In philippines they call this patola. They're harvested when they're young and not yet fibrous, and used in cooking similarly to how zuchini is used. Great in chicken soup.
You sound like me!!!! “I thought I planted a loofah but instead it was cucumber.” Omg I’m laughing hard because instead of a cucumber for me it’s birdhouse gourd! Hahaha I think my kids did it but it’s been fun watching it grow.
I ordered kale seeds from Sweden once, thinking I might be able to grow some on my balcony during the long and warm Croatian autumn, and make Swedish Christmas kale. Well, I did think the one plant that grew from those seeds looked a bit different, but it was also kind of fun to harvest a cantaloupe melon on the balcony in November 😆 I still don't know how I didn't see that the seeds couldn't possibly be kale.
try young luffa soup. when it's soft, green and before the fibres develop. the flesh is a soft vegetable. if you harvest it young enough, even the seeds are baby soft. i peel it, chop or cube it, then sautee it in onions, garlic, ginger, an optional bit of meat. add broth. bring to boil. add thin noodles. some people add moringa leaves. yummy healthy treat.
I live in Michigan I have no problems with transplanting , however the problem is they are still green when the first frost comes and i have to pick them all early. I have 6 on my counter right now that are 12- 14 inches long and beautiful but they are dark green. Same thing happened last year.
You’ve been a great source of happiness and peace for me, here in Melbourne Australia. You have the sweetest disposition and your excitement for the garden is contagious! Peace and love!
I use luffas for dishes. More environmentally friendly, never gets that sponge stench. When I lived with the Hmong tribe in Northern Vietnam, we grew them and ate them.
Hey Epic Gardening! Your channel is so helpful. I'm 13 years old and decided to grow radishes and beet (People said they grew fast). I planted them. The beetroot germinated, but soon died. I planted the radishes and some of them died, and some of them are alive. I think I overwatered them (I gave them water everyday). I did it because i saw the soil was dry (People said keep their soil moist). Did I over water them or under water? If anyone could respond or even you Epic Gardening it would be helpful :D
@@nikhilapte4782 It's a bit hard to recommend how much to water without knowing the climate/season that you were growing in. For example, my area gets a lot of rain and doesn't require watering at all in spring/fall, whereas Epic Gardener is in sunny Cali and would probably need to water more often. The best way to check for soil moisture is sticking a finger (or stick) in an inch or so and seeing if the soil is dark rather than just looking at the surface. Also instead of watering everyday maybe try deep-watering once/twice a week, that way it gets down to the roots instead of evaporating straight away from warm weather (there's a lot of videos explaining deep-watering that may be helpful). Hope your beets turn out well! And try again next year, sometimes it takes multiple tries to get a harvest from certain crops, like Kevin and his Luffa xD
I've found that humidity domes are absolutely essential for germinating seeds since it keeps the soil at a good moisture level. If you don't have a dome and have a small enough pot you are planting in, take a ziplock bag big enough and put it over the pot. It's not as good at keeping the soil moist as a humidity some would be, but it's better than straight open air.
It's so encouraging for beginning gardeners to see that even the experts get stumped sometimes! I'm so happy for you that you finally got your luffa! My neighbor gave me some luffa seeds last year, but I put them up for safekeeping, and you know what that means, lol.
One of my favorite vegetables growing up in a Taiwanese household. So many ways to prepare it (really delicious with small shrimp or dried shrimp) or in a soup and it’s very nutritious! Let it grow old and you’ve got a sponge. Probably one of the most versatile plants!
The loofah grows very well in our South African climate and bears in abundance. We harvest them when they are still young, green and soft and cook them in a curry. It's delicious on its own but many like to add a little dried shrimps or fish to enhance the flavour. It can also be cooked with fava beans (double beans).The fruit that get too firm to cook are left to dry and we use the sponge in the bath.
Wow.......these things are a weed in my city (Lagos, Nigeria). They grow everywhere so i have never thought of growing them. I think i would give it a try now. Love your channel.
This is so fun! Congrats! I grew my first luffas this year. I live in Redlands, which is about 2 hrs north of you and has a hot inland climate. I started 4 plants in March and transplanted them twice (once into bigger pots because my raised beds weren't finished yet, and then finally into my raised beds). Those things turned into monsters and took over my garden! I started harvesting in August and the vines are still covered with more gourds; I'm at the point where I'm cutting off the new baby luffas because I can't handle any more. I think I'm going to end up with about 75 luffas, many of which are over 2 ft long!
We’re so glad our Victory Planter helped you finally grow an epic luffa sponge!! Thanks to your challenge, we grew luffa too, and loved it. It’s a beautiful vine!
Dreams do come true haha. Such a romantic! Dude that was definitely satisfying. I feel the excitement and the luffa gods must be pleased. Definitely growing luffa next year. Keep on growing epic team
that's so easy to grow here in the Philippines...we call it "patola"🌳😎😆(pronounced with short A like in Abort)...it's one of those "popular" vegetables here in the Philippines
I knew the word "luffa" and knew it to mean a thing you used in the shower. But, I never knew they were grown. I have only ever known of the plastic variety.
Thank you for this video! I just looked up I can probaly grow luffa in zone 6 but we shall see LOL... I tried a luffa sponge to replace my kitchen sponges and end up loving it. TBH they last waaaay loooonger than my dish sponges because they don't stink up after a long time of uses!~ TBH they don't scrub as well but it does a good job for everyday dishes.
We need more things like this happening in schools 💚 Children need to be taught how to grow food. We are homeschooling and my children help in the garden.
I ordered some seeds from somewhere online and a long time later I received a small envelope from China that said "Jewelry" on the label. It was about 20 seeds. I will be taking it to our county ag office to determine if they are really luffa seeds or some crazy imposter seed. Don't recall who I ordered them from.
Glad to see you back Kevin!Love the way that you explain to me about your plants!Keep it up!I love your content and one day you will be rewarded with the diamond play button!Almost there to a million subs!I'll be supporting you always! :)
For the (8) people that gave this video a thumbs down too bad they have so much negativity in their heart and soul. Great job Kevin not only was the video a great way to start our day because you made us smile, you also showed that patience is the key to gardening. 🤙🏼
Mazel Tov! The best thing about a home grown luffa is sewing on two cotton rope or tape handles and then scrubbing the middle of your back - especially the lattermost part.
the Tags on all my vines washed away (thanks sharpie PERMANANT MARKERS) So I broke leaves and smelled/tasted them to help guess. I thought the huge vine was a butternut squash... but it still hasn't flowered mid september. Then I remember I planted a loofa too... and they dont flower till days are shorter. My 5'x5' greenhouse only has 2 sun loving plants in it, and it's completely full because I trained the vines on the shelves (and out the windows to climb more). Only have one Cantaloupe on the other vine getting pretty big so far but nothing yet on the loofas. I just bonemealed and added a new layer of soil, Fingers crossed they start flowering.
Note: It's been a very cool rainy summer here in Zone 6 new England... last year my loofas struggled and died early... I'm guessing they like 70's 80's and lots of Rain. We've only had two 4-5 day streaks over 90 and never hit 100 this year. I might have accidentally broken the code to loofa growing... live in Seattle or London weather lol
“Let’s go asmr” (N.E.V.E.R stops talking!!!!) “I’ve gotta be quiet” (STILLLLL yammering!!) Lol. Thanks for the video. I didn’t realize how finicky these were to grow. My grandmother used to grow them. She had 8 kids/kid-in-laws and 15 grandchildren and every year for Christmas we ALL got a new loofa and so did her friends in Sunday school and her neighbors, all in a climate that has harsh winters. I just assumed they grew like weeds.
It's funny to see the struggle to grow this plant, when back at my house in Brazil we have them growing like crazy, even tho no one ever planted them haha.
Lol 😂 this video made me giggle! It’s how I feel about my plants though. Can you try to grow moringa? I’ve been trying to sprout from seed but having trouble keeping it alive I live in northern ca
In Nipomo, CA there is a small luffa farm where they give tours and sell the luffas they grow, very interesting. They are so much better than the kind you get in the store that have been processed with chemicals so they are stiff and get gross. AND luffas can be used to clean with, nice scrubber!
I’ve grown this fascination with one day growing my own luffa and shampoo ginger, just so I can say “you think your shower products are all natural? I grew my own shampoo and sponge” 😅 I don’t know what’s wrong with me lol
Plant Daddy !!! Congratulations on your newborn Luffa! 2 years is a long gestation but at least the delivery was quick and painless. How long before Baby Luffa #2 gets her cord cut? Look at all those seeds! Get them planted when the time is right and you'll be a Plant Grand-Daddy next year. Watching this is the most fun I've had in ages!
We grow Luffa primarily for food. Its young fruits, young leaves, flowers can be cooked in several ways. When we cannot consume all, we just let the fruit mature for seeds, and for fibre production. We use the fibre as a body sponge/scrub when taking a shower or bath, use it to wash and scrub utensils as well. My family in the Philippines have been doing this since 1960s to the present. All organic. No need to buy any kind of inorganic sponge material. Good for the environment.
Wow, congrats on your first full-fledged loofah - it’s a beauty! And today I learned that loofahs come from plants and not from Target 😬. I never hear of people growing loofah here on the east coast where I am, so thanks for sharing and teaching me something!
First time growing Luffa's this year up in Zone 4a Ontario Canada. Grew about 30 vines, started them indoors in March and transplanted in June. Crushing it, I have over 50 growing now. If I can grow these in a cold climate, anyone should be able to grow them
when I was a kid, I discovered loofah came from plants because I found seeds in a loofah mum bought. Then I assumed loofah were roots that were woven together lmao I was a kid ok
I tried last year with some seeds I got from Amazon. I'm in Florida zone 9b. I grew it in a large pot next to hog fencing. It grew, flowered and had a few fruit but when they got half size they started rotting and feel off. I tried to clean the rotten parts off but wasn't left with much. I tried again this year with the leftover seeds and none grew😞
Congrats on your Luffa! Funny enough luffas grow wildy in the streets where I live, they climb up posts and cables. One question: after harvest, pimiento plants have to be removed? It’s my first successful harvest 😌✨ 6 delicious orange pimientos.
This was my first loofah grow and I got alot from just 3 plants. However! I didn't know it takes ssoooo long to grow and dry🤦♀️ I'm in 6b and they're still growing in my outdoor greenhouse. Thought it would have died by now but nope..theyre still green tho. My question is being that its cold now and the loofahs are still green, would they ripen and dry off the vine/left on the plant till the plant dies from the cold? I guess we'll find out😆
When I was a kid we grow so much of these in our farm in the Philippines, now being in zone 7a here in the state I really appreciate tropical weather where you can grow anything with ease!
I usually plant these every year, but with Michigan's weather, tons of rain these past 3 years, it's been a super challenge to get anything to grow fully let alone to ripen. Thankfull I have new polleninaters this year and it's fun again . A joy to be in the garden again.🥰 LOVE YOUR CHANNEL, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
You crack me up! "This is all I wanted in life!" Man, that's easy. I was rooting for you until you filmed the unwrapping in portrait mode and then I realized you were a psychopath. LOL!!! Enjoy your loofah! (BTW, what a cool last name. I would love to have a cool name like Espiritu...but I'm stuck with Luna! Still a good one, I guess.)
Okay I just learnt something new.... So when do I plant these seeds? Oh Kevin... The sounds you made on this clip... For a second I thought I an adult-rated video was playing... 😂 But let me watch it again
This is a really silly question. I am in Cape Town, trying to grow veggies in my small yard. Can i grow this plant here? Can it be planted directly in the ground. Raised beds is a no-no here. It will be stolen within days.
@@biancapetersen9601 I live in the tropics and this plant is everywhere like a grass. This plant is supposed to grow on the ground and not in pots. They love full sunlight and lots and lots of water so maybe you should try planting one after spring.
Hey Kevin, I am a big fan of your show! Thank you. My dad grew luffa along his western facing block wall (he lives in semi arid, high desert) and he was very successful and he gave them away as Christmas gifts. Great stocking stuffers! (-;
😊🕋😭 يا ربي أرزقني يا ألهي إعزمنا لمكة المكرمة والمدينة المنورة والروضة الشريفة والعمرة الممتعة الجميلة الموفقة المقبولة آمين Live Noble 🦋 Be Noble Be with noble people only Go to noble places To become noble 🦋👍🏻
5:37 "Why not now take you to the epic moment..." I was so ready for the next words to be "when I take my first shower using this loofah" MISSED OPPORTUNITY!! ;-)
Your journey and fascination with luffa is very much like my own journey with pawpaw fruit trees. Lol! That was a very satisfying peel. I loved seeing your enthusiasm. Congratulations on your success!
I forgot 3 planted 3 of these and when they sprouted I assumed they were cucumbers until the flowers bloomed. Now I have vines growing up the back of my house lol. I currently have 7 gourds and I’m so excited!
hahha congratulations! I feel your frustration and sense of relief when something that doesn't work out for the first (or several) attempts to grow that finally does. I struggle growing Anything from seed to fruiting...I don't have a setup to start indoors and I need to work on getting consistent water dialed in out side. With all that said, I finally got a watermelon, some beens and zinnia flowers from seed to grow! I only got 1 melon, and a hand full of beens harvested but several bouquets- small victories LOL
Your luffa failure soubds like my cucamelon failure...out of 9 seedlings I am left with only 3... I thjnk I need to buy a backup seed package, my seedlings died becaus of black fly worms eating the roots :(
Already have my Luffa seeds for 2022, Already came to the conclusion to grow in large grow bag. Going to use a wall of water to help it along in spring time zone 5. Wish me luck!
