Is there really a right way to spell luffa? 😂
It seems like a simple question, but one glance at the various spellings can spark debate. Perhaps it's spelled "loofah" in one corner of the internet, while "luffa" garners its supporters in another. Whatever the spelling, there's no denying the versatility of this remarkable gourd. I learned this firsthand when I tried my hand at growing luffas a few years ago with the intention of incorporating them into my homemade soaps. My quest quickly came to a halt, however, as Minnesota's brief growing season left me with little more than a dream of a succulent, homegrown luffas.
Fast forward to this year when I spotted a promising luffa at the Farmer's Market. Eager to finally experience the pleasure of crafting my own, I decided to buy it and dry it myself. It was green, which raised a red flag about peeling, so I sought guidance from a garden guru on YouTube. Her oven-drying technique yielded decent results. While the skin slid off easily as she said it would, half of my luffa deflated. Not her fault - the luffa was bad. After washing it, it still had an odd greenish hue that made it look a bit funky. In the spirit of experimentation I decided to dry it anyway to see if was usable as an exfoliant in my soaps. (update: it became moldy).
I'm determined now to return to the Farmer's Market for a second chance at getting this right. Then in January I plan to start seeds indoors, giving my future luffas ample time to grown, aiming for a bountiful harvest that I can let dry on the vine. Then I'll make sure they are vibrant and ready for my future soap creations.
I cut it up as instructed by YouTuber
The two luffas on the left are no good. Completely deflated and mushy. The ones on the right look pretty good. I'll update once they are dry.
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