did anyone else know this?

[lovelysuds]

so i was researching soap additives and herbs that are helpful to problem skin and i came across the loofah sponge. everyone knows what they are, the tube like wonderful exfoliator. however did you know theyre a vegatable?!? :shock: I hope someone didnt know so i dont feel like an idiot. I assumed they were from the ocean.

so my question is has anyone ever seen the seeds in stores? i know theyre called "luffa" or washrag gourd. theyre supposedly super easy to grow, they look like cucumbers and then you peel off the skin after drying and voila a loofah! I didnt want to order them online, if I have to though i will. If anyone knew a reputable seed site, or any tips on growing id appreciate any info! thanks!

 

[Fullamoon]

I never knew until I started reading these forums. I also thought they were from the ocean! You are never alone on these forums. We've all been in the same boat at one time or another.

 

[maya]

they grow really easy. get BIG if you leave them on the vine for a while, just like any squash. drying them out takes a while but its not like your DOING anything to them while they are drying. you just letting them sit there, so it isnt work.

 

[soapbuddy]

I find loofa too scratchy. It make my skin really red and irritated.

 

[LillaSyster]

I too thought they were from the ocean! I never imagined they were something you could grow in your own back yard. How interesting!

 

[maya]

I find loofa too scratchy. It make my skin really red and irritated.

you can use them for scrubbing other stuff then after a while they calm down. or you can wash them a couple of times in the machine.

 

[Hazel]

I haven't seen the seeds in stores but I have seen them being sold online. You might find seed packets if you went to a large nursery.

You might enjoy this discussion.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/forum/vi ... highlight=

 

[Cirafly24]

I don't know where you can get seeds, but I just wanted to say: Before I started reading these forums, I thought they were from the ocean too!

 

[IanT]

I too, thought that they were from the ocean until I came to this forum, I thought they were an ocean plant or something like a sea cucumber, someone actually grew them on the forum here at one point, search the forums I cant remember who it was but it was awesome to see the process!

maybe you can ask them where to find seeds too!

I would love to try to grow these things too, I will FINALLY be getting into a house at the end of this month so I will have space to start a fullscale veggie garden! yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!

 

[Lindy]

I too, thought that they were from the ocean until I came to this forum, I thought they were an ocean plant or something like a sea cucumber, someone actually grew them on the forum here at one point, search the forums I cant remember who it was but it was awesome to see the process!

maybe you can ask them where to find seeds too!

I would love to try to grow these things too, I will FINALLY be getting into a house at the end of this month so I will have space to start a fullscale veggie garden! yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!

Congrats Ian!

Back to topic - I had thought they were an ocean plant/creature as well until I came across the info here....

 

[lovelysuds]

Im glad i wasnt the only one! I thought they were like a sea cucumber as well! Thanks for all the advice!

Congrats on the garden Ian! Its so rewarding im into gardening even more since i can add things to my soap.

if i ever get to grow some luffa ill let everyone know. Supposedly theres tons of extra seeds and you never need them all, so ill post if anyones interested!

 

[Guest]

I am not sure where you live but I found this spot to order the seeds.

http://www.localharvest.org/luffa-sponge-seed-C3379

Looks interesting, might try to grow some myself.

 

[nattynoo]

They r really easy to grow. I have about 100 of them hanging on my fence as I type this. Not sure how to dry them or whats next but the actual growing is simple. I'm a first timer. They r just like growing cucumbers. In fact I think they come from the cuc family of vegetables.
Get some seeds & just let them do their thing.

 

[lovelysuds]

thanks cody, great minds think alike. thats the very site i was browsing this morn!

nattynoo, theres some really informative tutorials on you tube about harvesting them. i know theres black seeds inside youre supposed to save them from your best plants for next year. Did you order yours online or from a store?

Last nite a lady at Lowes acted like i was the dummy for thinking theyre a plant!! She was seriously obnoxious. I politely told her theyre part of the cucumber family and can be easily grown. She refused to believe me, until a co-worker corrected her. Good thing because she was about to be eating a hibiscus plant. :wink:

 

[khermsen]

Cody, I purchased my seeds from the local harvest site. One of the farms shipped free! My plants are about an inch tall and look like cucumber seedlings. Just water and watch them grow!

 

[birdcharm]

Hmmm ... I wonder if they would do alright in the hot Texas sun ... I'm sure drying them wouldn't be a problem! I see that they are sold on ebay ... I may just try a pack, as I have some garden space due to the fact that it's been too hot here to grow very much, so this year, I just about gave up since we are in a severe drought. I'll have to check to see if they require much water, although I think they may.

Someone gave me a soap once with an embedded loofa ... I didn't really care for the design much. But, they are nice for gift baskets even if you don't use them yourself.

Thanks for the motivation!

~ Kathy

 

[cthylla]

so i was researching soap additives and herbs that are helpful to problem skin and i came across the loofah sponge. everyone knows what they are, the tube like wonderful exfoliator. however did you know theyre a vegatable?!? :shock: I hope someone didnt know so i dont feel like an idiot. I assumed they were from the ocean.

so my question is has anyone ever seen the seeds in stores? i know theyre called "luffa" or washrag gourd. theyre supposedly super easy to grow, they look like cucumbers and then you peel off the skin after drying and voila a loofah! I didnt want to order them online, if I have to though i will. If anyone knew a reputable seed site, or any tips on growing id appreciate any info! thanks!

You just blew my mind.