I really do love Luffa cylindrica , specifically Ridged Luffa , Luffa Acutangula . It is also live as ridged gourd , loofah ( the spelling used for the sponge ) , Taiwanese gumbo , silk melon , dishcloth gourd , angled luffa , vegetable gourd , and many other aliases . Whatever you call it , luffa is a truly versatile industrial plant with as many United States as name , and it is – without a doubt – one of the most rewarding matter I ’ve ever grown .
We produce our glorious luffa vines on a stretch of wooden track fencing that runs down one side of our front yard , where it begin pile of attention from passersby . We have had several the great unwashed stop on the side of the road to ask us , “ What are your beautiful vine with those funny attend clubs ? ” . The vines are massive with only two of them covering over 50 feet of fencing .
They are definitely not a harvest for square metrical foot gardening or tiny spaces . But , if you have room for a luffa vine , you should try grow this sport , versatile , and beautiful plant .
Loofah is well known by many people as the scrubbing sponge sold in bath and beauty shops .
Some people are actually quite surprised to learn that the sponges are , in fact , the fibers from mature gourd . Those fiber do make great bath sponge for exfoliating , and they are also useful to have in the kitchen for scratch mass and pan . The sponges are nice to have around , but luffa is so much more than a sponge . It can be used as flak appetizer , insulant , and even as a component of fiberboard panel . There are many more uses of this incredible industrial plant , but this is DiggingFood.com not Digging AmazingPlantsThatCanDo Everything.com . So , I will order you why and how to originate Ridged Luffa for solid food .
There are three metal money of Luffa , all of which produce sponges and are eatable when young . My in a heartfelt way love Angular / Ridged Luffa is the only one that is more than just “ edible , ” it ’s incredibly delicious . This gourd is a vegetable beloved in several Asian acculturation . It is used in many dishes in China where it is usually referred to as silk melon . But some the great unwashed also pertain to it as Formosan Okra . In India , Luffa is manipulate in stews and curries , and it is the master ingredient in many dish . When it is used in Indian culinary art , it is have-to doe with to as Ridged Gourd or Taroi .
Chinese , Vietnamese , and Native American cultures embrace Luffa and it ’s health benefits . It is said to have a “ cool ” burden and to help in digestion and free weight expiration . I ’m not sure about the legitimacy of those title , but they sound great to me . Some of the Luffa dishes we enjoy are incredibly salubrious . However , I liter doubt Luffa will actually facilitate with weight unit loss in our home because many of the way I ready Luffa include cheese or sauteing .
There are countless yummy ways to enjoy Luffa . The maturity and size of the gourd determine which way is well .
The very vernal and untoughened gourds can be thin slice , with skins integral , to be used raw in salad . They are just than Cucumis sativus , but can assist similarly . The young gourd vine can also be sliced , baste , and fried like okra .
As the gourds get a number turgid , but are still tender , they can be cooked in just about any way that you would prepare a Zuchinni . They are great grilled , shift fried , or baked in cheesy casserole . think me , loofah is a great squash replacement . But , it is in reality more than just a substitute because I would favour Luffa . It is a bit honeyed than squash and less watery . I reckon it actually makes a far better and more interesting casserole than squash .
The use of Luffa change as the veggie mature because their skin gets thicker and finally uneatable . When small-scale than 3″ inches in diam , they unremarkably do n’t need to be pealed . When the gourd are 3″ or more in diameter , most are peel before being used in Asian soups and stews . Once the gourds reach around 24″ in distance , they pop out to become fibrous and are best exit to mature for use as sponges .
The full life history cycle of the Luffa vine is a long one . To have fledged gourd for use as parazoan , you require 120 - 140 ardent Summer day , make this a perfect crop for longsighted Southern Summers . But , this should n’t keep Northern gardener from savor this vine . I would grow this mythical plant even if it were for only one of the uses I ’ve cite . If I could only have lilliputian Luffa gourd for salad silk hat or sauteing , I would still plant them .
If the vine were started indoors and transplanted in Spring , eatable Luffa could likely be get in some gardens as far north as zona 5 and 6 . Anyone , with a large fencing or treillage and 90 - 100 days of Summer , should taste to grow this industrial plant .
If squash borers destroy your squash every yr , grow Luffa .
If you have sex cooking Asiatic food , grow Luffa .
If you wish grilling vegetables , grow Luffa .
If you wish moderately yellow flowers , get Luffa .
If you want to have the most telling giant vine in your neighborhood , grow Luffa .
If you have a raw fencing that needs to be covered in beauty , grow Luffa .
When you make up one’s mind , as you sure as shooting will , to get Ridged Luffa , you will just need a few seeds . Well , unless , I ’ve inadvertently convince you to start a Luffa farm . Once you buy a few seed , you will never have to purchase them again . One mature Luffa gourd vine will produce enough seeds for you to start a farm or share with plenty of your acquaintance . Since I will once again have more seeds this spill than I will possibly need , I might as well share . I will be happy to send some your way of life . The first 10 diggingfood followers to email me their addresses will get liberal Luffa seed . send off those addresses todiggingfood@gmail.comand be sure to put “ Luffa Seeds ” in the dependent battlefield on those email . I only call for that you flirt with me by sharing pictures of your beautiful Luffa vines next Summer . you’re able to deal those pics with Digging Food on Facebook or Instagram . I desire to see the man covered inLuffa acutangula ! All you need are those seeds and the following grow tip .
Growing Luffa
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