Way OT....Louffa Sponge Harvesting
I thought I was planting Bird House Goards.....nope Louffa's!!
They are still green and I have no idea how to peel them to make the sponges.
Anyone know what to do with them now?
Why I do these goofy things, I do not know!
Sherry
I love that you are growing louffa!
When the sponges are ready for harvest, they can be peeled. The skin loses green color and becomes looser when mature. The mature sponges tend to dry out and lose water weight. Generally, if the sponges have reached full growth they will be ready to peel. If they are green, the loofah may contain some fiber but be harder to peel. If it falls apart when you try to peel, it doesn't have enough fiber and is not mature enough. It is always best to peel them as soon as possible if the vine has died. The longer the skin stays on, the darker the sponges will get. Peeling greener louffa is difficult but can be done if needed. Throwing the loofah hard at the ground is one trick. It's good exercise for relieving your stress too. The bad ones will break apart, while the good ones will crack and loosen the skin. Letting the louffas freeze and thaw once on the vine also makes them easier to peel.
If they have matured they are usually easy to get open. Soaking in water will help the opening process. After peeling, high water pressure from a hose sprayer can remove much of any remaining green and brown coloration. Wash them with soap and water, lay out to dry, rotating occasionally, as the water settles in the lower side. Placing them in sun and wind outside dries them quickly. The sun tends to lighten them some. Hanging or placing the sponges on a screen works well for drying too.
If they are stained, a soak in some bleach and water will lighten them considerably. A wet harvest season tends to cause more rot and brown spots in the sponges. An unusually dry fall in one particular year yielded sponges that were very light in color, an almost fluorescent white. Getting all the seeds out can be a challenge, but the drier the sponges are, the easier the seeds will fall out. Save the best ones for next year. You can also cut open the sponges in any shape you want to remove seeds or make a loofah fiber mat. Happy louffa harvesting!
Blessings,
Mary
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
