Follow these step-by-step instructions to find out if you can dry green loofah off the vine after you pick them before they turn brown.
Unlike growing radishes or microgreens, growing loofahs is a long term commitment. It was mild where I live in Sydney in August, and the vine was still producing fruit in July of the next year.
Loofahs are best left to dry on the vine. When their skin turns brown and brittle and their fibrous flesh dries into what we call a loofah sponge, they are ready to be picked. Take a look at the picture above.
I have been picking gourds all summer. By mid-July, the plant was slowly dying from the cold, but I still had three green, heavy gourds on the vine that showed no sign of turning brown. It rained hard for a while, and two of them started to rot. It was time to get rid of them.
It took a little over a month of daily sunbathing when it wasn’t raining and bringing it inside at sunset to get rid of the third one. It was still green and heavy.
I had already picked gourds that were almost dry and put them on the windowsill to dry (see picture above), turning them over every so often. This method worked, but the smaller gourd was black on one end and green on the other, and the bigger gourd (in the first picture) got a gross slimy mess at the bottom that leaked sap. There was no chance these could be dried indoors.
Could they be saved? I’m pleased to say that my trial was a success. I wrote down every step of how to dry a green loofah that was beginning to rot, but I was in a hurry and forgot to take pictures of the process.
Loofahs, also known as luffas, are a type of gourd that can be grown and harvested to create natural exfoliating sponges While they may seem exotic, loofahs are relatively easy to grow in many climates With some patience and care, you can have homegrown loofah sponges to use in the bath or shower. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to harvest loofah plants.
Choosing a Variety
There are two main species of loofah gourds
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Luffa aegyptiaca – produces smooth elongated fruits
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Luffa acutangula – produces ridges fruits with angled shapes
Both can be used to make sponges, so choose whichever variety you prefer. Look for heirloom seeds from reputable sources to ensure you get plants that will grow true to type.
Planting the Seeds
Loofahs can be grown as annuals in most climates. They need full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Plant the seeds directly in the ground after all danger of frost has passed.
Make small hills or mounds of soil about 1 foot apart and plant 2-3 seeds in each. Thin to one seedling per hill once they sprout. The vines need room to sprawl and climb upward. Install a trellis or fence for them to grow on.
Caring for the Plants
Loofah vines require about 1-2 inches of water per week. Use drip irrigation or give them a thorough soaking when the top inch of soil feels dry. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
The vines need to be kept trimmed and trained onto the support structure. Tuck stray tendrils back onto the trellis and prune any overgrowth. Watch for pests like aphids and beetles and treat organically if needed.
Identifying When Loofahs Are Ripe
It takes 90-120 days for loofah fruits to mature. You’ll first see male and female flowers bloom on the vines. If pollinated, the female flowers develop into fruits. The immature loofahs look like tiny cucumbers or squash.
The fruits need to be left on the vine until completely ripe and dry. Ripe loofahs turn yellow or brown and feel lightweight when picked up. The skin also becomes dry and brittle when gently squeezed.
Harvesting the Gourds
Use pruners to carefully snip the loofah fruits from the vines, leaving a bit of stem attached. Be gentle to avoid damaging the vines. Harvest all the ripe gourds and move them to a warm, dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sun.
An attached garage, shed, or covered patio are good spots. Lay the fruits out on screens or wire racks so air can circulate around them. Let them cure for 1-2 weeks. The loofahs are ready when the skin is crispy and you can hear the seeds rattling inside when shaken.
Removing the Outer Skin and Seeds
Once fully dried, the tough outer skin needs to be removed to reveal the spongy interior. Take the gourds outside and wear gloves for this messy task.
Using a rubber mallet or hammer, firmly tap each loofah to crack the skin. Peel it away with your fingers, working from the ends toward the center. Rinse off any debris under running water.
Next, cut off the dried stem and flower ends with pruners. Hold the loofah over a bucket and shake out all the seeds inside. You can save the seeds to plant next year.
Drying and Curing the Sponges
The harvested loofahs still need to be dried to remove any remaining moisture and bleach them to a lighter color. Hang them or lay them out in direct sun for 1-2 days, bringing them in at night.
To further whiten and disinfect the sponges, soak them in a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach per gallon of water for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely before use.
Store finished loofah sponges in a cool, dry place. They can last for many months when properly cured and maintained. Your homemade loofahs are ready to gently exfoliate!
Extra Uses for Loofah Sponges
Beyond the shower, loofah sponges have many uses around the home:
- Scrub pots, pans, and dishes
- Clean tile, floors, walls, and windows
- Dust furniture and polish chrome
- Wash cars or pets
- Exfoliate feet and remove calluses
Grow your own sustainable loofah sponges for free using these simple gardening techniques. With some practice, you’ll be harvesting bumper crops of this versatile plant.
How to Dry Green Loofah / Luffa
- Put on rubber gloves and start peeling the loofah from one end to the other. Because it’s slippery and slimy, it helps to have gloves on.
- Make sure to peel off all of it, because any that’s left over will turn brown and grow mold.
- Take off the slimy, dark brown or black parts that are rotting and throw them away.
- Once the skin is all off, use the hose with the strong spray attachment to give it a good rinse on the inside and outside, getting rid of as much of the slimy sap and seeds as you can. You may need to repeat this step a few times. Discard the seeds as they’re not viable.
- The loofah is a little cleaner now, but it’s still slimy inside and needs to be cleaned really well. You could cut it down the middle and take out the core, but I had other ideas. If not, soak it overnight in water with some eco-friendly detergent.
- The next day, squeeze out as much of the pulp and seeds as you can, then rinse the loofah well under running water and rinse it again.
- To get the loofah back to its original color, you may want to soak it again, this time in a mixture of bleach solution and water. I left mine soaking overnight.
- The next day, run water over the loofah several times to get rid of any leftover seeds and sap. Then, squeeze it all over to get rid of as much of that as you can.
- When the loofah is clean, hang it on a clothes line or leave it out in the sun to dry. Turn it around every so often so that all sides get sun. As it dries out, keep shaking it to get the seeds out. But I haven’t tried this method. You could dry it in a very low oven at 50oC or by putting it in front of a fan.
- The loofah is ready to use once it’s completely dry and all the seeds have been taken out.
Here’s the end result. I’m very pleased I was able to salvage some of what I have spent months growing and nurturing.
Though it takes a while to dry a green, ripe, or in this case, rotting loofah, it’s well worth the extra work after months of growing the fruit on the vine.
Harvest Luffa (loofah) and Make Sponges!!
FAQ
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