Gourd - luffa

[Corzhens]

I just want to brag about our gourd that is starting to bear flower. It is not an ordinary vine because the trellis was ruined by the strong winds of the typhoon. When it fell down, we didn't touch it and now we are surprised that it had grown and is about to bear fruits soon. We call it Patola and the translation is loofa or luffa which is also a gourd (from what we know). But the loofa produces more fruits when the vine is climbing a high tree.

 

[Beverly]

I always wondered what luffa looks like. Are any parts of it eatable? When the gourds come protect them from the wet soggy ground. I would use coco fiber to lay the gourds on to protect them while they are growing, but coco fiber is abundant here. Something similar that does not hold water will work. I hope you post photos of the gourds when they start to appear.

 

[Chuck]

I always wondered what luffa looks like. Are any parts of it eatable? When the gourds come protect them from the wet soggy ground. I would use coco fiber to lay the gourds on to protect them while they are growing, but coco fiber is abundant here. Something similar that does not hold water will work. I hope you post photos of the gourds when they start to appear.

As far as I know none of the parts are edible. I grow a plant or two about every 5 years and let the "fruits" get to about 2 feet long and dry them. They make great bath sponges.

 

[Marck]

Small, Immature fruit of both Angled Loofah (Luffa acutangula) and Smooth Loofah (Luffa aegyptiaca or cylindrica) can be eaten as a vegetable similar to Courgettes/Zucchini and other Summer Squash (Cucurbita spp.).

Luffa Is a genus of approximately nine species in the Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) with a discontinuous, pantropical distribution.
Three species are native to India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of southern Asia (L. acutangula, L. aegyptiaca, and L. graveolens).
Four species are native to southern Mexico, Central America, tropical South America, and the Galapagos (L. astorii, L. operculata,
L. quinquefida, and L. sepium). One species is native to central Africa (L. echinata) and another to northern Australia (L. saccata).

 

[Atom]

I just want to brag about our gourd that is starting to bear flower. It is not an ordinary vine because the trellis was ruined by the strong winds of the typhoon. When it fell down, we didn't touch it and now we are surprised that it had grown and is about to bear fruits soon. We call it Patola and the translation is loofa or luffa which is also a gourd (from what we know). But the loofa produces more fruits when the vine is climbing a high tree. View attachment 15282

What kind of fertilizer did you go with during seeding and early growth. I'm just starting minem I have small leaves right now but want a good outcome