Luffa Gourd Plant

[ThreeOfSeven]

On a whim last winter, I decided to plant a luffa gourd plant in the spring. Got my seeds, and started them early. They finally went into the ground, about 7 seedlings, and I've been watching them all summer. It went HUGE! Here's a pic of them climbing halfway up a big tree.

Sadly, plenty of flowers, but no fruit. Until ...

I peered around the back of the plant this afternoon ... EUREKA! I am so thrilled. Only a few gourds, but at least the effort wasn't completely in vain.

 

[sourland]

Impressive plants !

 

[MarilynHukill]

Lovely! I tried this year also, none came up.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Yeah, before I found those 3 gourds, I was wondering why the plants were so healthy with flowers and all, but no fruit. Seems it may be a common problem. Not pollinated or no female plants? I think I just got lucky. I have a slew of flowers without fruit.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Beautiful! Are you going to eat them or peel them for the sponge? Sounds like the 'few fruit problem' could be low pollination due to few bees or poor weather inhibiting good pollination of the blossoms. Gourd plants are not male or female(diocious)but are monoecious- meaning both male and female blossoms are born all on the same plant. Insect or hand pollination is required.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Beautiful! Are you going to eat them or peel them for the sponge? Sounds like the 'few fruit problem' could be low pollination due to few bees or poor weather inhibiting good pollination of the blossoms. Gourd plants are not male or female(diocious)but are monoecious- meaning both male and female blossoms are born all on the same plant. Insect or hand pollination is required.

Good info. Yes, they also mentioned pollination, but I have LOTS of bees. Nearby are raspberries, sunflowers ... and more. I have about a dozen 4x8 raised beds with flowers and veggies. Maybe next time I'll try hand pollination.

Going to peel them for the sponge.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Wow, maybe since you had so many nice flowers, your bees weren't to interested in the luffa blossoms. Hand pollination is fairly easy, just a little time-consuming. Pick a couple of male blossoms and remove the petals. Rub the staminate of the male blossoms onto the pistillate of the female blossom. Mark the pollinated blossom.

 

[sealer39]

Crap! I bought luffa seeds last fall to plant in the spring and completely forgot I had them until you created this thread. Oh well, I’ll leave myself a reminder on my iPhone calendar like I do everything else I want to remember.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Wow, maybe since you had so many nice flowers, your bees weren't to interested in the luffa blossoms. Hand pollination is fairly easy, just a little time-consuming. Pick a couple of male blossoms and remove the petals. Rub the staminate of the male blossoms onto the pistillate of the female blossom. Mark the pollinated blossom.

That could exactly be the problem!

Okay, you make it sound easy. I'll try again next spring. I'm sure there's a video on Youtube that I can watch. <grin>

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Crap! I bought luffa seeds last fall to plant in the spring and completely forgot I had them until you created this thread. Oh well, I’ll leave myself a reminder on my iPhone calendar like I do everything else I want to remember.

That's so funny! I do the same thing. Going to add a note for next April to start the seedlings.