Table of Contents Introduction........................................................................................................... 6 What is a Luffa?......................................................................................................... 8 The History of Luffa.................................................................................................. 9 Benefits of Growing Luffa....................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1: Growing Luffas................................................................................... 12 Plant Basics.............................................................................................................. 14 Garden Prep............................................................................................................ 14 Soil Testing............................................................................................................... 14 When to Plant.......................................................................................................... 16 Seed Starting............................................................................................................ 20 Raised Beds and Trellis Design............................................................................... 23 Luffa Blossoms......................................................................................................... 26 How to Hand Pollinate........................................................................................... 27 Growing Luffas........................................................................................................ 27 Harvesting Your Luffa Sponges.............................................................................. 27 Chapter 2: Natural Beauty With Luffa................................................................... 34 Creating Your Own Body-Care Products................................................................ 37 How to Prepare Luffa Fiber for Sewing and Crafting........................................... 49 Chapter 3: Crafting With Luffa............................................................................. 54 Herbal Vinegar........................................................................................................ 59 Self-Watering Pots.................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 4: Cooking With Luffa............................................................................. 64 Shopping for Fresh Luffa........................................................................................ 66 Worksheets........................................................................................................... 76 Appendix.............................................................................................................. 84 Seed Packet Template............................................................................................. 85 Seed Exchange Party Invite.................................................................................... 86 Sheet Mask Template.............................................................................................. 87 Index.................................................................................................................... 88 Notes.................................................................................................................... 92 Photo Credits........................................................................................................ 96 NOTE: The recipes and treatments contained in this book are generally safe and effective. However, despite every effort to offer expert advice, it is not possible for this book to predict an individual person’s reaction to a particular recipe or treatment. The reader should consult a qualified physician. Neither the publisher, Ogden Publications, nor the author, Janice Cox, accepts responsibility for any effects that may arise from following the recipes or treatments and using the products from the recipes in this book.
Chapter 1: Growing Luffas I
f you have ever grown cucumbers, squash, or melons, then you already know the basics of growing luffas. If you have never grown a vegetable, it is a fun and different one to start with in your garden. You just need to remember three basic things: 1. Full sun 2. Support 3. Pollination Of course, there are other factors that can affect your growing success such as soil, water, weather, and pest prevention, but luffas really are a simple crop to have in your home garden or on your patio.
Plant Basics
Having a good basic knowledge about how plants grow helps in being a successful gardener. Several good books on gardening and information are online so I am not going to cover everything; here are some basics to get you growing. Plants share similar characteristics with animals. They both consume and store energy and also reproduce themselves. The big difference is that plants can manufacture their own food from inorganic material. Most plants start from seeds (a few start from spores). Luffas come from seeds and that is the best way to start the plants. Seeds sprout or germinate with the right conditions. It is always important to read seed packets for the best information about what you are trying to grow. The seed company worked hard to make sure you have this information, so it is worth a read. 14
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When the seed sprouts, it sends out roots. Roots are the start of the plant, and it is essential they get moisture and nutrients, or your plant will never appear above ground and will die. Once your seeds have sprouted and the roots are thriving, you will see little green shoots or stems appear above the soil surface. The stem uses the moisture and nutrients absorbed by the root system, and your plant will continue to grow. This is a quick account of plant basics; I want you to understand how important every step is for a healthy plant.
Garden Prep
Before planting your seeds and starting your luffas, or any plant, it is a good idea to do a bit of garden planning and gathering of information. You will want to learn your growing zone (Hardiness Zone). If you have been growing for a while, you may already know this information. If not, Page 15 contains the U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zone map. Growing zone information is helpful, as it allows you to estimate the best time to plant and also lets you know that some plants just may not work well in your garden. Luffas cannot take a frost or freeze, and your plants may turn black if you plant them outside too soon.
Soil Testing
You also will want to do a soil test before planting. Luffas like slightly acidic soil, so a pH of 6.0 to 6.8 works best. You can easily buy pH test strips at most garden shops. Knowing your soil pH allows you to adjust and amend your soil to match the needs of your plants. Having the
MY GARDEN DESIGN Each Square = 1 Foot
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Make Your Own Newspaper Pots I like to make my own simple newspaper pots. They work great for my luffas and for my other garden plants. You can buy kits for making your own pots online, but, honestly, I have found them to be a bit small, and you can create your own for practically nothing with simple household items. It is also a good winter activity for children. I have seen garden clubs use these pots when selling plant starts. They are cost-effective, and the clubs don’t have to worry about purchasing a bunch of starter pots. Here is my technique: Newspaper Pots Materials: Sheets of newspaper Em pty can with both ends removed (The size of your can will be the size of your finished pot, or use a piece of PVC pipe.) A smaller can or wooden dowel Masking tape or twine (optional) 1. Fold your newspaper lengthwise. 2. Place the can near the top of the paper. 3. Roll the paper around the can. 4. Turn the can upside down and push all the loose ends of the paper inside the can. 5. Turn the can right side up and then, using a smaller can or wooden dowel, tamp down the newspaper inside the can to create a pot. 6. Remove the can. 7. You can secure the pot with a bit of twine or masking tape. I have not found that I need to do this if planting right away. I fill with soil and the pots seem to keep their shape. NOTE: When planting, I usually loosen or remove the bottom part of the pot. This makes it easier for the roots to expand and grow. You can place the whole pot in the ground, plant and all, and the newspaper will break down over time. I also feel it helps protect the little plants a bit more and helps them retain moisture around their roots. 20
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Seed Starting
You’ll find seeds at most garden shops and online. There are two main varieties sold, Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula (see box on Page 21). Local growers or neighbors will often gladly sell or even give seeds, as each gourd produces 100 to 200 seeds, depending on size. These large black seeds are easy to handle; they do have a hard, outer shell, so soak your seeds for at least 12 hours, or even 24 hours, before planting. Some people also like to nick their seeds using a nail file or nail clippers. I have found this method really works well. You just need to be super careful to clip just a tiny portion off the rounded end of each seed. This helps the seed soak up more water and germinate faster. I wrap my seeds inside a damp paper towel, put them in a plastic bag, and place the bag on a warm window sill inside. Their little roots will appear in a few days and then you can plant. You also can put your soaked seeds directly in your seed-starting pots or in the ground. Follow the instructions on your seed package for planting. When planting in pots, use a container with good drainage and rich, organic soil and plant the seeds about a half inch deep.
Luffa Blossoms
When your vines begin to grow, you will notice tiny, cone-shaped buds start to form. These may be alone or in clusters. These buds will turn into bright yellow luffa blossoms, and the female blossoms will produce the fruit or sponges. Luffa plants have male and female blossoms. It is easy to tell the difference between the two as the female flowers have a small bud behind the flower head that will turn into a sponge once pollinated. The male flowers are flat in the back. Usually, there are more male than female flowers; this is nature’s way of making sure the female flowers get pollinated. Bees are helpful in the pollination process. To attract pollinators to your garden space, plant flowers that are especially attractive to these garden helpers. Flowering plants such as lavender, rosemary, sunflowers, zinnias, and salvia, to name just a few, will not only brighten your garden space, they are also attractive to bees and other garden pollinators. (See the list on Page 16.) I visited a luffa farm that had planted both bee-friendly perennials and annuals outside all of their greenhouses for just this reason. When you see the first flowers, fertilize your plants with a rich compost to help feed your vines once the female flowers are pollinated and start producing fruit. You might see some of your blossoms on the ground; this is a normal occurrence for luffa. Male flowers naturally drop off the plants after a few days. They are usually the first blooms to open and, after being used for pollination, they will fall from the vine. If your female blossoms are dropping, this could be for a variety of reasons. They may not have been pollinated, or your garden temperature may be too hot or too cold. The ideal temperature for your plants is between 55 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures too hot or too cold can sometimes cause your flowers to drop. Also, if you do not have a good bee population in your garden, you may need to give Mother Nature a helping hand by pollinating your plants by hand. To do this, simply pick a male flower and touch the center to the center of the female flower, transferring pollen from one blossom to another. 26
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Luffa Blossom Steam Facial
After the male blossoms have served their purpose and pollinated the female blossoms, they drop from the vine. I hate to discard these pretty yellow blooms and have started drying them to use in some of my favorite beauty recipes. This cleansing facial steam is easy to create and is a good use of those spent flowers. Facial steams are popular treatments to deep cleanse and refresh your complexion. Yield: 16 ounces, enough for one facial steam ⁄4 cup fresh luffa blossoms 1 tablespoon assorted garden flowers and herbs of your choice (I like to use calendula, rose, and mint) 2 cups water
Air Drying Blossoms and Leaves
Save your leaves and blossoms for year-round use by air drying them in a warm, dry spot. To keep the colors bright, it will help to keep them in the dark and store them in blue or amber colored jars. I simply lay my petals and leaves out to dry on a cotton kitchen towel and check them in a few days. Then I put them in jars and leave the lids off for a few more days to make sure they are completely dry. You can give the botanicals a stir once a day to make sure all parts are dry. To use in recipes, use half the amount of dried ingredients as fresh. This is true for most herbs and flowers.
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botanicals. Luffa blossoms work well in this liquid cleanser. Yield: 8 ounces ⁄4 cup fresh luffa blossoms or 2 tablespoons dried petals 1 cup hot water 1 ⁄2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin 1 ⁄2 teaspoon light oil such as argan, jojoba, or sweet almond 1 ⁄2 teaspoon mild liquid soap (castile soap works well) 1
Place the flowers in a large glass or ceramic bowl or basin. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the flowers. Stir to make sure all the flowers are covered by the water and let the mixture cool for a few minutes. Lean over the bowl at least 12 inches from the surface, and drape a towel over your head to form a tent. Close your eyes and let the steam rise over your face for 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat your skin dry. Avoid going outdoors or using any cosmetic products until your pores have closed completely.
Gentle Luffa Blossom Facial Cleanser
This is a simple cleanser you create using fresh or dried luffa blossoms. It should last a few weeks if stored in the refrigerator. It is similar to the popular “micellar water” that is used to gently cleanse your skin at the end of a long day. Micellar cleansers are a French creation where oil is suspended in water and also mixed with
Place the luffa blossoms in a glass bowl and pour the hot water over them. Allow the mixture to steep and cool completely, then strain. Mix the remaining ingredients into the luffa blossom infusion and stir well to mix. Pour into a clean container with a tight fitting lid. To use: Dampen a cotton cleansing pad with the cleanser and press into your skin to attract dirt and other surface impurities. Then rinse well with warm water followed by a cold water rinse. NOTE: You may need to shake this product gently between uses to re-blend if it separates. 43
SEED PACKET TEMPLATE
Luffa Seeds
From the Garden of Variety Date Harvested FOLD CUT 85