Tips for Growing Your Own Luffa!
We all know about luffa as a sponge, but did you also know it was edible too?
Continuing on with my series “Small Space Garden”, I am going to go over another one of my suggestions from “11 Best Plants To Start Growing Your Own Food”. If you have not read either of those articles yet I would recommend reading them to follow along or if you are interested in beginning to grow your own food. Whether you have a large amount of space to grow or if you live in an apartment complex the goal of growing your own food can be achieved with just a little bit of creativity. The one I am going to go over is Luffa.
Some of you may be wondering why I would suggest something that is primarily grown as a sponge as something to grow when you want to start growing your own food. While luffa gourds do make a wonderful bath sponge and exfoliate, many people do not know that at a smaller stage they are wonderful to eat. Luffa when picked while it is still small and tender, around 4 to 6 inches in size, is known as “Chinese Okra”. The taste reminds me of zucchini, I have even served it to guests who thought they were eating zucchini. It is wonderful in stir fry, pan fried, in soups, or in sauces. Pretty much anything you use zucchini in you can easily substitute it with luffa/Chinese okra. I make a really wonderful chicken and veggie soup with it that is really easy to make and a crowd pleaser. It is great during cold and flu season or if you have guests and need something that is easy to make that all will enjoy.
Many people are unaware that luffa or Chinese okra is full of health benefits. It is believed to be a powerful antioxidant and great for nasal swelling and sinus issues. It is packed full of minerals, vitamins and nutrients. One of the vitamins it is packed with is vitamin c- another reason why I like using it in soups so much.
If you let your luffa grow to its full size (can get up to 12 inches) and let it dry out you can use it as a luffa sponge exfoliate. Which you can use to offset some of your costs of having a garden by either by selling your luffa sponges or using them as gifts to give at holidays instead of purchasing gifts. You also only have to buy seeds for it once because each gourd gives you anywhere from 50 to 100 seeds or even more. Since there are so many seeds you could also grow and sell little luffa plant starts. Just remember to check your local laws on that.
Luffa is a massive vine, so this is unfortunately not good to grow in an apartment setting, unless you have a patio and can grow it in a pot against some lattice. You would need to use the full sheet of lattice long ways and you can trim it to keep it contained but it does grow rather fast and may be a bit difficult in an apartment setting. If you keep it trimmed too small you will not get as much fruit. This does tend to be very fruitful and once it starts producing you will see new luffas daily. I have not seen many bugs interested in eating it either so its pretty bug resistant. Other than your typical leaf miner or aphid munching on the leaves, but nothing that goes for the fruit so much.
These are just a few tips on how to grow the most luffa and why I believe it is a great addition when wanting to begin growing your own food and starting your own homestead. If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to answer any of them if you want to reach out to me on Instagram or Twitter @Garden4Solace. I will also be sharing some tips and photos periodically so please head on over there and give me a follow and say hello! I am by no means a garden pro, so I would love it if you would share your suggestions with me as well! If you are reading this article on Vocal and enjoyed it, consider leaving a tip to help support my urban farm! Wishing you a happy, healthy and wonderfully abundant gardening year
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Michelle Paiva and writers in Lifehack and other communities.
Tips for Growing Sorrel
Continuing on with my series of “Growing Your Own Food”, I would like to discuss another one of the eleven plants I discussed in the article and give you my reasons why it is a great pick as well as some tips and pointers that will help you get the most abundant harvest. If you have not previously read my other articles I would love it if you would and share along any tips you have that I may have missed or any tips you learn along the way that may help others. It may also be helpful to follow along if you first read “Growing Your Own Food” and “Small Space Garden”.
By Michelle Paiva3 years ago in Lifehack
The Last Flame
In a world engulfed by darkness, where the sun had long ceased to rise and the moon had vanished from the sky, there existed a tiny village nestled amidst the desolation. Here, the people clung to the last flicker of hope, embodied in the form of a sacred flame that burned perpetually in the heart of their village square.
By Oluwatobi Samuel3 days ago in Lifehack
My observation
10 sensible ways to know the genuine minds of people you met for the first time; When we are meeting someone for the first time, we are burdened with information. It can be difficult to know what kind of person they are. That’s why it’s important to communicate with a clear understanding. According to experts, 55% of what we convey comes from body language, 38% from the tone of voice, and only 7% from what we actually say. This means that when we meet someone for the first time, we have to take into account these three factors, in addition to what a person’s appearance may suggest. So, if you want to have a good understanding of someone’s personality when you first meet them, pay attention to the following clues—starting from the head down! Number 1: Eye Contact They often say that the eyes give light to the soul. The key to knowing which kind of eye contact someone is giving you is to consider the context. For instance, if a person steadily gazes at you, it could mean there’s an interest. On the other hand, when you look into someone's eye and he can’t look back at you, it’s a sign that he is either nervous or he has something else in mind,if you’re talking with someone whose look makes you uncomfortable, especially if he's steady and not blinking, something is definitely wrong, Number 2: Eyebrows: If you want to see how comfortable a person is, take a look at their eyebrows! There are three main emotions that make one's eyebrows go up: these are surprise, worry, and fear. Always raise your eyebrows when you’re having a conversation with a friend. An uncomfortable conversation can cause fear, worry, and surprise looks. Number 4:one can smile when it comes to smiling, the mouth can lie, but the eyes can’t. Genuine smiles reach the eyes, People often smile to hide what they’re so to know if a smile is genuine, look for crinkles at the corners of their eyes. If they aren’t there, that smile is hiding something! Number 5: Number Side Glance People who are warm and open to meeting you will have their bodies facing you, and they will look you in the eye. On the flip side, if you’ve just met someone and they immediately glance away to the side, this is a subconscious body language sign that means they are looking for an escape. Number 6:Frequent nodding Nodding is usually a sign that someone agrees with you. But When you’re telling someone something and they nod excessively, this means that they are worried about what you think of them or that you doubt their ability to follow your instructions. On the other hand, frequent nodding could also be unconscious gestures that are cues for the other person to get a move on, just like when a person keeps looking at their watch or touches their car keys. Number 7:Posture How someone carries themselves can give you some indications about their self-confidence. For example, if someone is walking upright with their shoulders back and looking straight, that gives an indication that they feel good about themselves and have confidence. However, if someone is slouching over and looking at the ground when they walk, that gives a much different impression. It may not necessarily mean that they have low self-esteem, but that’s the message it gives Number 8:Rubbing hands It is believed that the hands broadcast what the head is thinking. When a person is rubbing their hands together, it generally means that they have a positive feeling about something. People usually do this when they are hopeful about something good coming up in the future and they’re excited about it. Number 9:Handshake You can tell a lot from a person’s handshake. Soft and flabby, and they are likely to be submissive or a pushover. They are too hard and crushing, and they are possibly domineering types. The length of time is also important. Too long, and it’s weird, but too short could indicate some form of conflict. It’s possible that the person does not want to make a deep connection with you. But it could also mean that they don’t have much time. Number 10: Leaning In or Away If a person leans in towards you, it’s a clear indication that they are interested in you. What you might not know is that it’s also a sign of respect. When people come closer and lean in toward you during a conversation, it shows that they want to confide in you. It makes you feel trustworthy and valued. If someone leans back, however, they show that they are tired of the conversation, or perhaps they feel uncomfortable for some reason. . Number 11: Crossed Arms and Legs Have you ever had a conversation with someone who crossed their arms or legs while you were talking to them? If you’re on a first date or if you’re trying to pitch someone a new idea, it’s not a good sign. Crossed arms and legs are physical barriers that suggest the other person is not open to what you’re saying. Even if they’re smiling and engaged in a pleasant conversation, their body language tells the story. Psychologically, crossed legs or arms signal that a person is mentally, emotionally, and physically blocked off. On the same note, the direction of someone’s feet is also quite revealing. A person who likes you will have both feet facing in your direction. However, if their feet shift towards the door, it means they’ve had enough and want to leave. Number 16: Shoes: A person’s shoes can tell you a lot about their personality. Apparently, we all make judgements about people’s shoes, but studies show that they are pretty accurate. Nervous people will have new or very clean shoes. Amiable types will wear practical shoes. Calm people have an affinity for uncomfortable shoes. And aggressive people wear ankle boots. Just take a look at your own shoes. Does your personality type fit in with them? Number 17: Overall Appearance How someone dresses and presents themselves can say volumes about them. If the person has their hair in place, their clothing pressed, and they show attention to style, they may be very detail-oriented. Someone with a more casual wardrobe or “bed head” might be creative or just mercy and many more.with this little tips you will be able to detect someone around you. Thanks for reading and remain blessed.
By Chikatelmaabout 8 hours ago in Lifehack
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.