Nerdy Millennial

Top Menu

  • About
  • Contact
  • Write For Us

Main Menu

  • Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Blogging
      • Social Media
      • SEO and Keyword Research
  • College
  • Arts & Culture
  • Technology
  • Health and Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
      • Baked Goods
      • Breakfast
      • Condiments
      • Dessert
      • Fermented Foods
      • Main Dishes
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks
      • Soup
    • Keto
    • Vegan
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Friendship
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Birth
  • About
  • Contact
  • Write For Us

Nerdy Millennial

Nerdy Millennial

  • Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Blogging
      • Social Media
      • SEO and Keyword Research
  • College
  • Arts & Culture
  • Technology
  • Health and Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
      • Baked Goods
      • Breakfast
      • Condiments
      • Dessert
      • Fermented Foods
      • Main Dishes
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks
      • Soup
    • Keto
    • Vegan
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Friendship
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Birth
At HomeGardening
Home›At Home›Natural From The Garden: Loofah Sponge Gourds

Natural From The Garden: Loofah Sponge Gourds

By Pamela Kimsey
September 24, 2012
1389
1

I often think on our Native Americans and all the uses they had for different types of gourds. Gourds date back centuries throughout the world. Most of them require warm and even tropical growing conditions from countries such as Africa, South American, Asia and India just to name a few. So how did so many types arrive in North America for the Indians to use?

I recently discovered some interesting facts about gourds. It is said that a gourd such as the bottle neck can actually float for up to two years in the ocean without damaging the seeds. I've seen photos since I was a young girl of the Native Americans using gourds for everything from spoons, containers, bowls and various vessels.

Sponge gourd hanging on bamboo structure.

The Loofah Gourd (Luffa, spp.) is said to have originated from Asia or India. Being only familiar with the sponges as a bath and beauty product for exfoliating the skin, I am only now beginning to discover for myself all the uses and possibilities of this sponge gourd.

The sponge is basically the fibrous material found inside the fruit of the gourd once it is dried. The fibers seem to be tightly woven, strong and very sturdy. What I found even more interesting is how naturally soft they feel when I squeeze them. This makes them great for use in the kitchen as non abrasive scouring pads when cleaning.

I also see vast possibilities using the Loofah in some interesting and useful craft projects. Possibly even as a tool for straining and filtering things from water to oils. Only time shall tell as I continue my discoveries of such a natural and eco-friendly resource as it continue to grow it in the garden.

Loofah on the vine

Growing Requirements

The Loofah requires a long growing season to reach maturity. They can take anywhere from 120 to 180 days to become ripe and begin to dry. One vine alone can produce up to a dozen sponges. My first and longest fruit measured in at 16 inches long, but it is said they can reach up to 24 inches in length and 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

The gourds are very heavy when growing, so require a sturdy trellis. I grew mine just as I would my cucumbers.They loved our sandy soil that is rich in organic and composted matter. Be sure to plan on growing them where they will not touch the ground. This can cause them to become moldy and begin to rot.

Harvesting

Once they begin to dry however you notice them becoming much lighter when lifting. The outer shell begins to turn yellow as it ripens. In many climates they will dry just fine right on the vine as the skin turns brown. But I must warn in highly humid climates such as ours they can begin to turn moldy, so they should not be left outdoors in wet conditions.

Saving Seeds

Each loofah sponge contained a mountain of seeds. One thing good for seed savers to know is that the loofah will not cross pollinate with other species in the Cucurbitaceae family, such as pumpkins, cucumbers, melons and squash. But after some investigation I discovered that there are at least four different varieties of Loofah and they will cross pollinate within themselves.

Cleaning

After the Loofah is completely dried the papery shell is quite easily peeled off to reveal the sponge inside. While most commercial growers soak the sponges in a chlorine bleach solution to turn them whiter and kill any bacteria, I haven't found it to be necessary when dried properly. If I were to soak them, I would suggest using a mild herbal vinegar solution which is much more appealing. Many herbs have natural anti bacteria properties as does vinegar and citrus peels.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Pamela Kimsey
Pamela Kimsey
Pammy is a organic gardener in Southeast Texas who believes diversity with natural habitats is the key to a successful garden. With a background as a commercial grower and manager for a large wholesale nursery, she became quickly dismayed with the over use of chemicals and the effects they have on life and the environment.
Pamela Kimsey
Latest posts by Pamela Kimsey (see all)
  • Wild Dagga Motherwort Medicinal Herb - November 11, 2013
  • Grow The Best Organic Lettuce - November 4, 2013
  • Spiced Applesauce Honey Nut Bread Recipe - October 27, 2013
TagsHarvesting Loofah Sponge GourdsHow to Dry Loofah SpongeHow to grow Loofah SpongeOrigins of Loofah SpongeUses for Loofah Sponge

1 comment

  1. Karen Wood20 May, 2014 at 19:32 Reply

    I was googling to see if loofahs would cross with my pumpkins and/or cucumbers and ended up here. Thanks for the nice post on loofahs. I’m growing some of the small wild loofahs this year. Turns out I already follow your facebook page. Have a nice summer!

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Send Me Blog Updates!

You Might Also Like...

  • 4 Steps to Finding the Best Counselor for You
    FeaturedMental Health

    4 Steps to Finding the Best Counselor for You

  • FeaturedCondimentsNutrition

    50+ Real Food Condiment Recipes

  • Easy Vegan Coleslaw Recipe
    FeaturedSide DishesVegan

    Easy Vegan Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)

  • FeaturedHealth and Fitness

    How to Make a Bread Poultice

About Nerdy Millennial

Hello, I'm Vanessa

Creator and curator of Nerdy Millennial.

This blog all about millennials sharing their passion, ideas, and expertise about blogging, healthy living, self-improvement, education, parenting, and more!

Interested in contributing? Contact us to pitch your idea or submit an article.

Featured

Frugal LivingFeaturedFinancesParenting

The 7 Money-Saving Strategies Every Parent Needs to Know

No matter how “ready” you feel to become a parent, once it happens, you realize there is no amount of preparation to adequately brace you for the total life transformation ...
  • Becoming an Online Counselor: The Pros and Credentials Needed

    Becoming an Online Counselor: The Pros and Credentials Needed

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    August 13, 2020
  • 4 Steps to Finding the Best Counselor for You

    4 Steps to Finding the Best Counselor for You

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    August 13, 2020
  • Pros and Cons of Online Counseling

    The Pros and Cons of Online Counseling

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    August 13, 2020
  • What is the Difference between Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and Isolate CBD

    By Contributing Author
    August 11, 2020
  • How Lack of Boundaries and Dishonored Feelings Affect Your Mental and Physical Health

    How Lack of Boundaries and Dishonored Feelings Affect Your Mental and Physical Health

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    July 24, 2020
  • The Importance of Practicing Gratefulness During Times of Uncertainty

    The Importance of Practicing Gratefulness During Times of Uncertainty

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    July 16, 2020
  • 6 Ways to Naturally Freshen Your Home

    6 Ways to Naturally Freshen Your Home

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    July 14, 2020
  • Ways to Filter Your Facebook Feed and Posts

    Ways to Filter Your Facebook Feed and Posts

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    July 13, 2020
  • Why visit Rome in December

    6 Reasons to Go to Rome in December

    By Vanessa Pruitt
    July 6, 2020

    Join Us on Facebook

    Latest Comments

    • Turn Your Love of Fitness Into a Career
      on
      November 26, 2020
      […] you might want to consider getting into some sport professionally, or even just on a ...

      9 Ways to Turn Your Fitness Into A Career

    • https://apnews.com/article/7799dc8a7083f61bb1c9f1f3dba8c30a
      on
      November 25, 2020
      Trackback [...]https://apnews.com/article/7799dc8a7083f61bb1c9f1f3dba8c30a

      Are Pre and Post Workout Supplements Worth It? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

    • Dr. Oz Answers
      on
      July 23, 2020
      Trackback [...]Dr. Oz Answers

      Are Pre and Post Workout Supplements Worth It? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

    • Some Careers That Challenge You Each Day - CareerAlley
      on
      June 9, 2020
      […] development might not be about saving lives but it’s certainly a career that challenges you ...

      How To Build On Your Career

    • 4 Surprising Benefits of Using Instagram for Your Business - Atelier Magazine
      on
      June 3, 2020
      […] More brands are combining Instagram approaches into their marketing strategies, and it leads to business ...

      A Guide to Creating Your Instagram Strategy

    Flickr

      • Home
      • About
      • Contact Us
      • Write For Us
      • Comment Policy
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
      We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
      Cookie settingsACCEPT
      Manage consent

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled

      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

      Non-necessary

      Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

      SAVE & ACCEPT