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LUFFA

What is a Luffa?
Good question. A luffa is an all natural sponge that is grown, yes grown. It may be hard to believe but this exfoliating sponge comes from a gourd that looks like a giant cucumber.

The luffa has many names, both common and scientific. It is known as luffa sponge, loofa, loofah, sponge gourd, and many other common names. Also known as Luffa cylindrica, Luffa aegyptiaca, or aegyptica. It is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, and is also known as Chinese Okra, dishrag sponge, smooth gourd or loofah.

USES FOR LUFFA SPONGES
These natural sponge wonders of the vegetable world have many uses. They'll make your skin squeaky clean or shine up your dirty dishes. Luffa are soft and edible when young and can be cooked and eaten like squash or okra. They turn into a tough mass of fiber when mature.

Luffas are excellent in the bath or shower. The exfoliating action leaves your skin feeling the cleanest and tightest it could possibly be. Having someone scrub your back with a luffa sponge is an incredibly pleasurable experience. Home soap makers can include slices of luffa in their creations to add an extra cleaning boost to their soaps. A sponge on a handle or rope makes a great backscratcher. They can be cut into many shapes for pads, mats, and other craft items. Cut the sponges lengthwise and remove the core to make sheets of sponge material.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF LUFFA SPONGES

Luffa sponges will last a surprisingly long time if they are allowed to dry between uses, usually a few months. When they stay wet all the time they tend to deteriorate more.

Natural mature sponges are brown to light tan in color. Smaller young ones can be almost white. If you want to lighten sponges, then soak them in a weak chlorine bleach solution for about an hour or so. Commercial growers often use a hydrogen peroxide solution. Bleaching them for too long can significantly weaken the fibers. Bleached sponges look better for commerce. They are also cleaner and less likely to contain insects or other organic matter. Slightly green and/or stained ones can benefit from bleaching. Most sponges are fine in their natural state, without bleaching.

A LITTLE ABOUT LUFFA VARIETIES

Most garden varieties of luffa are less dense and more flexible than the large white chunks of commercial sponges. The commercial luffa is bred for size and strength. Most are grown in a warm climate and have the benefit of a long growing season.

A denser type sponge would be much better for things that require strength. A less dense sponge is more flexible and good for making things like luffa slice soap. Luffas cross pollinate easily so it might be difficult to grow different varieties together.

GROWING YOUR OWN LUFFA SPONGES

Growing your own sponges is fun and rewarding. Once they get established, the plants are quite vigorous. They grow on vines that can reach 30 feet in length. A strong supporting trellis is a must. Chain link fence works great.  The vertical method of growing these plants is most highly recommended.

Luffa should be grown in an area that has a long growing season or started indoors; it will take approximately 95-116 days to reach full maturity - a long growing season. Starting the plants indoors is necessary for cooler climates, then transplant outside after the threat of frost has passed. Germination rates are lower for outside plantings. Putting the seeds in a moist environment before planting helps increase germination rates.

The small seedlings grow very slowly while the roots become established. Once they are about 6 inches tall the increase in growth rate is phenomenal. When the vines bloom, bright yellow flowers attract all types of nectar gathering creatures. The flowers are pretty and abundant.

The leaves of a healthy vine have a glorious deep blue green appearance. The flowers are a vibrant yellow and can stretch to approximately 5 inches in size with correct growing conditions. The flowers are formed male and female separately and are open for pollination only 1 day.

The fruit itself will be a deep green reaching to approximately 12 - 18 inches long. It will have a smooth cylindrical shape, resembling a cucumber.

When the flowers wilt, slender cucumber-like vegetables appear. The vines continue to grow and produce fruit until the weather cools and the sponges begin to mature. They can be harvested whenever they feel mature enough. Typically they turn a yellow/brown color and feel lighter in weight from drying out. Mature luffa sponges can be any color from green to nearly black. Very small sponges can be mature and very large ones may not be ready. Size doesn't matter. The important thing is that they start to dry and lose weight. Time to maturity varies considerably as our sponges are ready anywhere from early September to late November. Many of our sponges are harvested after a frost occurs and the vines quickly die off. The more mature they are, the better the sponge fiber quality. Some smaller ones may mature more quickly, yielding a small soft sponge, good for washing delicate skin.

If the vines die before the sponges are fully mature, they can be hung in a dry place to cure before peeling. If they are really immature they may rot. Peeling green luffa is difficult but can be done if needed. If the fruits are partially dry, popping off the bottom will speed the drying process. However, if this is done while they are very wet it will allow insects and decay to set in.

HARVESTING AND PREPARING LUFFA SPONGES
When the sponges are ready for harvest they can be peeled. If they have matured they are usually easy to get open. Soaking in water will help the opening process. Wash them with soap and water, lay out to dry, rotating occasionally, as the water settles in the lower side. If they are stained, a soak in some bleach and water will lighten them considerably. Getting all the seeds out can be a challenge, but the drier the sponges are, the easier the seeds will fall out. Save the best ones for next year. You can also cut open the sponges in any shape you want to remove seeds.

The luffa is ready to be harvested for its sponge when the outer shell has begun to turn brown and the seeds can be heard rattling inside when the luffa is shaken. Typically this will occur after the first killing frost. After harvesting, cut the blossom end off of the luffa and shake the seeds free (be sure to save them for next year). Place the luffa in a pot of hot water and let soak for approximately 2-3 hours. At the end of the soaking period, the skin on the outside of the luffa should be able to slide off much in the same manner as roasting a pepper to remove its skin.

The sponge that is harvested will more than likely contain small spots and be darker than the ones that are commonly seen in department stores. If you care about the appearance, the creamy whitish look can be obtained by soaking the luffa in a mild bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution. This of course is not necessary for common everyday uses such as pot scrubs or whitewall tire scourers.

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