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14 September 2007 Loofah for Sponges.

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Durgan  Send Durgan a private message!




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Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 12:04 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

14 September 2007 Loofah for Sponges.

http://kazei.notlong.com/ 14 September 2007 Luffa aegyptiaca Common Names: loofah, luffa, smooth loofah, sponge gourd, vegetable sponge. Family: Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin Family).

There are two trellis's in the garden, with a total of 12 large fruiting bodies on four plants. Sponges will be made when the fruit turns yellow and are dry. These plants require a growing season of about six or more months, so I start them in the greenhouse in February. The mesh size of the trellis is 6 inches, so the size of the fruiting body can be determined approximately from viewing the photographs. I still have sponges from two years ago. Apparently the fruit can be cooked and eaten, but I have never tried them.

http://www.durgan.org/Blog/Durgan.html

Durgan - Ontario, Zone "5"
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Cindym  Send Cindym a private message!




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Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 11:00 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Durgan wrote on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 12:04 pm:

Apparently the fruit can be cooked and eaten,



Yeah, but I think you need to do that when they're still small/young. I'll never forget the first year I grew loofas. They climbed through the ligustrums and I had gourds/sponges galore. There's still a bucket of them in the shed somewhere ... probably 20 years old.

Cindym - Louisiana, Zone "8b"
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Suzyqt1968  Send Suzyqt1968 a private message!



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Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 11:11 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Very neat Durgan. My grandmother always grew some in her veggie garden. I'll have to give some a go next year.
You have such an amazing variety of things growing in your yard.

Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"
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Lovinlife  Send Lovinlife a private message!




Posted on Monday, September 24, 2007 - 10:18 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

We have a great restaurant here that grows gourds as a cover for the outside patio. The restaurant is owned by two Italians who grow nearly every vegetable they serve. I asked one of them last year what they do with the gourds. He told me they eat them, and brought some to me, even though they were not on the menu. They were delicious.

You have such a great garden. Is there anything you want to grow, but cannot?

Lovinlife - Utah, Zone "5"
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Inthegarden  Send Inthegarden a private message!


Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 02:06 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

My family has always grown the angled luffa gourd, "sze gwa". I have so many gourds the last month that I have been giving them away to friends. They are great to eat before they get too mature. Great for soup and sauting.

Inthegarden - TX, Zone "9"
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Lovinlife  Send Lovinlife a private message!




Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 10:25 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

When I had them in the restaurant,Inthegarden, I believe they had been steamed and dressed with just a little butter. Is that the way you serve them except that you saute them instead of steaming? Is "sze gwa" the name I look for if I should decide to try them?

Lovinlife - Utah, Zone "5"
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Durgan  Send Durgan a private message!




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Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 10:38 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Lovinlife wrote on Monday, September 24, 2007 - 10:18 am:

Is there anything you want to grow, but cannot?



Okra, it failed this yer, but I will try again next year.

I am in the process of trying Pawpaw. I think it will grow here, and am in the process of getting some seeds.It is a perennial and I plan on at least three bushes.

Information about the Pawpaw.
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pawpaw.html
http://www.durgan.org/Blog/Durgan.html

Durgan - Ontario, Zone "5"
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Cindym  Send Cindym a private message!




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Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 12:45 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Durgan, there's a burgundy okra that's really pretty. I saw it at the farmers' market this year.

http://www.seedsavers.org/prodinfo.asp?number=399

Cindym - Louisiana, Zone "8b"
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Lovinlife  Send Lovinlife a private message!




Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 04:24 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Durgan wrote on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 10:38 am:

I am in the process of trying Pawpaw.


How does one cook/serve pawpaw?

Lovinlife - Utah, Zone "5"
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Durgan  Send Durgan a private message!




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Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 04:37 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Lovinlife wrote on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 04:24 pm:

How does one cook/serve pawpaw?



I only found out that the plant exists yesterday. A person in Zone 4 has about six bushes but has no fruit yet. He got me interested, so I am in zone 5 and thought I would give it a try.
Here is some information about Pawpaw.
http://www.easywildflowers.com/quality/asi.tri.htm

http://www.durgan.org/Blog/Durgan.html

Durgan - Ontario, Zone "5"
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Durgan  Send Durgan a private message!




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Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 04:42 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Cindym wrote on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 12:45 pm:

Durgan, there's a burgundy okra that's really pretty. I saw it at the farmers' market this year



Most interesting. Seeds will be ordered forthwith. The larger size pods are probably a plus.
http://www.durgan.org/Blog/Durgan.html

Durgan - Ontario, Zone "5"

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