I trust there will be a future episode featuring Guy sitting in a very soapy hot bath, wearing a plastic hat - or sustainable equivalent, and scrubbing his back with a homemade loofah sponge.
Brings back memories..we grew these on the farm in Zimbabwe, and when they were mature, left them to dry in the skins, then peeled them, opened one end, rolled each one between our hands until all the seeds fell out, bleached the fibrous part, rinsed and dried them again and then used them for various things, nature is beautiful
Years and years ago when I was a very little girl and lived in NZ. my mum and dad had a cabinet dryer. This is how they dried their luffas out. But I think you could get a dehydrator Kylie. And the dark ones I would try bleaching them just to see what happens to them.love to you both. Vicki Brisbane Australia ❤️❤️❤️
You could also set a deadline of say, end of September and from that point onwards any new fruit that starts growing, you snip it off straight away so the plant can focus on the established fruit.
Wow! That was really very interesting! I just assumed, wrongly of course, that loofa’s came from the sea like sponges. Thanks for the education! Loofa’s have always reminded me of shredded wheat. Although as a vegetable it doesn’t look very appealing! Obviously the seeds aren’t very appealing either!🐓🐔Lmao! ❤️🙏🏼😎👋🏻🇨🇦
As I am in derbyshire my loofah never fully ripen so they are picked and left in the greenhouse to dry out, then peeled and the seeds shaken out. Thank you for the brilliant videos!
I grew up in Cyprus and I remember as a young girl my grandmother cutting and drying them hanging (like drying lavender). When they were completely dry they became very light and if you shook them you could hear the seeds rattling . Then they would be peeled and the seeds collected. However before we started using them as bath sponges or for washing the dishes my grandmother would put the loofah in a saucepan with washing powder and boil it for a little while. It would come out beautifully white, and soft ready to be put to good use. I am seventy now and have used loofah as a sponge in my bath and for washing dishes all my life.
This was a very interesting video. I'd never put much thought into where a loofa came from but never imagined it was like this. I learned something thanks to you.
Well done. For a first harvest It looks really good. It will be interesting next year when you start them earlier to give them more time. I'm trying to source seeds for next year. They are great for skin and also for dishes. I had a laugh with the chickens, they know what to eat and what not to eat.
I’m in Missouri USA, I’m going to plant these next year. I like the idea of making the bath cloths. Thanks, you’re alway full of good ideas and projects.
In Canada, brave loofa growers, start their plants indoors in December/January, and if all goes well harvest a few reasonable-sized "fruit" before frost in October.
Great video. I harvested a lot of mine when the were still green. I would beat them on the sidewalk and the actually peel rather easily when they are green. Once they are peeled they dry quickly. I usually peel from the stem end. You can toss the in a washing machine and it will get almost all the seeds out. If you get some that are discolored or spotting you can use bleach and it lightens and makes a more uniform color. Thanks for sharing.
I grew louffas this year. Some are green. I peeled off the skin and wrapped the louffa in a microfiber cloth. I twisted all the pulp out and laid the louffas out to dry. It worked. Made washing out easier.
The ones that aren't "pretty" make good sawdust removers if slightly damp, mostly we used them to clean saws etc. I've never grown them, season here is soggy a lot given it's a temperate rainforest zone. But, I might find someone in the semi-desert area not far away and see how they do.
Regarding the lupa, I think that before the rains start, you should build mini-greenhouse above the plant to keep the upper part dry from the rain. The lower fruits should be lifted so that they do not touch the ground.❤❤
I started my seed indoors for 8 weeks then transplanted them. They are very vigorous and prolific plants. We dry ours until you can hear the seeds rattling inside. Peel and I bleach mine to brighten them. You can dip them in melted bar soap and use them for bathing or to clean greasy hands. Good luck with yours and save some seed for next year.
I grew them in Sweden before. When the fruits get to the mature size, I would pick them and leave them in an airy place in the greenhouse to dry. The mature fruits won't get rotten so easy as long as they stayed at a warm and dry place ( greenhouse is perfect for that). You don't need to heat up or use drying machine.
My father is an organic farmer in Washington state, with a shorter growing season. He always starts his seedlings in March indoors ( much to my mother’s chagrin), and plants partially grown plants in late April when it has warmed up. Maybe you could do something similar with the loofah plants, so the outdoor time is less and you avoid the rain? Just a suggestion.
Loofah's are so fun to grow. You can also cut 2-3 inch chunks and place them in a round mold and fill them with soap. Muffin tin works. Then you have a soapy sponge all in one.
Chickens like seeds but they don’t have the tools to open a loofah seed’s hard outer shell. So just give the seeds a turn or two in a blender/food processor/hand chopper to break everything up and then see if they pick through to find the good bits.
What interesting plants! I was thinking you could put them in the cement mixer with some dish soap and a few small stones to get them clean faster. 😂😂😂
I love the loofah crop. I am so excited that I am going to find seeds for this spring here in Italy. I enjoy every step of your progress on the property. What are you using for your kitchen now? I do hope you get inside before Christmas. Keep videoing. thank you so much
That was really interesting to watch and learn about harvesting loofah's. Having a bath and using one ive never sat and thought about how it gets into our bathrooms. Enjoyed that thank you xx
I had no idea that loofah's came from a plant like this, wow. BTW, what happened to Kylie's finger (right hand, black spot)? Guy made me laugh at the chicken's not wanting to eat the loofah seeds.....Great Video, thanks.
In Switzerland we need to sow Loofahs in February or March to get a harvest in before winter (or grow them in high tunnels to speed things along). You can bleach the brown loofahs. The very lightly coloured ones you can buy are usually bleached. Though that might make them coarser to the touch.
Someone I know who grows luffas for soapmaking lives in Derbyshire where there isn't as long a growing season nor as warm weather as you have and seems to have no trouble with it, don't know how she processes them though.
I wonder if there are very specific varieties... and does your friend grow them in a glass house? They always fascinated me as a child...as did real sponges. I couldn't quite believe they came from plants!😂
Hi, in regards to the Loofa's, I get all the seeds out, and then run them through my clothing washing machine with hydrogen peroxide. It has worked great.
Loofah or Patola in the Philippines is a very delicious to add in chicken soup w/ rice noodles. Peel the young loofah and slice not so thin I guarantee it will be one of your soup to love.
Thanks for sharing I have found this really useful. I have some loofah seeds and want to give them a go over my archway I have made. When do you suggest I start the seeds off and when is the best time to plant out in the Castelo Branco region? Thanks a million ☺🙏☺
We used to have them in the garden when I was a kid ❤. I hated them twice, lol First, because they always scared me, hanging in the wind. They looked at a glance as snakes😂. Second, because, you clearly haven't bathed with them yet 😂😂😂
I wonder if you peeled them and hung one up for the chickens to pick out the soft vegetable matter as well as any seeds that you don’t want. I know that pumpkin seeds are very beneficial for chickens
I have grown looffa in south Louisiana, I picked the luffa when the luffa was yellow and i could zip the skin off, the looffa was bright white and i would use a hose to clean off the plant matter on the loofa exposing the sponge skeleton. If i waited till the loofa was brown and dried it was very difficult to peel and the loofa was a dark brown. I would also bleach the loofa if necessary to have a nice white color. Good luck
Can you start the seeds inside earlier to get the plants going really well before planting them in the ground to give the loofahs longer time on the vine before the rains come?
I wonder if you cld erect and temporary tent over the entire crop for the last few weeks of drying time on the plant or does it need more sun than that would allow? A clear tent?? No idea but thought I’d suggest it.
With our "gourds" like Barrel, Birdhouse, and even Luffa, we make nets and hang them, even when they are green (in case we get a frost coming in that will damage them). We hang them somewhere high, out of the way, indoors, and basically forget about them until the spring. In the spring we bring them down, bleach the gourds that we want to use the outside of (Painting birdhouse gourds, etc) and peel the luffa's :) Oh and we make our own nets, super easy: th-cam.com/video/_DkZAz_TuJo/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps and good luck!!
You know, loofa guards had been eaten by South Asian for over hundred of yrs. How you can cook them, you need to harvest them while they’re still young & green. Sauté them with with meat, fish, or chicken, or steam. Delicious.
no spray paint one and hang it on your door, and see what happens. lol. these plants are new to me, but have them growing on my back fence (or the neighbor does, technically). Not sure if they're 'wild' or if my neighbors (asian) grow them to eat, or use to clean. I thought they were huge squash things, until i saw one dried out, then i googled it.
I trust there will be a future episode featuring Guy sitting in a very soapy hot bath, wearing a plastic hat - or sustainable equivalent, and scrubbing his back with a homemade loofah sponge.
🤣
😂😅😂
🙈
Wow I have only just realised that loofah’s are a natural plant product Apologies for my ignorance
A fascinating vlog thank you
Brings back memories..we grew these on the farm in Zimbabwe, and when they were mature, left them to dry in the skins, then peeled them, opened one end, rolled each one between our hands until all the seeds fell out, bleached the fibrous part, rinsed and dried them again and then used them for various things, nature is beautiful
Ex zimbo here too Sally. Yes...they were growing in our garden. Happy memories.
Years and years ago when I was a very little girl and lived in NZ. my mum and dad had a cabinet dryer. This is how they dried their luffas out. But I think you could get a dehydrator Kylie. And the dark ones I would try bleaching them just to see what happens to them.love to you both. Vicki Brisbane Australia ❤️❤️❤️
You could also set a deadline of say, end of September and from that point onwards any new fruit that starts growing, you snip it off straight away so the plant can focus on the established fruit.
WOW, READING ALL THE COMMENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IS AS FUN AS WATCHING! MATTHEW "MO-CHI"
Wow! That was really very interesting! I just assumed, wrongly of course, that loofa’s came from the sea like sponges. Thanks for the education! Loofa’s have always reminded me of shredded wheat. Although as a vegetable it doesn’t look very appealing! Obviously the seeds aren’t very appealing either!🐓🐔Lmao! ❤️🙏🏼😎👋🏻🇨🇦
As I am in derbyshire my loofah never fully ripen so they are picked and left in the greenhouse to dry out, then peeled and the seeds shaken out. Thank you for the brilliant videos!
Interesting! Do they get any rot issues while drying in the skins?
I grew up in Cyprus and I remember as a young girl my grandmother cutting and drying them hanging (like drying lavender). When they were completely dry they became very light and if you shook them you could hear the seeds rattling . Then they would be peeled and the seeds collected. However before we started using them as bath sponges or for washing the dishes my grandmother would put the loofah in a saucepan with washing powder and boil it for a little while. It would come out beautifully white, and soft ready to be put to good use. I am seventy now and have used loofah as a sponge in my bath and for washing dishes all my life.
They look like joined up Shredded Wheat, but are probably tastier 😂 Well done Kylie - ‘she persisted’!
That threshing circle is FASCINATING.
So nice to see the chickens again. They are looking really healthy
They looked very unimpressed at the loofah "treat" of seeds they were given; fussy critters!
This was a very interesting video. I'd never put much thought into where a loofa came from but never imagined it was like this. I learned something thanks to you.
That was fascinating, thank you.
Well done. For a first harvest It looks really good. It will be interesting next year when you start them earlier to give them more time. I'm trying to source seeds for next year. They are great for skin and also for dishes. I had a laugh with the chickens, they know what to eat and what not to eat.
I’m in Missouri USA, I’m going to plant these next year. I like the idea of making the bath cloths. Thanks, you’re alway full of good ideas and projects.
Can you make a video on cooking & eating your loofas? I'd love to see how you prepare them. I didn't even know they were edible! Lol. AZ nurse.
In Canada, brave loofa growers, start their plants indoors in December/January, and if all goes well harvest a few reasonable-sized "fruit" before frost in October.
Great video. I harvested a lot of mine when the were still green. I would beat them on the sidewalk and the actually peel rather easily when they are green. Once they are peeled they dry quickly. I usually peel from the stem end. You can toss the in a washing machine and it will get almost all the seeds out. If you get some that are discolored or spotting you can use bleach and it lightens and makes a more uniform color. Thanks for sharing.
This is realy interesting! Thank you! 😊
Thanks, as a beginning gardener, loofah on the fence and now I know what do with them.
I’m so so proud of you!!! I have tried 3 years growing luffas & been unsuccessful! I’ll try next year 🤗 Much love ❤️ to you!!🇺🇸
I always thought James Brown was the hardest working man in Showbusiness, but now I know, it must be you two!
I did lol at the reverse of the final bye 😁
We now know what everyone is getting for Christmas gifts! Very cool
I grew louffas this year. Some are green. I peeled off the skin and wrapped the louffa in a microfiber cloth. I twisted all the pulp out and laid the louffas out to dry. It worked. Made washing out easier.
I really enjoy life long learners. Great pleasure to be around. Thanks much for sharing.
I think this is my favorite vlog of yours. I've never seen how to harvest these! You could sale the seeds if you have too many.
Interesting. I would've never known such a thing existed before. Fascinating. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I grew loofas years ago and watching what you are going to make with them inspires me to plant them in the spring!❤️THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATION!
I had NO idea that loofas grew on plants! I guess I just never thought about it. Thank you for the education - love your channel!
Good morning, Kylie and Guy. Thanks for sharing the loofah harvest… very interesting.
Like always ... a good and nice clip but mutch to short.
I loved hearing what you discovered about Loofahs. One or two would last me years!
Hehehe, the girls were not impressed. 😂
The ones that aren't "pretty" make good sawdust removers if slightly damp, mostly we used them to clean saws etc.
I've never grown them, season here is soggy a lot given it's a temperate rainforest zone.
But, I might find someone in the semi-desert area not far away and see how they do.
Regarding the lupa, I think that before the rains start, you should build mini-greenhouse above the plant to keep the upper part dry from the rain. The lower fruits should be lifted so that they do not touch the ground.❤❤
You two are just the best!
I started my seed indoors for 8 weeks then transplanted them. They are very vigorous and prolific plants. We dry ours until you can hear the seeds rattling inside. Peel and I bleach mine to brighten them. You can dip them in melted bar soap and use them for bathing or to clean greasy hands. Good luck with yours and save some seed for next year.
Your hair looks clean and lovely put up like that.
I grew them in Sweden before. When the fruits get to the mature size, I would pick them and leave them in an airy place in the greenhouse to dry. The mature fruits won't get rotten so easy as long as they stayed at a warm and dry place ( greenhouse is perfect for that). You don't need to heat up or use drying machine.
My father is an organic farmer in Washington state, with a shorter growing season. He always starts his seedlings in March indoors ( much to my mother’s chagrin), and plants partially grown plants in late April when it has warmed up. Maybe you could do something similar with the loofah plants, so the outdoor time is less and you avoid the rain? Just a suggestion.
Fantastic information! I’m planning on growing some next year so this really helps. Hugs, from Texas!
What a cool fruit, have never seen it before. It's amazing that you can eat it as a young fruit. Nature is so wonderful.👍
Very interesting, never heard of loofahs….,
I think that was still a success! Growing them inside earlier is a good idea.
Your chicken's are looking like " whats this mate? 😅😅
Loofah's are so fun to grow. You can also cut 2-3 inch chunks and place them in a round mold and fill them with soap. Muffin tin works. Then you have a soapy sponge all in one.
❤ Hugs from 🇨🇦
An interesting experiment I look forward to seeing how it goes next year xxx
Year on year this is a fantastic improvement, and next year will be even better. Well done.
Chickens like seeds but they don’t have the tools to open a loofah seed’s hard outer shell. So just give the seeds a turn or two in a blender/food processor/hand chopper to break everything up and then see if they pick through to find the good bits.
What interesting plants! I was thinking you could put them in the cement mixer with some dish soap and a few small stones to get them clean faster. 😂😂😂
Very enjoyable! You take all the guess work out of growing and processing loofahs and I like that, thank you!😊
I love the loofah crop. I am so excited that I am going to find seeds for this spring here in Italy. I enjoy every step of your progress on the property. What are you using for your kitchen now? I do hope you get inside before Christmas. Keep videoing. thank you so much
That was really interesting to watch and learn about harvesting loofah's. Having a bath and using one ive never sat and thought about how it gets into our bathrooms. Enjoyed that thank you xx
Very interesting episode.
*I have never heard of this plant at all... interesting what you can do with it. 🙂.*
Cool now I know how my loofah pads are made. I use mine for facials.
I had no idea that loofah's came from a plant like this, wow. BTW, what happened to Kylie's finger (right hand, black spot)? Guy made me laugh at the chicken's not wanting to eat the loofah seeds.....Great Video, thanks.
In Switzerland we need to sow Loofahs in February or March to get a harvest in before winter (or grow them in high tunnels to speed things along).
You can bleach the brown loofahs. The very lightly coloured ones you can buy are usually bleached. Though that might make them coarser to the touch.
Great, I tried to grow luufah in my greenhouse but the summer is too short in Holland. I would like to fill tgem with soap.
Someone I know who grows luffas for soapmaking lives in Derbyshire where there isn't as long a growing season nor as warm weather as you have and seems to have no trouble with it, don't know how she processes them though.
I wonder if there are very specific varieties... and does your friend grow them in a glass house? They always fascinated me as a child...as did real sponges. I couldn't quite believe they came from plants!😂
@@moiragoldsmith7052 Yes, she grows then in a greenhouse, and I did wonder myself if they would have been a variety more suited to the UK climate
I remember watching a video where the lady grew her loofa in a greenhouse. It might be a good idea to try that so the rain doesn't damage them.
Hi. Next year I’ll try to replicate your lufa experience. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.❤
So very interesting!!! 🥰❤️❤️❤️🇨🇦👏👏👏
Hi, in regards to the Loofa's, I get all the seeds out, and then run them through my clothing washing machine with hydrogen peroxide. It has worked great.
Loofah or Patola in the Philippines is a very delicious to add in chicken soup w/ rice noodles. Peel the young loofah and slice not so thin I guarantee it will be one of your soup to love.
Brown loofas can become really white in the sun.
I know I'm anthropomorphising here, but loved the look on the chickens' face when you gave them the seeds. Like what is this supposed to be??
the chickens literally looked like "dude, what the hell??? what is this crap???"
Thanks for sharing I have found this really useful. I have some loofah seeds and want to give them a go over my archway I have made. When do you suggest I start the seeds off and when is the best time to plant out in the Castelo Branco region? Thanks a million ☺🙏☺
I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.
We used to have them in the garden when I was a kid ❤. I hated them twice, lol First, because they always scared me, hanging in the wind. They looked at a glance as snakes😂. Second, because, you clearly haven't bathed with them yet 😂😂😂
I loved the reaction of the chickens 😂
Very interesting
Curious if a dehydrator wold work to dry them? I would also guess that it would be easier to wash them once you let them air dry first.
I make l'usage soap. When very dry slice the l'usage the hight of à round mold and pour soap over it
People love my soap
It makes nice scrub soap.
If the seeds since in water they are good for next season 🙋🏻♀️🇮🇸
You can soak them in a jik/chlorine solution overnight they come out very clean and brighter
I wonder if you peeled them and hung one up for the chickens to pick out the soft vegetable matter as well as any seeds that you don’t want. I know that pumpkin seeds are very beneficial for chickens
Harvesting the loofahs before they are dry, let them dry up after picking, gives you a softer sponge that is more gentle on the skin.
Well done growing them….I wonder how long they last once you start using them in the tub or a shower?
Amazing
I heard most people start the loffah inside in March so they can be ready by September/October
I have grown looffa in south Louisiana, I picked the luffa when the luffa was yellow and i could zip the skin off, the looffa was bright white and i would use a hose to clean off the plant matter on the loofa exposing the sponge skeleton. If i waited till the loofa was brown and dried it was very difficult to peel and the loofa was a dark brown. I would also bleach the loofa if necessary to have a nice white color. Good luck
I had NO IDEA about loufers. I thought they came from the sea. Till a seed came out of mine. 😅😅 i still didn't realise they were grown as a vegetable.
Can you start the seeds inside earlier to get the plants going really well before planting them in the ground to give the loofahs longer time on the vine before the rains come?
I should have watched the whole video first…you already answered this! Good luck next year…looking forward to those results.
Hanging some of them in the loft space to dry may work. Keep them away from any mice etc.
Loofa is very delicious eat when it,s young you can also boiled and eat very common in Asia .
I wonder if you cld erect and temporary tent over the entire crop for the last few weeks of drying time on the plant or does it need more sun than that would allow? A clear tent?? No idea but thought I’d suggest it.
With our "gourds" like Barrel, Birdhouse, and even Luffa, we make nets and hang them, even when they are green (in case we get a frost coming in that will damage them). We hang them somewhere high, out of the way, indoors, and basically forget about them until the spring. In the spring we bring them down, bleach the gourds that we want to use the outside of (Painting birdhouse gourds, etc) and peel the luffa's :) Oh and we make our own nets, super easy: th-cam.com/video/_DkZAz_TuJo/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps and good luck!!
Hadde vært flott om dere hadde fått norsk teks. Flott å følge dere.
You know, loofa guards had been eaten by South Asian for over hundred of yrs. How you can cook them, you need to harvest them while they’re still young & green. Sauté them with with meat, fish, or chicken, or steam. Delicious.
Hallo from South Africa we grew up with loafas soak them in soap
no spray paint one and hang it on your door, and see what happens. lol. these plants are new to me, but have them growing on my back fence (or the neighbor does, technically). Not sure if they're 'wild' or if my neighbors (asian) grow them to eat, or use to clean. I thought they were huge squash things, until i saw one dried out, then i googled it.
Can you 'bleach' them in lemon juice to make the aesthetic more acceptable?
Interestingly we discussed this morning soaking them in vinegar …. more experimenting on the cards 😃
Do the skins and/or dried but not great ones, work as mulch? That just jumped out of my wee brain.
now, that's a lot of work to get a sponge
You can roast the mature seeds that you aren't saving for next year, yummy
are you going to install swales?
Some people will try anything to get a dishwasher, lol. 🤣 just joking.
Ok so now I know these don't grow in the sea. I am wondering how the heck you would cook them to eat? 🇨🇦❤️🍷🍷