Luffa Harvest - from Gourd to Sponge
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- čas přidán 13. 10. 2017
- From GOURD to SPONGE, check out how Cymbre harvests and cuts-up luffa (loofah) sponges for personal use and for gifts.
There's a lot of info here! Don't have time to watch it all? Use the shortcuts below to watch what interests you.
Sorry, I don't sell the loofah or seeds. You can purchase seeds from many suppliers online. I like this reputable seed company: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-o...
Shortcuts:
00:35.67 - Prepping the luffa
01:59.73 - Breaking off the bloom cap
02:13.07 - Importance of cleaning the peel before soaking
04:56.73 - Removing seeds prior to soaking
05:53.47 - The sweet spot (no soaking required)
07:28.13 - Removing seeds from dried luffa prior to soaking
09:02.83 - Longitudinal fibers
09:27.67 - Soaking the luffa
11:22.33 - Luffa seeds & chaff
14:11.37 - Removing the moistened peel
15:30.77 - Is there a use for the peels?
17:01.17 - Rinse & repeat
17:52.40 - Non-viable seeds
19:27.53 - Comparison of sponge color (determined by stage of maturity at the time of harvest)
20:37.70 - Clean these spots well
22:36.53 - How to cut your luffa into usable pieces
25:05.37 - Creative uses for cast-off sponge pieces
26:16.67 - How to cut luffa into a flat sheet (for mitts, etc.)
29:23.80 - Tips for drying flat sheet of luffa
Thanks for watching how to harvest & cut-up luffa (the Cymbre way)!
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Filmed: 09/30/17
I started growing my seeds a few weeks ago. I am enjoying seeing them grow. Thank you for your awesome video!
How cool! I thought these came from
The ocean I’m glad to know you can grow them! I love using loofah sponges!
I know! Me too! I always thought it was from the ocean. Mind blown 🤯
My mom had one when I was a kid. I saw the seeds inside, moving. I swear, I thought it was some sort of ocean monster alive in it. LOL now I'm like "Dang. I should've saved those seeds!" Haha
I did too tile I seen her video thats so cool
that's a different spongebob.
Lots of great info!!!
Growing them this year for first time. They are so much fun to grow!
Thanks for sharing.
I never knew these gourds even existed until today! Thank you
Glad to share about these neat plants!
I just learned about these last year. Ordered some seeds and received them today! I'm so excited to grow and hopefully use these. Thank you for the great video!
Growing luffa/loofah is a fun experience. I would say the biggest challenge is germination, so the overnight soaking in water the day before planting really helps. Best of luck!
In the Philippines we call the vegetable Patola. We eat the green vegetable with noodles in a soup. The plant is very easy to grow. Great video. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for that neat information! Do you like the taste of the vegetable? Do you eat it boiled, steamed, fried?
We kinda stir fry it wit garlic , then put a bit of water, tuen scrambled eggs , all the best! from Philippines 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🤗🤗🤗
Aileen Marie Gima can I grow this plant in the uk 💕
WoW! Thank you for providing so much information. Fabulous video!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this video! So exciting to see how to do it! Feels like a friend or Mom is showing you
Awesome! Thanks for the encouraging words!
The most informative video I have found on loofah. Thanks!
Awww, thanks! That's a HUGE compliment considering the number of videos out there about loofah! You just made my day.
Beautiful my family are really enjoying using the luffas everyday keep up the good works congratulations we used especially for shower body washing 👍👍
I've never seen this before! Very cool. I use so many of these in my soap each year I should know how to grow my own and harvest. Big thumbs up from one creator to another:)Jen
This is really cool I have planted a gourd in a pot on my Patio and its doing really good! Its in a 12 inch pot with a tomato cage! I cant wait to see my first gourd!😃🌿🍃
Fyi, you may want to plant it out somewhere. The plant gets huge. I started mine with a 7ft high cage. Added a 10 ft arch.. it took over the cage, arch, grew another 6ft over my chicken coop, up a tree in the park behind my house in one direction... grew in another direction across a 4×8ft fence engulfing the entire fence.. down over again and swallowed up my watermelon patch and into the lawn. It also speread to the side and is clinging to my wooden fence and has gone up and over.. so my neighbors are enjoying them (I hope)!
My point... it needs much more than a pot on the patio.. it may engulf your house!
Oh! And if you're not in the southern hemisphere, you may need to start over in the spring. Its a long growing season and frost will kill it.
Good luck!
A great vegetable to eat. One of my favorites.
Thankful to you for this video dear. Love from India.
Thanks for his lesson on Luffas. I learned so much. YOu explained so very well.
Aww, thanks! I'm so glad it was helpful!
Thanks for sharing all the loofah information. Best I have seen in all my research. My first year growing loofahs. New subscriber
You could definitely compost them! Great video!!
Best loofah video I've watched!!!!
Thank you so much!
Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
The Best Video I have Seen, Thank you so very much
Aww, thanks!
What a fabulous and informative video. Thank you
Thank you so much for the supportive feedback!!!
a great learning video...... THANK YOU for taking the time with this video...
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by our channel!
Very detailed & helpful. I want to grow some now!!
Go for it! It's a beautiful plant with bright yellow tropical flowers. Bonus: Fun times experimenting with the sponges!
What an interesting Vlog! Thx for sharing your knowledge
My pleasure! Thanks for the lovely feedback!
Thank you! That was really informative.
Just planted loofah for the first time this year. I didn’t plant on a trellis. Might have to see if I can set up a trellis for some of the late sprouting plants. I just pulled some apart that were already drying on the ground. Very fun to grow a sponge myself! Thanks for the video!
They like water so dont let them die from being too dry. They will grow well on the ground if kept watered. Try a tree, they will easily grow UP the tree but will die at the first sign of a frost and you can pull the vines off.
I grew these years ago and I had a slightly different method. After the gourds are hard and dry you roll them on the counter while gently pushing down,( the way you roll lemons before cutting them open to get more juice). Then you cut them into thirds or approximately the size you want them to be when finished. Then shake the seeds out. Nearly all the seeds come out because you rolled them. Then soak and pull the pod off. Whiten if you like with bleach or vinegar.
Thanks for sharing!
Can I grow these in uk 💕
@@tracybourne8241 I saw a video of one person growing them in a greenhouse in the UK and I saw an article that said to start them inside then harden them off and plant outside. Hope that helps😊
Thank you Deborah I will give that a go.
Wow I have learned a lot, very interesting, thanks so much for posting
Thanks for the sweet feedback!
Great video, thanks. Will definately peel them thus way next time instead of peeling while dry. Wouldve never thought to harvest while a bit green either.
Aww, thanks! Glad my obsession from late high school is helpful, LOL!
Very informative. Thanks
in the northeast 🇮🇳 when These plants completely threaded dried up, we peel the dried cover and use the sponge as bathing brush.
Great video...very informative. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
growing loofahs in my backyard, i probably have about 30 i needed to see this video.
New to your channel today. EXcellent detailed explanation & great camera work!!!
Liked and subbed :-D
Thank you so much! Glad to have you with us!
Very interesting thank you
Thanks I'll be using your methods this year growing my 1st luffa plants this year oh boy!!! 1st time for everything
Ooh, starting the adventure! It's lots of fun, but don't get discouraged if everything isn't top notch the first year. It usually takes several years to get a garden established for good production. Best of Luck!
Thank you for the knowledge it was cool.
Glad you liked it!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you ! for showing me ... From (canada)
Our pleasure!
The making the video is interesting enjoyed watching
Thank you!
New sub just because this video was awesome 👌
Awesome! Thank you so much!
This is so dope❤️
guess you could smoke it.
Great video. Compost the skins.
Great informative and demonstration presentation. It really helps a lot thank you
Montagnard indigenous we cook them when it still green soft when it getting dry we use sponge to wash dishes.
Do the sponges hold dish soap well?
I just used part of a sponge to clean our shower, and the body wash I used seemed to stay in the sponge well enough to get the job done.
How do you cook the soft green loofah to lake it tasty
GOOD AND NICE 👍👍👌👌
never heard of this until today
i seen the sponge but i thought it was from the sea i was fastanted by it all that it grew and it was such a process mother nature 🇬🇧
Best video on Utube.. new sub here.. Blessings
Wow, thank you! Welcome to our channel; so glad to have you!
Brilliant!!!! :-)
Way cool lady thank you.
Dazie Bennett Aww, thanks! I love me some luffa. Hope you found my (lengthy) explanation helpful and informative.
What the best use for your sponges
Thank you for sharing, first time on your channel. Enjoyed your video. I live in Arkansas would I be able to grown them here. And where can I get the seeds from. Thank you Sandy
You should be able to grow them in Arkansas. The seeds do best if planted when the soil warms up, and it takes a long growing season before the sponges are ready to harvest. You can purchase seeds from many suppliers online (do a quick Google search on loofah or luffa seeds for sale). I like this reputable seed company: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd
Just came across your video, great info! Could you dry out the husks and bundle them to start a campfire?
That's a great idea!!!
love this i got asmr
Do I have to pick them while green or do I let them dry out on the vine?
Picking at the green stage has never worked well for me. I either let them dry completely to brown hard shell or try to pick them when they're in the in-between stage when the pliable rind is yellow before they dry completely on the vine.
Thank you for sharing. May I buy some loofah seeds from you?
What variety loofah are you using?
You could probably dry to dry the skin and cut it up to use for note paper. Then you could always compost it when you're done with it.
Interesting idea!
How long does it take to grow them? Xx the skin can be used in soap, grind down.
Cool tip on a use for the rind! I don't know number of days, but because it is a tropical plant, it takes a full growing season. Google says 180 days for gourds, but I usually plant sometime near June and harvest sometime near October/November-ish.
Homesteading at Kooker Gehöft: Where did you buy the seeds?
Baker Creek Seed Co. has them: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd/
Try using a bakers rack to dry
I just found your channel. This is the best video I have seen on luffa. I have tried to buy luffa seeds and everyone is out. Do u have any seeds for sale.
Can you precut the loofah in half prior to soaking for easier fit in the sink?
Yes. That would be a great solution! If you want to keep the middle (usually the prime rib part of the sponge) intact, you could cut the two ends off to make it short enough to fit in your water vessel. This way, you can use the akward sloping ends for cleaning jobs and the even/flat middle for aesthetically pleasing projects.
If U want to GLUE IT TO A STICK, what's the best Glue to use!
Thank You!
I've never actually done that, but it would probably need to be an epoxy glue. One that's waterproof.
Great video...thx so much for the wonderful information..im currently growing luffa ..can you tell me how long does tge vine have to get befire it starts to produce fruit..i live in canada so im eagerly waiting and crossing my fingers that they will work out cuz i heard they need a long growing season..thx dear
Thanks! The vines can grow 10 feet or more before you start seeing the luffa gourds. You may even see male flowers bloom and drop off without setting fruit for a few weeks before the female flowers bloom and tiny luffas peak through. I've learned to sit back and enjoy the beauty, and eventually the luffa product I want comes along.
Thank you i hope so cuz here in canada ..our summers are so short...hopefully i will be lucky..thx again dear
Nice video..thanks..when saving seeds should you choose a big luffa and does it matter where on the vine you pick the luffa from?thanks..i harvested some luffas and a few had white seeds..are they viable or just the black seeds?thanks
Congrats on your luffa harvest! I save seeds from the best 2 or 3 luffa you have. It doesn't matter where on the vine they grew. The white seeds are probably not viable; I only save the black seeds that are plump (not paper-thin).
Thank you for replying back...is it normal to find white seeds in some..would you happen to know why some seeds are white?Thanks
Where do I find the seeds at to grow Luffa? Thank you, God bless.😉
Baker Creek is one company that carries luffa seeds:
www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd
Could you tell me where I can purchase the seed? Do you sell the loofah
No, I don't sell the loofah. You can purchase seeds from many suppliers online (do a quick Google search on loofah or luffa seeds for sale). I like this reputable seed company: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd
Other ideas, you could use the small slices for facial exfoliating. You could cut some to make bird houses to hang in a tree.
Neat ideas! I've never thought about the bird house idea before!
@@homesteadingatkookergehoft8131 I don't know if you could, but probably, how about making stuff out of the luffas for bird cages? Maybe an end cap for perhaps a nest for them? Or a really wide piece with the middle out still as a ring, hung from the top of the cage for smaller birds to sit and perch in? Say finches
First time watching
I can't find the seeds where I live...would you be interested in mailing me some?
Just Subscribed to your Channel
Awesome, glad to have ya!
Are you able to harvest seeds from it to plant next year?
Yes, as long as the loofah/luffa is fully mature, the seeds harvested will be great for planting the following year.
i have trytophobia but these things don't scare me i bought the seeds and i'm gonna grow those and sell them around my town to make money :D
I used this when i was small,we actually used it to play because i didn't know the value then..wow
Do you know if they will grow in colder climate? North to Mid- Europe?
Honestly, they need warm weather and a long growing season because they are a tropical plant. I would guess they would need temperatures of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit for at least three months. That said, I would encourage you to plant some seeds as an experiment. Maybe your place has a microclimate where luffa would thrive. You never know for sure until you try!
I live in upstate NY. I started them indoors. They are doing well. I have several that are approaching 2'. I think several will have enough time to dry.
Could you cut the skin's up to use as mulch
You sure could! Great idea!
This is just my thought wouldn't it be easier and simpler when you pop the blossom end off then shake all the seeds out of the loafer gourd before you submerge it in water
Very cool, thanks for sharing Sub’d. Rare seeds are out of stock of these seeds
With so many people buying seeds this year due to COVID-19 shelter in place orders, etc., Baker Creek Seeds and other seed suppliers have been struggling to keep up with the demand. They will probably have some for next year. Sorry.
Would it be easier to hose them down?
After removing the skins, yes, hosing them down or using some form of pressure washing does help get any "gunk" out of the fibers.
Hi..could you use vinegar to whiten loofa instead of bleach?thx
Hydrogen peroxide
@@annacraven7847 thanks
I agree with Anna Craven. I think the hydrogen peroxide would do a better job whitening the luffa fibers than the vinegar.
@@homesteadingatkookergehoft8131 thanks
if i ever find any seeds i want to try this
Baker Creek Seed Co. has them: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd/
What climate can these gords be grown in ?
Areas with warm, long growing seasons are best, though I know of some people who grow them in Missouri even though their growing season is much shorter than ours.
do you let your luffa dry on the vine, or did they dry off the vine?
j z she says at about 19:45 that she leaves them to mature on the vine
Because the gourds are so thick, I would be concerned mold (and possibly bacteria) would become an issue if one tries to dry the gourds off the vine. If left on the vine, the sun and wind help dry the gourds and likely prevent premature decomposition.
Thato Theron: Thanks so much for helping out!
How does this work if someone (me!) lives somewhere that gets very cold very quickly in the fall. We are already in 30 degrees at night and I took mine off to dry inside. I am concerned about mold though. Thanks.
Are these all from one plant?
I think I had 3 or 4 plants that year. But one plant can make 6 fruit, easy!
were can you buy the seeds at or do sell the seeds i sure would love to buy some
Baker Creek Seed Co. has them: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd/
Sometimes my box stores have them by Burpee, but Amazon has them for sure....and most seed catalogs... www.tinyurl.com/CrockpotSeedlings
do you sale these
No, I just grow them for personal use and for gifts. Sorry.
This was my first year so I am learning. I just watched both your excellent videos. I came away with over 50 sponges and that is after giving some away and dehydrating a few small ones for soup for me and my dogs. I have two questions just a yes or no for this one... my said you have to freeze the seeds I thought he was nuts. Should you freeze them? also So far almost all my seeds are white will they turn black? I do have enough for planting I was just curious. Thanks so much. You opened my eyes to a lot of idea. I have been waiting too long. I hang mine in the clothes line with an opened paper clip so they dry out fast. I subscribed so I hope to see more of your videos...
Regarding freezing the seeds... Short version: No. Longer Version: I haven't really worried about freezing my luffa seeds for stratification. My logic for this is that it's a tropical plant, so it likely doesn't encounter freezing temperatures in its natural habitat.
I have had luffa seeds that were a grayish color, but I've not had luffa seeds turn from white to black. I wonder if you have a special variety of luffa that has white seeds. Are they plump, or are they paper-thin? After they've dried, do they sink or float in water?
I found one website that indicated white seeds from luffa may indicate the seeds didn't fully mature before harvest: www.luffa.info/images/ImmatureLuffa.jpg
On others seeds like watermelon the white one don't grow picked to soon.
I fear white means they needed more cooking/on the plant. I'm still buying seeds till I get my storage down. Lately I have bought on amazon or from Burpee.... I too love growing them, cuz i LOVE yellow blooms....so much.... I plant gardens for dogs and I....so I understand...never thought of dehydrating them or feeding them to the dogs, I read conflicting things on when you can eat them, so I just ignored that possibility..when i start late I germinate seeds faster with a youtube method I found, but any heat source helps.... check mine out, playback speed 2 if you are in a hurry....the gear left of youtube logo on bottom of screen lets you change playback speed. www.tinyurl.com/CrockpotSeedlings
Do you have any luffa seeds for sale?
Sorry, no. Baker Creek Seed Co. has them: www.rareseeds.com/dishcloth-or-luffa-gourd/
Could you put them in a washer on cold with a gentle cycle? Just thinking this seems to be very time consuming, help explain. Thanks.
You could try, but I suggest using hot water, not cold, as the inside goop (if the luffa isn't fully dry) is a little slimy. Also, the sponge could come apart if the fibers don't have strong connections, so I probably won't ever use my washer to clean new sponges.
OK when mine get harvested I think I'll try it with just 1, thanks
@10:13 is that a burp?
LOL, no, I'm pretty sure that was my voice catching as I was saying, "Oh." But that was 2 years ago...
I was well into my 40’s before I ever heard of Luffa and really I wasn’t missing anything. Thank you.
**WASH dat foot while U have it N dere!**
LOLOL = JUST KIDDING U!
Neat video! I was just curious if you happen to have any hearing loss? Because I noticed that you say your long Es through your nose instead of your mouth, and that kind of adjustment can often be found in people with hearing loss. Either way, thanks for the informative vid!
No hearing loss, though I do have a little tinnitus. I think I've always talked a little nasally. Perhaps because the roof of my mouth is high and narrow. Also, I had an orthodontal expander across the roof of my mouth when I was younger to widen the upper bone set of my mouth. The expander prevented my tongue from reaching the roof of my mouth, so there was an air space in my mouth when I talked. It took a while to learn to talk decently enough with that metal expander bar physically blocking a good portion of my speaking orifice, LOL.
Age 69 and just finding about this.
uhhhh
Young eat raw,or cook as fry as,a squash
I thought loofah sponges came from the ocean...
Sea sponges come from the ocean
Ashley Nicholson I know that, there are are many different types of sea sponges. I just thought loofah sponges were one of them 🤦♀️
@@bankrobber5147 well now you know lol
Bank Robber: Right!?! I thought so too until I came across an article about it in a craft magazine when I was in high school. Little did I know that magazine issue would start an obsession for me, LOL.
Homesteading at Kooker Gehöft lol well thanks for informing me too 😂
Why shoot this video in your bathroom??
To much talking these video sucks...
It's very informative, if you don't want info then how are you gonna learn to grow them?? Or just mute the video no need to leave a rude comment 💩