Senior alert!

[Sunbeam56]

I've been really occuppied the last three weeks. I know I owe Scott (Pondman in Fl) and Marla some vivips... who else do I owe what?

BTW - someone REALLY nice sent me some loofah seeds earlier this summer. They struggled with the heat. I had them trained up around the dead sunflower stalks. The hurricane blew the whole thing over, and so I gave them up.
They are resurging, conquering everything in their path, clothing the fence with loofahs!
Thank you VERY MUCH - really nice person! 

[Esther]

So are the loofahs what looks like big cucumbers? And what is all that elegant grassy stuff between the loofah plants.   

[Sunbeam56]

 

Sweet Esther... those are weeds. 

[PondmaninAL]

I'm a patient person Savannah, now hurry up and get me my vivips.

You never answered Esther question about if the cucumbers were the loofahs.

[karen J]

Well I don't know if they're loofah's or cucumbers, but they sure do look tasty. 

[Jerry]

I gave up om Loofah long ago.  You are doing well.
I did pick 3 tomatoes this week!
This time of year we get hot winds.  Everything is affected!  Not good.
15 miles away all is calm and thriving

[Sunbeam56]

The cucumber shapes are the loofahs.
They are edible - when very small. You cut them up and fry them like okra. But I think they are tasteless - like okra. So I'm letting them grow.

I use loofah for cleaning my feet. Because I work in the pond barefoot - perilous enough - my feet get caked with the sticky mud we have here. Nothing gets it off like a loofah.

It is outrageous what they charge for them at the drugstore. So I'm growing some. 
For my purposes, they will hang on the fence until dry.

A really neat-o thing about loofah, the squash looking flowers are held way up on a long stem - like a water lily. I wasn't expecting that. Its very pretty. 

[Sean]

Mine did not take off this year, I should have planted them sooner. Nice to see yours did so well, I assume they will turn brown soon for you so you can start harvesting them.
You'll have lots of fresh seed for next year with that harvest.

Cheers,
Sean

Oh, I almost forgot, you are very welcome

[Esther]

Wonder if Loofahs would grow here. I have a chain link fence around the pool that stuff wil climb on easily. We did watermelon this year on the fence but it got started too late and the three melons didn't ripen before the first frost. Trouble with stuff climbing on the fence is that it is a real pain to remove in the fall.

Those loofah blossoms are nice though. And again, I suspect you have a mud bottom pond if your feet get that bad when you're in there.

[Sunbeam56]

I didn't announce my benefactor, because I didn't want everyone grousing why Sean didn't send THEM seeds... but he fessed up.
 
I'll have seeds this winter, Esther. Want some?

[Esther]

Oh yah, I'd like to try them. I could use a couple. I have a friend in Detroit on another pond forum who is just getting into gardening, seeds, and learning about how things grow. I will share a seed with him. I think he would be interested in seeing how they grow. Do you think they'll need a long season? Do you leave the cucumber thingys just hang there until they dry or do you pick them and let them dry. I don't know if they work around here as I've never heard anybody doing them.

[Sunbeam56]

I will leave them on the fence until dry. What I'm looking for is the fibrous inner structure. Unless it gets moldy, not likely high on the fence, it wil be perfect.

I planted these way long ago. But they didn't do until the weather got cooler. They don't seem to mind slight drought. We haven't had any real rain since the hurricane. Just drizzles and dew. (although its supposed to rain for the next three days),

You will want to plant at least three. One for the slugs, one for the caterpillars, and one to actually live.

When they dry, we will have plenty. 

[PondmaninAL]

Well, Savannah, looks like you better keep my address because I would like some seeds as well. Please.

[KatFish]

Add me to the vivips list (and seeds, if there are any extras.... )

[Desertponder]

Very cool. I wonder if they would grow here. I take it they don't like the heat very much?
I would love to try some seeds too.

[Julles]

Would you need to peel them, to expose the spongy flesh, then let them dry?

[Sunbeam56]

No, they will dry on their own. The skin will help ward off any rain that falls before they are dry.
When they are ready for harvest, I will peel the dry skin to expose the fibrous interior, and seeds.

[miguynmkoi]

Interesting!  I have never seen a loofah plant or knew how they grew and dried.  Thanks for the knowledge, Savannah!