SEED AND CUTTING EXCHANGE

I have loads of luffa (loofah) seed available.

Would welcome as swap anything that'll grow in the tropics, no particular wish-list at this stage! :lol:

Bel

Names:
luffa sponge, loofa, loofah, sponge gourd, Luffa cylindrica, Luffa aegyptiaca, and aegyptica.
Uses:
- edible when young and can be cooked and eaten like squash or okra
- cleaning almost everything, including dishes, people, cars, boats, plastic buckets, and anything that needs scrubbed but can't withstand steel wool.
Growing:
Most are grown in a warm climate and have the benefit of a long growing season. Luffas grow best in full sun in a well-prepared bed. It is optional to soak in warm water for a few hours before planting. Some say this improves germination rates. Plant seeds 20-30cm apart along a fence. Once they get established, the plants are quite vigorous. They grow on vines that can reach 10m in length. A strong supporting trellis is a must.
The small seedlings grow very slowly while the roots become established. Once they are about 15cm tall the increase in growth rate is phenomenal. When the vines bloom, bright yellow flowers attract all types of nectar gathering creatures. The flowers are quite pretty and abundant. When the flowers wilt, slender cucumber-like vegetables appear. The vines continue to grow and produce fruit until the weather cools and the sponges begin to mature.
Harvest and Process:
When the sponges are ready for harvest (dark brown and dry shell, very lightweight and rattle when shaken) they can be peeled. Crack the dry skin and peel off, starting at the stalk end. When you get to the base, many seeds will tumble out so be ready to catch them. The remainder of the seeds can be shaken out. Give your sponge a good scratch and wash, shake well and set to dry in an airy place. Your luffa is ready to use or give. Save plump seeds in a cool, dry place until next Spring.
More:
These sponges are machine washable. They can be sun bleached, or lightened using hydrogen peroxide or a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Ours are fine in their natural state. To colour or dye clean and cut the sponges to desired lengths and dye using natural or commercial dye. Dry well. Attach cord through one end of the luffa to hang in the shower. Cut into many shapes for pads, mats, and other craft items - cut the sponges lengthwise and remove the core to make sheets of sponge material.
References:
https://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/
https://www.luffa.info

 

G'day Bella.....I have a few organic vege seeds I'd swap for some loofah seeds.

cucumber: mideast prolific
capsicum: california wonder
eggplant: black beauty
zucchini: cocozelle
broccoli: early green
pumpkin: butternut
watermelon: crimson sweet

Let me know if you'd like some or all of them.

 

Corn,

cucumber: mideast prolific
zucchini: cocozelle
watermelon: crimson sweet

I'd like to try these three, please. I will PM you my details and pack up the luffa seeds right away.

Bel

 

Have replied Bel

 

They are on their way...
Anyone else? No need to swap. I am happy to send luffa seeds for free - we have an abundance.

Bel

 

I'd love some Bella - have PM'd you with details and the meagre offerrings I have in return.

 

PM back at you. Not meagre at all. Appreciated!
Bel (with many more luffa seeds yet - anyone?)

 

Cheers Bella....seeds arrived today.

 

Corn, yours got here too. Might try a cucumber, but will keep the rest for a bit, till the weather's less ick. (Technical, huh?)

Veggie, yours left today. Sorry for the delay!

Still 1000s of the things to move, anyone?

Bel

 

hey!
I live in Tasmania, I dunno about the rules for this sort of thing here.

I love the idea, and I edited my forum to try and get it going on a larger scale.

Im not sure if im allowed to post links, but its here >
https://ajs.4.forumer.com/index.php?showforum=43

Im not a spammer, and Im sorry if the link isnt allowed

I have a hedge plant called luma apicalata, im trying to take cuttings from it, but after 3 months its still go no roots, I guess I did it wrong lol :lol: :lol:

By the way PSA is PLANT SWAP AUSTRALIA :wink:

 

jay - what's your forum for exactly?

edit: ah i see now. plant swap australia.

 

Hey there Jay,

Have you tried dipping the ends of the luma apicalata cuttings in honey before planting? What are you planting them in?

Good luck.

Cheers,
Fran.

 

I just put them in potting soil and rooting powder from big w, works for pretty much everything else, id say they were semi-hardwood.

never heard about the honey thing before, does that incourage them to grow roots, is it a rplacement for rooting powder, or use both?

 

The honey keeps the root clean from invading bacteria and seems to allow the cutting to root when in moist soil...I don't use rooting powder at all.

Perhaps give it a try

 

cool, thanks!
I will 8) 8)

 

G'day folks, I have the following seeds I'd be happy to swap..

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Tamarillo (Cyhomandra betacea)

All are Green HArvest seeds, and are organic seeds to boot.

I only need half of each packet so quite happy to swap the other half.

PM me if you have something to swap, either now or in the future.

 

Ta, Veggie. Seeds arrived today. Lotsa yummy lettuce!

Anyone else want Luffa seeds, please pm me as I do have lots.
Bel

 

No worries Bella - thanks for the luffa and bean seeds.

I gave you plenty of the lettuce because I have heaps and I reckon the best way to sow is the scatter method - which of course uses more seeds.

When I bought my broad ripple current tomato seeds, I found them very difficult to propagate. Only ended up with 2 seeds in the whole packet coming up. Reckon they were just bad seed, because the plants that I took the seed that I sent you from were self sown, about 100 metres from where the original plants were (thanks no doubt to some sort of bird).

Hope the asparagus are useful also, I am harvesting at the moment, and am eating asparagus every night. I love the stuff, but am not so keen on the way it makes pee smell :lol:

Asparagus is a long term project, but is great once it is ready to harvest. Must plant some more for myself :idea:

 

I am going to have to research where I should put the asparagus. We love the stuff, so it'd be wonderful to grow our own. Have to get the books out, or do a search tonight. Thank you again! Seeds in the letterbox are sooooo exciting!!
Bel

 

Vanilla cuttings

Does anyone have any vanialla cuttings I can try out, I would like to grow them in Brisbane and in Bundaberg