2015 Luffa Gourds

I wanted to show you something in the garden.  The Luffa Gourd currently growing in the garden.  Ig came up volunteer this year from seeds from last year's crop, and I just didn't have the heart to pull it out.  If you look at the bottom right portion of the photo, there is also a Birdhouse gourd growing - also a volunteer from last year. 

This is an oddity for us, since we normally plant things that are good to eat.  This is something that isn't for eating, although I've heard (but haven't tried) that the young luffas can be eaten like a cucumber.  We use luffas as bath sponges, and I've got to tell you, we've been impressed.  The one from last year is still holding up well in the shower after a year of use!  Imagine that, a product from the garden keeping us clean.

Luffa Gourd (along with a birdhouse gourd

In addition to providing the coolest bath sponge you'll ever come across, in the early morning hours, the vines burst forth with a stunning display of yellow flowers that brighten up the entire garden.

Luffa flowers

If you stop and look at the healthy luffa vines closely, you'll see a number of tendrils that grab on and attach themselves to anything.  They look, and act, exactly like springs, allowing the vine to sway and give with the wind that blows or rain that falls.  I think I mentioned it before, but I'll bet that the inventor of the coiled spring got his inspiration by looking at what the Creator made in the Garden, don't you think? 

Nature's Spring

In the seven o'clock position in the photo below, you can see a baby luffa gourd just beginning to grow.  We'll harvest and dry as many as we can this year, giving them to family, friends and neighbors.

Beautiful luffa flower and a baby luffa gourd in the background

We still have several left from last year.  I have them arranged on the kitchen floor below with my foot in the picture for perspective.  Most are about a foot and a half long.  We cut them in half to make two bath sponges out of a single luffa.  In the shower, you merely squirt some liquid soap or rub a bar of soap on the wet luffa until it lathers and then use it as a washcloth.  It cleans and exfoliates your skin.  You probably don't want to use it every day, since you don't want to remove all of the oil that your skin produces.

13 Luffas left over from last year

In reading about the versatile luffa, I learned that during World War II it was used as filter material in the Navy's steam and diesel engines and lining in Army helmets.  Its a pretty incredible plant.

These things make tons of seeds, so if anyone would like any, just let me know and I'll save some for you.