Pretty Maids All In A Row

[Lilith]

Planning my early spring garden...

I grew loofah, yes the scrubby things, last year and it was a huge hit. It grows like this (http://www.datasync.com/joewindham/loofah.jpg) and then you let them dry, peel them, and collect the seeds for next years crop. They grow in massive vines and get gorgeous yellow flowers that attract big fat bumble bees. I have tons of seeds from last year and will gladly mail them to anyone who would like to start some in their garden (need tons of space and a fence would be even better). PM me if you are interested.

[WildIrish]

Any special climate restrictions?

And is Loofah some fancy Florida name for zucchini? ha ha

[Lilith]

Looks like them but trust me you would not wanna eat these. I think a good 3-4 months of decently warm weather will get you from start to finish. Yo could start them inside a couple weeks early and then move outdoors. They get fatter than that picture shows. You can leave them to dry on the vine or harvest green/yellow then dry.

[nikki1979]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm do they likeloads of rain??? LOL and is warm classified as average 80 but during august it may get to 106????

~nikki~

[Lilith]

Yes nikki they like it wet or dry. They were the easiest yet most invasive thing I have ever grown, but I am not sure whether customs will let seeds in (but I would gladly try).

[WildIrish]

Put them in a ziploc bag and stuff them into the head of a teddy bear and sew the seam back up.

Or so I hear. :D

I've never been very luck at starting stuff from seed, but this might be my year. I just might give it a whirl!

[Lilith]

These are big seeds like a pumpkin seed.

[lakritze]

Interesting,I always thought loofahs were harvested from the sea.Thinking if Sponge Bob loaf pants.hehe heh.Everything I have planted is in pots.Condo living does not allow for growing anything in the ground.I don't know if loofahs could be grown out of a large pot.With all of those big fat bumble bees,I wonder what loofah honey would taste like.

[Lilith]

If you have a patio trellis or rails I bet it would cover it...and yes I think you could grow from a decent sized pot. A lot of people think they are some sealife but nope they were cultivated by Native Americans.

[nikki1979]

hmmmmmmm well my mom in law is sending some seeds ill let u know if they clear customs . lol no use tryin less i can , lol
wud ba a waste of time for ya otherwise.
~nikki

[Ryan²]

I'll have the bee if it's OK with you, Lilith. ;)

[BIBI]

Well I'll be damned! See you learn something new everyday!

Would love to get my hands on some seeds.......LOL no one would believe me if I was growing them here in Canada!

[Lilith]

Just PM me with an addy if you want me to mail some seeds in an envelope.

[Summer]

I want some. I would love to grow some then make some homemade soap to fill in them. Then sell them on eBay and make LOTS OF MONEY. Yeah that is the ticket. :D

[Lilith]

WI already has them trademarked...Lilith's Loofahs:D:D:p

[Summer]

:p






;)

[Teddy Bear]

Wow! I never really thought much about where loofahs came from but sure didn't imagine they grew like that.

My yard is very shady, only a few sunny corners. Do they like alot of sun?

[Lilith]

They do but will crawl around til they find it.:sun:

This vine inspired my Lil's Shop of Horror...

[Lilith]

I am mailing seeds out today! If you are still interested but did not get me an addy please get with me soon! I like the idea of us all having related flowers in our gardens:p

[Summer]

Cant' wait can't wait!!!!!!!!!! TY Lilith!!!! You are the greatest!!!!!