sponge growing

Couldn't find the bathroom section so i'm posting this in here.

I was just lurking on an American gardening forum where one of the members had been out at night on a snail hunt & they noticed a lovely smell.

It was coming from their Luffa plant, which they hadn't realised only flowers at night.

Thats given me an idea for next year.

Grow my own sponges !

http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/exotic-loofah-luffa-cylindrica-loofah-seeds-p-16911.html

Anyone else tried this in the U.K. ?

 

Grow then as presents for friends!!

I reckon they need a greenhouse in the UK, but maybe they will grow vigorously enough outside in a good Summer to actually make a half decent crop?

 

Hi Kristen,

You are probably right about the greenhouse. Trouble is, if they flower at night then they probably need moths to polinate them. Have to throw a bucket of those in with em.

 

I know someone who bought the seeds at Hampton Court and tried them. I think she had an ok crop, but I don't remember her either wailing or crowing about the results. They sound fun though and yes, she had the same idea - Christmas presents. I didn't get one though.

 

What did you do wrong :hehe:

 

Something I've always looked at on the seed racks and catalogues, and thought, narr.

How about a loofah growing competition next summer?

 

As opposed to Pete, I saw it in seed lists and said 'Yea nice one' - but I still haven't done anything about it. There are just so many different plants out there, and you can't grow them all. :D

 

I'm always up for a competition, Pete.
Sounds like the nonsense I could be into .
Put up the challenge - and we'll see . :gnthb:

 

I think we need to wait for a few months before getting fired up.
But we could have a growing comp on something or other, pumpkins are the obvious, but without an acre to spare its not an option.
Sunflowers, been done to death.
Likewise Loofahs are basically useless, and not sure many would want to tie up greenhouse space.

Onions might be an option?

 

Onions might be an option?

Onions ! No!
If we're going for a challenge let's do it.

It has to be something which is a real challenge - but just for fun.

 

Like the idea.

 

Sounds fun. I don't really 'do' vegetables in the garden (space) but if it's something I can grow, I'll certainly join in

 

I liked the sponge idea.
Or we could try Peanuts
What other suggestions ?