Loofah plant. Loofah sponge: greetings from the tropics
Luffa, or Luffa ( Luffa) - a genus of herbaceous vines of the Cucurbitaceae family ( Cucurbitaceae). The total number of luffa species is more than fifty. But only two species have become widespread as cultivated plants - this is Luffa cylindrical ( Luffa cylindrica) and luffa sharp-ribbed ( Luffa acutangula). In other species, the fruits are so small that growing them as technical plants is impractical.
PekinensisThe center of origin of luffa is Northwestern India. In the 7th century n. e. Luffa was already known in China.
Currently, luffa cylindrical is cultivated in most tropical countries of the Old and New Worlds; Luffa ribbed is less common, mainly in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Caribbean.
Huerta Orgázmika Botanical description of luffa
Luffa leaves are alternate, five- or seven-lobed, sometimes entire. The flowers are large, unisexual, yellow or white. Staminate flowers are collected in racemes, while pistillate flowers are arranged singly. The fruits are elongated, cylindrical, dry and fibrous inside with many seeds.
Growing luffa
Luffa grows well in places protected from the wind. Prefers warm, loose, nutrient-rich soils, mainly well-cultivated and fertilized sandy loams. In the absence of sufficient manure, luffa seeds should be sown in holes measuring 40X40 cm and 25-30 cm deep, half filled with manure.
Luffa has a very long growing season, so it must be grown in seedlings. Luffa seeds are sown in early April and pots, just like cucumber seeds. They are very hard, covered with a thick shell and require heating for a whole week at a temperature of about 40 degrees before sowing. Shoots appear in 5-6 days. Seedlings are planted in early May in rows of 1.5m x 1m on low ridges or ridges.
judgefloro Luffa produces a large leaf mass and produces a lot of fruit, so it needs more fertilizer. Per 1 hectare, 50-60 tons of manure, 500 kg of superphosphate, 400 kg of ammonium nitrate and 200 kg of potassium sulfate are applied. Ammonium nitrate is applied in three stages: when planting seedlings, during the second and third loosening.
The root system of luffa is relatively weak and is located in the surface layer of soil, and the leaves evaporate a lot of moisture, so it needs to be watered often. In May, when the plants are still poorly developed, it is enough to water once a week, in June-August and until mid-September - once or twice a week. After this, water less frequently to shorten the growing season and speed up the ripening of fruits.
During the growing season, luffa is loosened at least three times.
To successfully grow luffa, it is necessary to use a support structure to guide and support the stems. If this is not done, the plants spread out on the damp soil surface, resulting in the formation of irregularly shaped fruits, which are often damaged by fungal diseases.
Several types of support structures are known, of which the most widely used is a wire trellis, consisting of two rows of wire attached to stakes installed every 4-5 m, like a trellis used in growing grapes. However, when using this design, part of the luffa stem still ends up on the wet soil surface. A more advanced design has so-called balconies, like for climbing grapes, but made of lighter material.
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Individual luffa plants are planted so that they can climb along fences and fences.
The luffa stems are tied to supports in several places. At the beginning of growth, all lateral branches are removed. To shorten the growing season, the main stem is pinched at a distance of 3 m. All deformed and late-appearing fruits are removed. Only 6-8 fruits are left for the cylindrical luffa and 10-12 for the sharp-ribbed one.
Under favorable soil and climatic conditions and correct agricultural technology, 3-5 fruits are obtained from one plant of smooth luffa, and 6-8 fruits of sharp-ribbed luffa.
Using luffa
Luffa ribbed (Luffa acutangula) is cultivated for its young unripe fruits, used as food like cucumbers, as well as in soups and curries. Ripe fruits are inedible as they are very bitter. The leaves, shoots, buds and flowers of the sharp-ribbed luffa are eaten - lightly stewed, seasoned with oil and served as a side dish.
Luffa cylindrical, or washcloth ( Luffa cylindrica) is used for food in much the same way. It is important to note that its leaves are extremely rich in carotene: its content is approximately 1.5 times higher than that of carrots or sweet peppers. The leaves contain 11 mg/100 g of iron, 95 mg/100 g of vitamin C, and up to 5% protein.
The fibrous tissue produced when the luffa fruit ripens is used to make sponge-like sponges (which, like the plant itself, are called luffa). This plant sponge provides a good massage simultaneously with the washing procedure. Portuguese sailors were the first to find such a use for the plant.
To obtain loofah, luffa fruits are collected green (then the final product is softer - “bath” quality) or brown, i.e. mature, when they are easier to peel (in this case the product will be relatively tough). The fruits are dried (usually several weeks), then usually soaked in water (from several hours to a week) to soften the skin; then the peel is peeled off, and the inner fibers are cleaned of the pulp with a stiff brush. The resulting washcloth is washed several times in soapy water, rinsed, dried in the sun, and then cut into pieces of the desired size.
Qurren
Before World War II, up to 60% of luffa imported into the United States was used to make filters for diesel and steam engines. Due to its noise-absorbing and anti-shock properties, luffa moss was used in the manufacture of steel soldier helmets and in armored personnel carriers of the US Army. Luffa seeds contain up to 46% edible oil and up to 40% protein.
Cylindrical luffa has both vegetable varieties and special technical ones for making loofah. In Japan, the juice from the luffa stem is used in cosmetics, in particular in the manufacture of high-quality lipstick.
The plant is quite widely used in folk oriental medicine.
An infusion of luffa fruit is used in Colombian folk medicine for chronic diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses. It was introduced into homeopathic medicine (in appropriate dilutions) for the same indications, including allergic ones.
Good afternoon, dear friends and guests of the site “I am a villager”!
Today we’ll talk about the interesting loofah plant and its use in our daily lives. My interest in this plant arose not long ago, and this was due to the choice of a high-quality and environmentally friendly washcloth.
By the way, the word loofah should be written with two f, but people speak and write it with one, let it be in the folk way.
After looking through a bunch of different washcloths in the store, I decided on a loofah washcloth.
The seller turned out to be very sociable, and we talked for a long time about the types and forms of washcloths, we came to the conclusion that loofah, a natural product, and a washcloth made from it is also natural and brings benefits and purity to our body.
I was wondering if this is a plant, it means I can grow it myself and try to make my own natural washcloths.
Do you know that it is recommended to replace washcloths every 2-3 months, for those who like to go to the bathhouse, but in the shower it is advisable to renew the washcloth every month. Then you will have clean and silky skin without inflammation and irritation.
The loofah plant is a genus of herbaceous vines in the Cucurbitaceae family. It grows naturally in regions of Asia and Africa.
Is it possible to grow this plant here in Russia? Of course you can, it grows very well in the southern regions by sowing seeds in the ground. In our Volga-Vyatka region and central Russia, loofah is grown using seedlings. But more on that later.
Loofah, an annual beautiful and branched plant - liana. The shoots reach a length of 5 meters. The fruits grow up to 70 cm long. It can decorate and shade a gazebo, form a beautiful hedge, and you will get washcloths from its fruits and wonderful cosmetics from its stems and leaves. Young, unripe fruits are eaten, and folk medicinal drugs are prepared from them.
Eating unripe fruits promotes and helps fight flatulence and bloating, treat chest cough, and increase lactation in nursing mothers.
Making loofah sponges
The very first advantage of this plant is that its ripe fruits make good washcloths, natural and strong. Medicine recommends the use of such washcloths. Using this washcloth, you will thoroughly cleanse the skin of old dead cells, it works like a good scrub, you will get an excellent muscle massage and clean, ruddy skin, and will reduce the appearance of “orange peel.”
Loofah fruits ripen late, in our area it will be in October; we remove the fruits before frost and place them in a well-ventilated, warm room to dry.
This process lasts several days and sometimes weeks. You can check whether the fruit is dry or not dry by taking it and shaking it; if the seeds inside roll and rustle, the fruit is ready for making a washcloth.
We soak the dried loofah fruit for several hours, it is recommended to boil water and let the fruits go there, boil for 10 minutes, this will make them easier to peel off.
Another tip, if you want a hard sponge, wait until the fruit is ripe, and if you want a gentle and soft sponge, remove the fruits when they are not ripe and put them to dry.
We peel the dried fruits from the skin, remove the remaining pulp and seeds, use an iron brush for this. Trim the fruit on both sides.
Wash in soapy water several times and dry. The environmentally friendly washcloth is ready!
And now you can dream up. The blank can be cut into any size, handles can be tied on, a massage mitt can be modeled, slippers can be made, you can even come up with different crafts. You can grow this amazing loofah fruit and make your own washcloths.
How to properly use a loofah sponge
Before you use it, soak it in hot water for 2-3 minutes, you can rub it.
Despite its naturalness and excellent effect, it is advised not to use a loofah washcloth more than 2 times a week, especially for those with sensitive skin. Everything is good in moderation, use body cream after using a loofah washcloth.
After use, wash the washcloth well and dry it.
Loofah is a source of income
Making loofah sponges is a good way to earn money; you can grow several bushes - vines, harvest and make a lot of natural sponges. Agree with stores and sell. From 20 loofah bushes, with good care and proper placement, you can prepare up to 800 loofahs of different sizes.
Loofah washcloths are expensive, but the profit will be significant. Having gained experience, you can expand your production of washcloths and provide them to the entire area. This is a good cash addition to your budget.
Loofah - how to grow a natural loofah
This is how you can grow this wonderful and beautiful loofah plant.
Loofah for skin care
Moisturizing mask
This wonderful mask is suitable for all our skin, for hands, heels and décolleté.
Grind the loofah leaves and add a little honey, a few drops of olive oil and apply to the skin for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and apply nourishing cream.
Lotion
Squeeze the juice from the young stems and leaves of the loofah and wipe your face and hands with it. It acts as a mild bleaching agent.
Use loofah sponges and sponges, they are good for removing makeup. Apply cleanser to a dampened sponge and wipe your face in a circular motion, then rinse with warm water.
This cleansing improves blood circulation and removes old cells, which helps even out skin color. When caring for your body skin, it is highly recommended to use a loofah sponge.
Loofah is used in making handmade soap; this plant is very popular among soap makers. Soap made from loofah has an exfoliating effect, which is very beneficial for our skin.
Today we met an amazing and useful loofah plant, try planting it in your garden and grow your own loofahs.
The site “I am a villager” wishes you good health and good mood!
Absolutely all luffas are plants from the humid tropics. There are about 50 species of this culture, but the most common are cylindrical And sharp-toothed.These are the most common species, the rest are not so significant and almost no one is engaged in their cultivation, since it is impractical.
If we compare these two varieties, it should immediately be noted that the sharp-toothed luffa has rather small fruits than the cylindrical one. It is cold-resistant and early ripening.
This plant is a herbaceous vine, which is not at all picky, which is why caring for it is so easy. Luffa has one feature - a long growing season. This crop, like cucumber, does not like transplantation, so to grow it you should choose a less traumatic method of transplanting seedlings. Caring for seedlings is the same as for pumpkin.
It should be noted that over time, humanity began to give preference to environmentally friendly materials and products. In bathrooms, brightly colored sponges and washcloths, which are made from synthetic materials, are increasingly rare. Synthetics used to be admired, but now people have become wiser and have relegated it to second place. The leaders are materials donated by nature, such as luffa.
The luffa plant belongs to the pumpkin family, whose habitat is Africa. India, China or Crimea. Externally, luffa fruits resemble a regular cucumber, but much larger. They are green and corrugated, and can grow up to 7 meters in length. In this regard, people began to call the fruits of this plant “mad cucumber.” It becomes such only after maturation. During this period, a hole appears on the surface of the fetus, and mucus accumulates inside. Next, there is an inexplicable process of transformation of the luffa into a kind of cannon that shoots seeds.
The ripe plant is picked and hung to dry. The peel is then separated by immersing the luffa in boiling water for a few minutes. Now it can be washed in soapy water and dried. This is how an environmentally friendly washcloth is born. Unripe fruits are used because the products made from them are softer and more tender.
The luffa washcloth has its advantages:
- stimulation of blood circulation;
- hypoallergenic, non-irritating;
- skin cleansing;
- the washcloth has a lymphatic drainage effect;
- fight against cellulite and stretch marks.
The production of this crop is carried out in such countries as: the Caucasus, China, Crimea, Central Asia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, America and India. Most countries do this purely for commercial purposes.
Many designers argue that this plant is underestimated, despite the fact that it is a true work of nature. The fairly famous Mexican designer Lappos combines the fruits of this culture with ceramics and wood in his works, after which eco-collections appear that are ideal for the office and home. These are very original things, for example: furniture parts, chests, vases or screens. Glasses made from luffa can retain heat for a long time without burning your hands. The plant makes wonderful shades for floor lamps, with the help of which the light is distributed more softly throughout the room. For many designers, luffa is the same as wicker, which is a seamless material. If this crop grows in a dacha, then this is a great opportunity to demonstrate your creative abilities.
How to choose
When purchasing, you should pay special attention to the appearance of the luffa. There should be no damage to the fruits.
How to store
Like any other plant, luffa does not last long, so it must be frozen if you use it for cooking. A washcloth made from this plant is only suitable for six months. In order for it to last all this time, you need to take care of it: rinse with running water and dry well.
In cooking
In Asian cuisine, unripe fruits are used to prepare many dishes.
Young fruits, buds, ovaries and flowers of luffa are edible, and most importantly, low in calories.
It is used to prepare a variety of soups, sauces, stews, and salads. Luffa can be fried and stewed in the same way as zucchini.
In culture
Many people mistakenly believe that only washcloths are made from luffa, but this is not true. It is known that in the 20th century, ripe cylindrical fruits were used to make technical parts: air and fuel filters. Recently, synthetic materials have begun to be used for these purposes.
Nutritional value per 100 grams:
Beneficial properties of luffa fruit
Composition and presence of nutrients
Luffa fruits contain fiber, vitamins, potassium and phosphorus salts, triterpenoids, folic acid, iron and carotene.
Useful and healing properties
This plant is a wonderful doctor. Using luffa juice you can cure conjunctivitis and also get rid of problems with oily skin. For anemia, the fruits and ovaries of the mad cucumber are used. It is very useful for diseases of the respiratory system, but in addition, luffa has a strengthening effect. Many medicines are produced from this plant. These medications are used for joint pain. Infusions made from cucumber fruits are prescribed to people with chronic nasal diseases.
Luffa porridge helps get rid of chest cough.
This plant has an antipyretic effect, so in oriental medicine, patients with high fever are always given luffa.
Young mothers also need this plant, as it can be used to increase lactation.
Dangerous properties of luffa fruits
It should be noted that at the moment no contraindications for use have been identified, except for individual intolerance.
Nature never ceases to amaze us with its masterpieces, one of which is the luffa. Dishes made from this plant not only satisfy the appetite, but also heal. A washcloth also brings great benefits to our body.
While choosing seeds, I saw a bag of luffa, read the summary, and became interested. My children have allergies, so we need natural washcloths. What is a luffa? How to grow seedlings, at what time should they be planted in a greenhouse? Is it possible to transplant grown plants into open ground so as not to take up greenhouse space?
Luffa is a genus of annual vine-like plants belonging to the pumpkin family. Washcloths are made from the ripened fruits of luffa cylindrical, and it is its seeds that are commercially available. It is worth noting that compared to polymer washcloths, natural ones are better at removing dead skin particles and do not cause allergic irritation. Dried luffa fruits store well and can be used for several years. Unripe fruits and leaves are used for food (they contain 1.5 times more carotene than carrots).
This is what a luffa plant with fruits looks like in the photo
The growing season of luffa is long, so even in the southern regions seedlings should be grown. It is advisable to do this in the first ten days of March. When growing luffa from seeds at home, before sowing, they need to be disinfected by placing them in a solution of phytosporin or potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, rinsing under running water, treating with a growth stimulator and spreading on a damp cloth for germination. Luffa seeds germinate at a temperature of about 28-30 °C. The container with seeds can be placed on the radiator by placing a towel folded in several layers. The fabric must not be allowed to dry out; it must be constantly damp.
If sprouts do not appear within a week, you can help the seeds by carefully opening the doors. Seeds that have sprouted must be immediately planted in separate containers (at least 400 ml) with disinfected light nutrient soil to a depth of 2 cm. Before germination (3-4 days), the container with sowing should be covered with a transparent film. To prevent mold from forming on the soil surface, crops must be ventilated daily and moistened if necessary.
Luffa shoots are very similar to cucumber shoots
From the moment of germination, the container must be moved to a light windowsill, removing the film (glass). The moisture content of the soil should be taken seriously; it is extremely undesirable to allow it to dry out. The optimal temperature for the growth of seedlings, very similar to cucumber, is about 20 ° C. Luffa develops quickly. After 5 true leaves, tendrils begin to form and support is required.
If the greenhouse is heated and the night temperature does not fall below 15 °C, then it is more convenient to grow luffa seedlings in a greenhouse. If the temperature in the greenhouse differs from that specified, then it makes sense to grow the seedlings indoors and then transplant them into open ground or a greenhouse. It is advisable to think through the issue of supports before transplanting seedlings. Luffa is thermophilic and cannot tolerate frost or sudden drops in temperature. In regions with cool summers, it can only be grown in greenhouses.
Ripe and unripe luffa fruits
Considering the rapid growth of luffa (it can grow up to 7 m), at least 1 m should be left between neighboring specimens. It is convenient to plant it along a stretched plastic mesh (sold in specialized stores). Otherwise, the plants will suppress each other and develop worse. It is undesirable for plants to climb trees, because... In this case, injury to the fruits and their subsequent rotting are possible.
Luffa leaves are carved and pubescent. It blooms in July with large yellow flowers. Female flowers are solitary, male flowers are collected in racemes (2-3 pcs.). Insects willingly visit them, so, as a rule, there are no problems with pollination. Each plant can produce up to 12 fruits. Unripe fruits can weigh up to 3 kg. When ripe, they dry out and their weight decreases.
Luffa seeds and fibers from ripened fruit
Luffa is moisture-loving, just like cucumbers, the root system is superficial, so regular watering with warm water is required. It requires at least 5 feedings per season with complex fertilizers for pumpkin crops or similar. To speed up the ripening of fruits, the central shoot can be pinched when it reaches 4 m. It is advisable to remove late-forming fruits so that they do not deplete the plant.
When the night temperature drops to 10 ° C, luffa fruits must be collected, even if they are not ripe, otherwise they may be affected by anthracnose and it will be impossible to use them. Unripe fruits ripen well in a warm room hanging.
The photo shows a finished luffa washcloth.
When the luffa fruits turn yellow, the shell should be removed. Large seeds are located inside the fibers; they are easy to shake out. The “skeleton” needs to be washed from the pulp (if it has not all dried out) and dried well. The natural washcloth is ready.
Loofah is a plant belonging to the genus of herbaceous vines and belonging to the pumpkin family. At first glance, it cannot be distinguished from the most ordinary zucchini, but the whole secret lies in the unique porous structure of the fruit pulp. Loofah is native to hot tropical countries - Africa, Asia, India and Oceania. However, as many years of experience show, it is possible to successfully grow luffa on an industrial scale in the south of the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea. But even this territorial demarcation does not prevent good “home” harvests from being collected in the central part of Ukraine and in the middle latitudes of Russia.
According to some data, growing “porous zucchini” can be done even during the short polar summer in the north! The main thing is to provide the plant with the proper conditions.
So if you live in a moderately cold climate zone and have your own plot or small garden, you can successfully grow a loofah (photo). In nature, there are more than 50 varieties of this plant, but only two of them are used for domestic needs - sharp-ribbed and cylindrical. All the rest grow too small and do not have the necessary physical characteristics for which large fruits are valued.
Loofahs can be used in different ways: young, slightly unripe fruits go to the dinner table, and ripe or overripe fruits are the raw material for creating unique natural loofahs. Why exactly to grow the fruit is up to you, but in any case, loofah is an amazingly useful crop.
Varieties of luffa
As mentioned above, only two varieties of loofah are used for cultivation on an industrial scale. Each of them takes root easily and bears fruit richly even at home.
Ribbed loofah
This variety is grown mainly for culinary needs - young juicy fruits are cut a little earlier than the required ripening period and delicious healthy dishes are prepared. The sharp-ribbed loofah is distinguished by small oblong cone-shaped fruits from 30 to 40 cm long. The pulp is wrapped in a very thick leathery peel, which can only be removed if the fruit is soaked in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
Interestingly, the flowers of the ribbed luffa bloom exclusively at night, therefore, they are pollinated only by nocturnal insects. The plant has a rather short growing season, but it is very unpretentious, so it bears fruit even in the most unsuitable conditions. In addition, this variety is less susceptible to fungal diseases than the cylindrical loofah.
Cylindrical loofah
It is from this variety of loofah that those famous eco-washcloths that can be found in any supermarket are obtained. In general, the topic of environmentally friendly products is now extremely relevant, and products with the appropriate sticker are several times more expensive than ordinary ones. This also applies to loofah sponges, so if you want to enjoy the gifts of nature and not overpay for it, grow loofah sponges in your garden.
The fruits of the cylindrical luffa are 2 times larger than the sharp-ribbed ones and reach 60-75 cm in length. They become pointed closer to the stalk, have more tender and lighter flesh, and a thin peel that is easy to remove. But this variety has its own growing characteristics that should be taken into account if you want to get a rich harvest.
How to grow a loofah
Despite the rules and specifics of cultivating loofah, it can be grown almost anywhere. In moderately cold climates, it is best to grow it from seedlings rather than seeds if you want good, large sponges. The age of the seedlings should be at least 30-40 days.
Planting seeds
Before growing a loofah from seeds, you need to find high-quality raw materials. Seeds can be purchased at many plant growing stores or ordered online. Before planting, it is important to warm them in the sun or in an incubator (on a battery) at a temperature of about 40C for a week. After this, soak them in aloe juice diluted with warm water in a 1:1 ratio. Aloe nutrients will “wake up” the seeds and activate growth function.
Loofah seeds need to be planted 1 at a time. into separate containers with loose soil saturated with microelements to a depth of about 2 cm. Since loofah tolerates transplants extremely poorly, it is better to immediately plant it in peat cups or dishes made of any other organic material. The diameter of the container should be at least 6-7 cm. Planting is done in April, when serious frosts are no longer expected.
Drown the seeds into the ground, cover with soil, pour water at room temperature (you can use the same water you soaked in) and cover the pots with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. Do not remove the film until strong sprouts appear (to do this, you need to fill the pot with soil not completely, but leave 3-4 cm). Do not be afraid that the sprouts will not have enough moisture - what you watered the first time will be enough, and gradually it will accumulate on the inside of the film in the form of condensation.
Place the loofah pots on the windowsill above the radiator on the sunny side. The optimal temperature for growing seedlings is +30C. The first shoots will appear after 6-8 days. When this happens, move the pots to a cooler place to lower the temperature to +20C.
When the sprouts get stronger, remove the film and pour mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 over them. Mullein is a very useful and popular organic fertilizer, which is a fermented solution of cow dung. You can buy it in a store, at a nearby farm, or make it yourself. To prepare, take fresh cow dung and pour boiling water into it in a ratio of 1:5. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until smooth, cover with a lid and leave to ferment for a couple of weeks. In this case, the mixture must be stirred every 2-3 days. When the solid fractions begin to settle to the bottom, and the color of the solution itself changes, the mullein will be ready.
When the sprouts have 6 leaves and small “antennae”, you should provide support so that the loofah clings to it (after all, this is a real vine).
Planting in open ground
When spring takes the reins and the night temperature does not drop below +13C, loofah seedlings can be planted in the garden. Plant them in even rows on low beds or ridges, making a fairly large distance of about 1 m. This is necessary because the loofah has many large leaves.
It should be remembered that since the homeland of loofah is hot countries, the soil there is different - lighter, looser and rich in nutrients. Therefore, use carefully processed suspensions and plant the plants in warm, sunny and windless areas of the garden.
It is recommended to grow loofah seedlings if you want to get large, “fleshy” loofahs. But for culinary and other needs, you can simply plant the seeds. To do this, dig 30x30cm holes about 25cm deep and fill them halfway with cow dung.
The seedling method of cultivation is also preferable because it gives an earlier and richer harvest, especially in the case of cylindrical loofah, which has a longer growing season. Bury the seedlings into the ground up to the cotyledon leaves.
When planting each sprout, immediately provide support for it so that the root system develops without the risk of injury. If you insert support sticks after a week, you can snag the roots and destroy the fragile plant.
Useful information: loofah can be used not only as a fruit crop, but also as a garden decoration. Its large green leaves and beautiful flowers will delight the eye from July to September. Large yellow loofah flowers can reach a diameter of 10 cm. The female flowers open first, then the male ones (they are larger and collected in tassels of 2-3 pieces).
Loofah care
Despite the fact that the fruits of the loofah are one-to-one similar to zucchini, it is still a vine with a large leaf mass. That is why it needs to be provided with appropriate conditions - given a lot of space and constantly fed with fertilizers. You should start already at planting - by 1 square. m of land will require about 5 kg of manure and a complex of inorganic fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate). The amount of fertilizer should be calculated based on the chemical characteristics of the soil in your area.
As it grows, the loofah needs to be fed 2-3 times a month with a special mixture of 1 kg of mullein, a glass of ash and a bucket of water. During flowering, feed the plants with nitrogen fertilizers.
Despite its impressive size and power, the loofah has a rather weak root system - all its strength goes into large leaves, which evaporate a large amount of moisture every day. Therefore, it should be watered quite often, and it is advisable to do this with a hose with a sprayer to simulate the effect of light tropical rain. In the middle and end of May, when the loofah has not yet had time to grow, it needs to be watered once every 5-7 days, and when it rises to its full height (June-September) - once every 2-3 days. At the end of September, after flowering has completed, watering should be reduced to shorten the growing season and speed up the ripening of the crop.
To successfully cultivate loofah, it is recommended to use support structures that will support and guide the stems with heavy leaves. If proper support is not provided, the loofah will produce distorted fruits that are likely to be affected by fungal diseases picked up as a result of contact with the ground. Tie the stems of the plant in several places, and remove the side branches completely in the first stages of growth to form a powerful, beautiful vine.
Helpful tip: To shorten the growing season as much as possible, pinch the main stem 3 m from the ground. Remove all warped, too late, and especially fungal-infected fruits. For a cylindrical loofah, 7-8 “zucchini” should be left on one vine, for a sharp-ribbed one – 11-12 pieces. If you want to get large loofahs, limit the number of ovaries for a cylindrical loofah to 5 pieces, for a sharp-ribbed one - to 8 pieces. This way, all the energy and nutrients the plant receives from water and soil will go to the remaining fruits.
You should not let the loofah wrap around trees, as contact with the branches may damage the ovaries and you will not get a harvest.
Harvesting
If you provide the loofah with the proper conditions, you can get up to 12 large fruits from one plant. When they ripen, they dry out and decrease in size. The “zucchini” should be removed with the onset of cold nights, when the temperature drops below +10C. At the same time, you can cut even unripe fruits - they will “reach” in the room or on the windowsill. By the way, if you want to get seeds for planting, cut off the fruits that do not have a hole at the end.
When the peel turns yellowish, it can be removed. Place the fruit in boiling water for a few minutes and remove the shell along with the seeds. All you will be left with is precious porous pulp made from tough fibers. Dry the seeds and place them in a paper bag to plant a loofah next year.
Helpful advice: To make sure the loofah is ripe, take the fruit and shake it over your ear - if it sounds like a rattle, then you can start cleaning it.