Each summer resident dreams of growing useful plants on his plot. One of these treasures will be a loofah - a washcloth from it turns out to be very pleasant and useful. The growing process will not leave indifferent neither adults nor children. Indeed, right before the eyes of a small seed, a durable bath accessory will appear.
What is a loofah?
Luffa belongs to the pumpkin family, Asia is considered its homeland. With its appearance, it resembles a vine and can reach a length of up to 5 meters, thanks to such qualities this plant is often used in the form of hedges.
Forms a weak root system, which is located on the surface.
Fruits can reach a size of 70 centimeters. Depending on the degree of maturity, there are several ways to use them:
- Young fruits are widely used in cooking, they are cooked in the same way as zucchini. They have many useful qualities and are appreciated by lovers of tasty and healthy food.
- From mature specimens, a beautiful washcloth from loofah is obtained. This unusual use is due to the structure of the vegetable. When the fruit is fully ripe, it becomes strong, fibrous and mesh.
Beneficial features
A huge amount of edible oil and protein contain washcloth seeds. Luffa is part of many cosmetics.
Vegetable and technical varieties of such a plant are also distinguished. They differ in the quality of the oil obtained and in the scope of its use. Technical grades are used for making washcloths, and oil obtained from seeds is part of various face masks and other cosmetics. Food grades are used in cooking.
Useful properties are possessed not only by the fruits and seeds of the plant, but also their green part. For example, the juice from the stems of loofah in Japan is widely used to create lipstick or is used as a lotion to cleanse the skin.
Before World War II, a loofah (bast) was used for industrial production. Due to its light and porous texture, it was part of various filters and diesel parts.
Also, due to good sound insulation and high strength, the fruits of the plant were used as the inner layer in the manufacture of steel helmets and automotive equipment of the US Army.
Types of Loofah
One of the most specific representatives of the pumpkin family is loofah. How to make a washcloth from a plant, many gardeners who are just starting to grow it in their plots want to know. First you need to choose the right variety.
- Luffa is sharp - ribbed - this subspecies of the plant is much easier to grow, because it is less demanding on soil and care, and it is also less likely to suffer from various diseases. The flowers bloom at night, so they are pollinated with the help of nocturnal insects or manually. Fruits should be consumed until full maturity, when their size is 30-40 centimeters, otherwise the taste of the product will change and will be bitter. In its shape, the loofah of this variety resembles a cone or mace, the surface is ribbed, the skin is poorly separated from the pulp.
Fruits are consumed in the same way as cucumbers. But at the same time they are part of curry and added to soups. The leaves, shoots and flowers of the plant are also edible, putting them out for several minutes and mixing with oil, you can get an unusual and tasty side dish.
- A cylindrical loofah is just such a subspecies suitable for making washcloths. In their length, the fruits can reach 70 centimeters, they are slightly sharpened towards the stem. They are distinguished by a thin skin that is easy to separate and a delicate white flesh. By the method of preparation is no different from the sharp-edged loofah.
Growing seedlings
Many summer residents are wondering about how to plant and grow a loofah (washcloth). The answer lies in the biological characteristics of this plant. He has a fairly long growing season, so the process is usually started with germinating seedlings.
- Since the seeds of the loofah are very hard and covered with a thick shell, they need to be prepared for planting. To do this, about a week before work, they must be placed in a very warm place, with an air temperature of at least 40 degrees.
- Then they need to be soaked in aloe juice for 20-30 minutes.
- You need to start growing seedlings in early April, so that the fruits have time to ripen before the onset of winter cold.
- The soil must be nutritious and loose, in order to avoid the appearance of bacterial diseases, it should be disinfected.
- 5-6 days after sowing, the first shoots should appear.
- In order for the loofah (sponge) to get as many nutrients as possible, during the cultivation of seedlings, it must be watered 2 times with mullein diluted in water, in a ratio of one to ten.
How to choose a place for loofah?
Before planting a loofah, you need to choose the right place in which the plant will feel as comfortable as possible:
- Luffa (washcloth) does not tolerate strong winds.
- Loves the sunshine.
- The plant can be planted both in the greenhouse and in open ground.
- Before planting, you need to take care of the support, it must be strong and strong, because the plant grows very quickly and gains weight. An example is a trellis, stretched twine, or even a metal, mesh fence.
Open transplant
After the issue with the place is resolved, it is necessary to plant the plants themselves. If the loofah is placed in a greenhouse, then the second half of May will be the best time, and if open ground is chosen as a permanent growing place, then all work should be postponed until early June.
Before planting, you need to prepare the holes, the depth and width of which will be 30 centimeters. The distance between plants should be at least one meter.
In order for the loofah (bast) to take root in a new place as best as possible, the soil must be fertilized:
- At the bottom you need to pour half a bucket of humus and add 2 tablespoons of potassium sulfate.
- Or you can use half a glass of ash per plant.
You need to deepen the loofah to cotyledon leaves, then the roots are neatly dug in, it is very important not to damage them during planting.
Plant care
Many are interested in such a plant as luffa. How to make a washcloth? To make a bath accessory, first you need to grow quality fruits.
The leaves of the loofah absorb a huge amount of moisture, so you need to carefully ensure that the soil does not dry out, and the plant has constant access to the necessary nutrients. Water for irrigation must be warm, otherwise the loofah may die. Also, experienced gardeners recommend spraying the vine itself every two weeks or use a sprayer.
As soon as the first mature ovaries form, you need to choose 3-5 of the strongest of them, the rest need to be plucked. In order for the nutrients to enter the fetus, it is better to remove the lateral branches, the same applies to excess green mass.
Luffa, like any other plant, requires a large amount of oxygen, so the soil needs to be loosened three times per season, given the surface root system, this procedure must be carried out very carefully.
Pollination - initially only female flowers are formed, male flowers begin to appear only after 10-12 days. Given the peculiarity of the plant, it is practically impossible to pollinate it with the help of insects, the most reliable way will be to use the manual method. About whether it was possible to carry out the work or not, it will be possible to find out in a few days, the pollinated ovaries significantly increase in size.
Feeding
You can fertilize the plant using the following substances:
- Ammonium nitrate will be used during planting, second and third loosening.
- Mullein solution should be mixed with water in a ratio of 1 to 10. Top dressing is performed during the formation of the ovaries.
- Complex fertilizer - you can use 1 tablespoon of nitrophosphate diluted in a bucket of water. This procedure is carried out in the middle of the growing season.
- Superphosphate extract - 1 tablespoon of the substance is diluted in a bucket of water. This top dressing contributes to the maturation of seeds and the best ripening of the fetus.
When to collect loofah on a washcloth?
To use the fruits in cooking, they must be harvested while they are young. But as for the manufacture of bath accessories, the time of removal will depend only on the desire of the person himself.
To get a soft washcloth, you should collect green fruits, but for more rigid specimens a mature, brown loofah is suitable. A prerequisite will be the harvest before the onset of frost, otherwise it will be unsuitable for use.
How to make a loofah washcloth?
Luffa is a washcloth, the manufacture of which begins with a long drying of the fruits, usually it lasts several weeks. To prepare the plant for the process, you need to trim the ends and get rid of the seeds. Then, future sponges are suspended in a dry room, preventing them from touching each other, otherwise mechanical damage or wet spots may form, and the fruits will most likely rot.
The next step will be soaking in boiling water. This procedure is necessary so that the skin of the fetus softens, and it is easier to remove.
As soon as the washcloth is almost ready, it is necessary to clean its fibers from pulp and seeds with a stiff brush.
To prepare the sponge for use, it must be washed in soapy water and dried naturally by hanging in a sunny area or laying on a window.
How to sew loofah pouches?
In order for the bath accessory to be conveniently used, it is cut to the required size and the handles are tied. You can also make a washcloth in the form of a scraper. For this, the loofah is oval, one side is completely sheathed with a fabric to which a loop is pre-attached.
If the washcloth does not stretch in hot water and does not shrink in cold water, then the whole technology was performed correctly.
How to use a loofah washcloth?
Before using such a sponge, it needs to be slightly softened by holding it for 2-3 minutes in hot water.
Luffa - washcloth, reviews of which always remain at the highest level. But in order not to harm your body, but to bring a favorable effect, you can not overdo it in the application (no more than twice a week). Otherwise, irritation may occur on the body or a violation of the skin.
After each use of such a washcloth, it is necessary to use moisturizers or oils.
Luffa has the ability to remove dead skin cells, but after a month of use, the pores of the sponge are clogged and bacteria begin to multiply in them.
After each use, the washcloth must be thoroughly washed and dried.
The use of loofah in medicine
Many countries in Asia and the East widely use luffa in folk medicine. A decoction of the roots and the green part of the plant is an excellent tool to stop internal bleeding, and it is also used to treat sinuses.
Many cosmetologists recommend using luffa in conjunction with home soap. Melted soap is poured into the holes that are formed after cleansing the fruit from seeds and pulp and the resulting sponge is used in the form of a scrub. Such a cosmetic product perfectly cleanses the skin and stimulates blood circulation in small vessels.
One of the most beneficial fruits for the skin gives a plant called luffa. The washcloth, the photo of which can be seen above, is an environmentally friendly product. With enough effort, you can grow it on your garden plot. In addition, the vines on which the fruits are formed differ in their unusual appearance, therefore they are often used in landscape design.