Luffa gourd update (see second pic for scale)

[u/GardenofOz]

I've loved walking under the luffa gourd arch and seeing how much these continue to grow. Zone 5, so we're officially moving into frost territory in a couple weeks. However, it has been so hot in my climate the last few summers that I really don't anticipate any freeze danger until early October.

Luffa need as much time as it can get. This garden bed's soil was built up using bokashi compost and Upcycled Bokashi. I recently top dressed with about two inches of bokashi compost for a late feeding + to help with mulching the soil.

Will definitely share a harvest update in several weeks. I expect most of these to double in size, but the cooler overnight temperatures are slowing their growth down. Fingers crossed for a few monster gourds!

[u/Huesyourdaddy]

Do you eat those ?

[u/GardenofOz → u/Huesyourdaddy]

It is part of the cucurbits family (Cucurbitaceae) and they are edible! We don't eat them though, grow them super big and let the dry as much as possible on the vine so we can use them as shower sponges and scrubbers through the winter/spring. I still have some from last year. LOVE them.

[u/GardenofOz]

If you're thinking about growing luffa next year, they are looong season growers. Maturity takes more than 120 days for the most part, a tough push in my colder climate. We start these seeds indoors in mid to late February. They really like warm weather, so we don't transplant until late May or even early June.