine them getting like a date because I think the ones I got  were picked early/green.  No sweetness but also not bitter.  I thought they were nature’s styrofoam.  I’ll try them again if I see them. 

     
  • 4

    RedneckContributor - April 7, 2021

    My understanding is they need to redden up to be ready to eat.  Should look like this:

    

    And when allowed to fully mature, to the date stage, they look like this:

    

     
  • 3

    Alicia - April 7, 2021

    Thanks Redneck!  They did look like the top photo.  Were fairly flavorless.  I live in SoCal so unsure where they came from and if they need humidity to really sweeten up, they either didn’t get it locally or were picked green to ship to me.  Tree ripened is always best.  I’ll try them again.

     
  • 3

    Lindsey - April 6, 2021

    Hi, Redneck, thanks for the advice! This is my first year starting seedlings with a heat mat so I’m already getting more of a head start than last year. I put some luffa seeds into seedling trays this past weekend so hopefully they will come up.

     
• 2

  Gideon ParkerStaff - April 6, 2021

  Looks like so far we have three forum users that are going to try and plant luffas this next year. Everyone place your bets, and we’ll see who grows the best luffa later this year!

   
  • 6

    Lindsey - April 6, 2021

    Haha! My bet is on Redneck. That Mississippi climate is going to make for some happy luffa plants.

     
  • 5

    RedneckContributor - April 6, 2021

    Well, if they grow like their relative cucumber, then I don’t expect any problems.  One cucumber plant will feed us and all relatives.  Hardest part is finding them in those lush vines before they get too big, but that is not an issue with luffa.  You want some to get big.

    But I’m not competitive in the least.  I just enjoy the whole process from planning, to growing, to harvesting… and especially the eating.  I hope everyone has a bumper crop.

     
• 4

  RedneckContributor - June 21, 2021

  Anyone have some luffas started?  I put a few in 2 weeks ago & they are just now starting to take off.

  

  

   
• 3

  RedneckContributor - August 1, 2021

  Found my first luffa.

  

  

   
  • 2

    Lindsey - August 1, 2021

    Good to know what I should be looking for!

    My garden got a bit out of hand because of some medical difficulties I was having that prevented me from looking after it as closely as I wanted to. And like usual, despite good intentions, I planted two similar crops next to one another and then forgot which plant was which. So I’m not sure which of the vines are pumpkin and which are luffa. So here’s the pumpkin I have.

     
  • 4

    RedneckContributor - August 2, 2021

    The luffa fruit looks completely different than anything I’ve grown.  The blooms are different also.  The buds are in a cluster at the end of a stalk.

    

     
• 6

  RedneckContributor - October 2, 2021

  Last week I picked a luffa that was mostly greenish but gradually darkening up.  I’ve read to wait till they turn brown but then again, I’ve read if you do so in the deep south, with our heat & humidity they will get real dark & moldy.  I just left it sitting in the garage & over the days, it gradually got much darker.  So today I peeled it.

  The skin came right off in one big piece, which was nice.  I’ve read if you peel them when green, it can really be tough.  Note all the seeds that came out of the inside.  Also note that parts of the luffa are discolored.  They say to wash them real good, because there is some sticky sap on them.  That helped with the stickiness but really did little for the splotchy look.  So I cut the luffa in half and soaked the pieces in a bleach solution for about an hour.  That did the trick.  Now you are supposed to let them dry for a few days.

  Kinda cool I think.  They really feel good.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   
  • 2

    Gideon ParkerStaff - October 2, 2021

    Those are awesome Redneck! They turned out perfectly after that bleach bath. 

    Are you going to save the seeds and plant them next season? 

     
  • 3

    RedneckContributor - October 2, 2021

    Yep.  I like to save my seeds & replant.  I just planted some collard seeds that I harvested this past spring.

     
  • 1

    Olly Wright - October 2, 2021

    Great job!

     
  • 4

    RedneckContributor - October 2, 2021

    Thanks, however my plants didn’t produce a lot of fruit.  The plants are very healthy, very large and have bloomed all year.  They just have only produced a few fruit.  No big deal as I was just playing around with this and they aren’t taking up any garden space.  I still don’t understand how the luffa goes from young, edible gourd to a bath sponge.  Very strange plant.

     
  • 1

    JennyWren - October 3, 2021

    I have to admit, after reading this some weeks ago I added some luffa seeds to my order. The garden isn’t big enough for them, but there is a piece of wasteland out back that they could ramble about on and no-one would be the wiser.

    So I look forward to giving them a try. It would be great to be self sufficient in bath sponge and household cleaners!

     
  • 2

    RS - October 2, 2021

    Just another comment to say thanks for documenting and sharing this experiment in detail!

     
  • 1

    Josh CentersContributor - October 3, 2021

    Very nice. They’re apparently hard to grow. I got a lot of flowers but no fruit.

     
  • 3

    RedneckContributor - October 3, 2021

    I’d say they are incredibly easy to grow… they just don’t always produce a lot of fruit.  I need to figure out why, as I had tons of blooms all summer long and I have vast numbers of bees.  I wonder if their pollination is temperature dependent?  I know corn doesn’t pollinate well when it gets real hot.  I might try planting them much earlier next year.  I started mine mid June this year.

     
  • 2

    Josh CentersContributor - October 4, 2021

    You might have to either plant several to give more chances to self pollinate or manually pollinate with a q-tip.

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - October 4, 2021

    I have 4 plants in that bed.  I sure as all hell don’t have the time to manually pollinate anything.  🙂

    Wonder if it needs a different variety as a pollination partner?  Lots of plants, such as apples & pecans need that.  Never heard of a gourd needing it though.

    Seems this is not uncommon when growing these.  I’d like to figure it out, as I think I could sell these if I could grow enough.

     
  • 1

    Robert LarsonContributor - October 4, 2021

    Redneck’s Luffa Farm. Coming soon…

    Looks like that one turned out well. Are you growing any pumpkins this year?

     
  • 3

    RedneckContributor - October 4, 2021

    Yes, growing decorative pumpkins & gourds for the holidays.  Our house is already full of them.  I do it for my wife.  This year I’m not growing edible pumpkins or winter squash.  Next year she wants me to grow a lot more down in the orchard, between trees.

    The things we do for our wives.  🙂

     
  • 2

    Robert LarsonContributor - October 4, 2021

    “for your wife”… sure 😉 We all know you are a softy for autumn, and all things halloween. You at least got to appreciate pumpkin pie season! That stuff is heavenly.

    Hope we can see some pictures of the pumpkins sometime!

     
  • 5

    RedneckContributor - October 4, 2021

    Here you go.

    

    

    

     
  • 1

    Robert LarsonContributor - October 4, 2021

    WOW! And you grew all those? I’ve never seen those star shaped ones before, those are crazy looking.

    Mrs. Redneck sure is lucky to have a great husband that grows her so many cool things. Thanks for the pics.

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - October 4, 2021

    Yep, me & my green thumb grew them.  🙂  My wife normally buys these in the fall & last year, after the holidays, I busted a bunch of them open & took out their seeds prior to throwing them in the compost pile.  I have to admit that was a lot of fun.  Who doesn’t like to bust open melons?   I washed the seeds off, dried them, then put them in an envelope in the mud room refrigerator.  After I cut down the corn this year, I planted those seeds I harvested.

    So all those pumpkins & gourds didn’t cost me a penny.  This year, when I harvest seed, I’m gonna segregate them by type and plant much more in the orchard next year.    

    Happy wife… happy life.  Remember that young man!

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - October 5, 2021

    Just picked this volunteer gourd growing up out of a gully on the edge of our property.  I threw some of the rotten gourds in there last year, and it seeded itself.  I personally like the look of these gourds better than traditional pumpkins.

    

     
  • 1

    Olly Wright - October 10, 2021

    And you can’t eat those gourds right? They are purely decorative?

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - October 10, 2021

    Yep, they are decorative.  But I guess if you were hungry enough…   🙂

     
• 2

  RedneckContributor - October 5, 2021

  This video should show how the luffa flowers get plenty of attention from pollinators.

  https://youtu.be/wOVlL7NzYQI

   
• 4

  RedneckContributor - October 5, 2021

  I have a theory on the lack of productivity of luffa fruit.  As I mentioned above, I’m leaning toward it being a temperature issue.  I’ve had tons of blooms all summer, and still do.  I have a few mature fruit, but not many.  However, all of a sudden I’m seeing lots of young luffa fruit.  Only thing different is we have cooled down a lot.  So next year I’ll plant as soon as possible.

  

  

  

  

  

   
  • 2

    Josh CentersContributor - October 5, 2021

    It may make sense to plant them in July or August so they can germinate and then start fruiting September/October.

     
  • 3

    RedneckContributor - October 5, 2021

    Yes, but I’m afraid the fruit wouldn’t have time to mature fully.  I’ll see what my little ones do.  I think next year I’ll treat it like corn & get it in the ground first opportunity.  That way maybe it will set fruit before it gets hot & have plenty of time to get very large.

    You say you got no fruit.  Are they still growing & blooming?

     
  • 2

    Josh CentersContributor - October 7, 2021

    No, they died off and I scythed it all down. We had a baby in June so I didn’t have enough time to fool with them much. I’ll give it another shot next year.

     
• 2

  JennyWren - October 8, 2021

  Taking into consideration your experiences, Redneck, I’m going to sow the seeds under glass in February and get them growing well before planting out in June after the frosts. I might also sow a few seeds in situ in the next couple of weeks to see what happens. 

  The problem here are the winters. We can have a frost up to First week in June. But then Luffa’s may need a cold snap to get going? Who knows!

   
• 3

  RedneckContributor - October 10, 2021

  More and more I’m thinking luffa won’t properly pollinate when it is very warm.  Even more fruit is showing up along with the cooler temps.  This short video shows what I’m seeing across the whole bed.

  https://youtu.be/gWnPJBB6qzg

   
  • 1

    Olly Wright - October 10, 2021

    I didn’t know that luffa plants had such beautiful flowers. That bee sure was going to town on it at the end there.

    Can I ask a question about your water spigot with the blue handle in the video? That doesn’t look like one of the spigots that you need to pump by hand to get water out. So does it just use the natural underground water pressure or is it reliant on a pump somewhere on your property?

     
  • 3

    RedneckContributor - October 10, 2021

    I’d say luffa are worth growing for nothing more than the blooms.  They have provided food for the bees all year long.

    It is just a frost free hydrant on my well water system.  My well is in my garden, close to the house and I have a run that heads down the hill to the orchard, continuing to the horse barn & pond.  I have a second run that heads up to the upper barn, with apartment, and up to the street.  That hydrant is outside the upper barn.

    A frost free hydrant is rather tall, with the bottom below the frost line.  The bottom of the hydrant sits in a bed of gravel.  When you turn the hydrant off, all the water that is in the riser drains into that gravel.  That way I can use these hydrants even when the temps are below zero.

    

     
  • 1

    Olly Wright - October 10, 2021

    Thank you for the reply and diagram. That must be nice to still have access to water when the temperatures are below zero.

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - October 10, 2021

    When you have horses, they need water no matter the weather.  In winter, I put a heater in their 50 gallon trough.  When the weather is very cold, ponds can freeze over.  Luckily, with global warming, I haven’t seen a pond freeze over since I was a kid.  Back then, they did all the time.  We even had ice skates when I was young.

     
• 3

  RedneckContributor - November 6, 2021

  We have had our first frosts this week so I decided to pick the remaining luffa and clean up the vines.  Funny to think I was worried about the 4 plants setting a crop.  Most of the luffa are just starting to turn yellow.  They need to dry some & turn brown, so I’m gonna let them dry inside the barn for a week or two.  This will make the pealing much easier.  I loaded the vines into the tractor bucket & dumped into the compost pile.

  

  

  

   
  • 1

    Gideon ParkerStaff - November 6, 2021

    

    This is what my eyes looked like when I saw your haul there! That’s a lotta luffas!

    The compost bin beast will be well fed today. Do you think that big pile will be broken down enough by spring to go into your garden?

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - November 6, 2021

    I see now why they say you need a long growing season for luffa.  They really only started producing heavily at the end of summer.

    I doubt those vines will be totally broken down.  I put in all my pumpkin vines too.

    Interesting thing about luffa vines & it explains why those vines grow so prolifically.  Wherever a vine touches the ground, it roots itself.  That means each long run of vine has multiple rooting sections.  Makes pulling up the vines a real chore.  🙂

    I think they could make a nice commercial crop if & when I sell my stuff at a farmer’s market.

     
  • 1

    Gideon ParkerStaff - November 6, 2021

    I showed your luffas to my wife and she didn’t knew that they grew like that. She asked if you sold them, so sounds like people are interested out there! 

    That’s cool how the vine roots in multiple locations. I’m sure that’s to get as much water and nutrients as possible to puff those things up like they do.

     
  • 2

    JennyWren - November 7, 2021

    Good lord! All those fruits from 4 plants? That’s amazing. Did you get to try the young fruit to eat? I’ve read they are similar to zucchini.

    Maybe we could have a grow together next year and share our experiences. 

     
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - November 7, 2021

    Yep, just 4 plants.  And almost all came in late in the year once it cooled off just a bit.  All summer long, I had tons of blooms but very, very little fruit.  Then all of a sudden, it was like someone opened the flood gates.  The fruit grows very quickly.

    No, I never tried eating the young, tender ones.  I threw several in the compost pile and should have tried some.  I’ll make sure to do that next year.

    Sure, we can do that next year.  Only thing I did for these plants was to make sure they got a deep watering at least once a week… sometimes twice.  Also make sure you have plenty of bees as they set a lot of flowers.

     
• 2

  Giselle - August 20, 2022

  I’ve been growing Loofah for 40 years, using them for body, face, house and car washing.  I’ve never had a bacterial infection, but if you are worried about that, just pop them in the microwave wet for 1 min. and that will kill a lot of bacteria if not all. (It will be hot, so let it sit to cook, or use pot holder.) Also, I let my loofah peal itself.  I don’t harvest them until they dry on the vine.  What this does, is that it seeds itself.  I let them grow where the seeds fall year after year, against a fence.  But there are always plenty of seeds left inside the pods that you can shake out and save, which I do.  If the loofah is too big, just use a pair of utility scissors to cut them to the size you want.  I just retired a loofah I had been using for 15 years.  It never got mold, and honestly, it still had it’s shape, but after all those years it had lost it’s more brittle/scrubbiness.  I cut it up and use it as drainage at the bottom of flower pots when I plant something new.  You must let it dry between uses, which doesn’t take long because it’s all porous. (My loofah dries by the next day)  Also, you can run a chord from top to bottom, and use it as a back scrubber. (I would keep it whole so it covers more of your back.)  Multi-generation in my family using loofah, and we have never had bacterial infections, allergies, etc.  Enjoy growing and using your loofahs!

   
  • 2

    RedneckContributor - August 20, 2022

    I found you really need to let they dry on the vine, as you do.  Almost all those I picked that weren’t dry, got moldy before I could peel them.  The ones that did dry on the vine turned out great & I gave them out as Christmas presents to my wife’s girlfriends.  They LOVED them!!!

    I’m not growing any this year.  Growing lots of gourds, pumpkins & Seminole pumpkins.  I’ll try starting them earlier next time I grow some so that they can finish on the vine.