How do I grow gourds and loofa?

[Ratsny]

It's winter here so I'm planning what I want to put in the garden next year...
And, I'd like to try some new things that can maybe be used but not eaten.
I can get seeds for the luffa vine and for ornamental gourds but don't have much idea how to turn the fruits into nice body scrubbers and bottles and bowls. Anyone had experience with growing and/or transforming these?

[Green Aura]

I've grown both, but not for many years. We didn't have much success with the loofahs, as I recall. They grew OK, just didn't get to a suitable size for the shower

We had better success with the ornamental gourds - although again the didn't get big enough to make a bowl from. I had them painted in red, orange and yellow stripes in a bowl on the kitchen windowsill - completely useless but all my own work

[Ratsny]

Ah, shame Maggie! Got to try eh? I think i will give it a go even if it doesn't work out as planned i might be able to share some funny pics of my "creations". What's a windowsill without a bowl of tiny striped gourds after all?
Love your quotation by the way...

[Moonwaves]

As usual I have no personal experience to offer but do have a couple of links bookmarked for that someday when I live in a climate that I could grow them in in which I will have a garden big enough to grow everything I want do.

http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/?p=689


http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2 ... ofahs.html

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2 ... -soap.html

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2 ... ofahs.html

Hope that helps :)

[frozenthunderbolt]

I know there is an article in the NZ school journal about growing louffas but i have no idea which one . . .

[Durgan]

It's winter here so I'm planning what I want to put in the garden next year...
And, I'd like to try some new things that can maybe be used but not eaten.
I can get seeds for the luffa vine and for ornamental gourds but don't have much idea how to turn the fruits into nice body scrubbers and bottles and bowls. Anyone had experience with growing and/or transforming these?

I grow Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa) every year, and make sponges when growing conditions are favorable. Luffah requires a six month growing season, so they must be started indoors. Making sponges is a simple job if the luffah are dry, which is touch and go in my climate.Here is my experience.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LIILQ 21 September 2008 Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa) Plants growing

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BZPUP 6 April 2008 Making Luffah Sponges
(aka. Luffa, Luffah, Loofa, Loofah, Sze Qwa, Cee Gwa, Sponge Gourd, Dishcloth Gourd
Some luffah fruit that was dry was stored in the shed over winter. Others not ripe in the Fall were left on the luffah vine. Today sponges were made. The shed dried ones had fewer stains, but all were good quality. Usually I make them in the Fall, but neglected to do so in 2007.
Method to manufacture is simple, and takes little time.
Remove the shell, which is hard and comes off cleanly.
Cut the ends off and shake out the seeds. There are about 100 plus seeds in each fruit.
Wash in the washing machine with soap, a normal cycle works fine.
Bleach in a pan for a few minutes.
Wash again in the washing machine to remove all bleach with plain water.
Hang up to dry in the sun.

I have one from last year used to clean out the bathtub, and it is still in fine shape.

[Ratsny]

Durgan love the pics! I can totally see a luscious vine shading the extremely hot sunny side of our house in summer - might save us those few days of using the air con when i simply cannot bear the heat any longer. I have been looking at making soap too and read that someone pours the soap into the holes of the loofa then when it's firmed up slices rounds off and gives them as gifts. Cool idea eh?
Will take your advice and start them indoors. How exciting! Roll on Spring!

[Durgan]

Durgan love the pics! I can totally see a luscious vine shading the extremely hot sunny side of our house in summer - might save us those few days of using the air con when i simply cannot bear the heat any longer. I have been looking at making soap too and read that someone pours the soap into the holes of the loofa then when it's firmed up slices rounds off and gives them as gifts. Cool idea eh?
Will take your advice and start them indoors. How exciting! Roll on Spring!

The first time (2005) the plant was grown, I didn't know what to expect and put it behind one of the small sheds. It grew over the top and almost took over, until frost arrived. I didn't get dried fruit that year, but it encouraged me to try again.

Luffah would probably grow well in the Auckland region. Your Canterbury region is certainly more suitable than mine.

I didn't make soap, since the year it was contemplated, the luffah didn't dry. The fruit must dry on the vines or it is unsuitable for anything. But if nothing else the vegetation is an interesting conversational piece.