did anyone have a bumper crop of luffas this year that they would like to sell?

I have trouble growing luffas some years...this was one and I got just a few very small ones.

We use them for bath scrubbers and at the kitchen sink for washing dishes.  The dish scrubbers don't last as long as the bath ones but work well for quite awhile.  We just toss them in the compost when too soft and broken down to use anymore.

I cut them open to flatten and sew them to a band for a back scrubber also.

If anyone has some that haven't molded on the vine and were picked early enough to cure nicely I would be interested in buying them even uncleaned, with the dried peel on.  To cure well they need to be picked while the peel is still somewhat green but brittle and dry enough to remove and the sponge should be dry also.  If left on the vine until brown I've found that the sponge part starts breaking down and doesn't to hold up as well with use.

I can send you some. Send me shipping info.

wayne fajkus wrote:I can send you some. Send me shipping info.

Thank you!  I've sent you a PM.

K. Im travelling today. Ill let you know qty tomorrow

Shipped

wayne fajkus wrote:Shipped

Thank you so much Wayne!  

picked them up at the PO today...Thank You!  They are really nice ones.

I may try planting some of the seeds next year.  This spring I started some early in the hoop house and then planted out when I thought the frosts were over but a late freeze that  I didn't cover for got them all.  I had one scrawny volunteer climbing a sunflower that made a couple very small sponges...so we really appreciate these.

Cool. This is the first year that i left a couple on the ground the previous season. They sprouted on their own

Wayne, thought I'd thank you once again for sending the luffas...I see that's it's been two years and we still have a few left.

They have been given a real work out, especially in the kitchen where they survive weeks of scrubbing as long as they get a chance to dry out occasionally.

I still can't seem to grow them here although I know others in the area have grown them for themselves.
Last year I tried again and had beautiful vines filling an eight foot trellis and eventually, end of season, had three blooms and two tiny fruits...not even large enough to eat

I've had a similar experience with Luffas, producing lots of vine, but few gourds. I wonder sometimes if I have too much nitrogen and not enough phosphate, or maybe zone 7 isn't a long enough season

I hope to grow them again this year since my growing area has gotten bigger. When deer proof garden area is limited, choices have to be made.