Luffa or petola is one of our favourite veggie except for my son ….. I wonder why????
My first attempt at planting this veggie was fruitless but the plant grew very well and I think it became a bit too much for the shared trellis and it collapsed after a storm. Yes initially there was no petola plant but when the pole bean did not make it, I replaced it with petola and I guess by that time when it was growing at it’s max, the trellis must have had worn out.
The next plant was planted on its own trellis which is of the teepee kind but this plant had to be destroyed because it was infested with hairy caterpillars.
The third plant was also planted on its own teepee trellis and it grew real well but no luffa. There were many flowers and mini luffas that just drop off. Anyway just decided to just let it continue growing since I had no new plants to plant yet.
Then one morning during my usual walk in the mini-farm, I was pleasantly surprised to see a portion of a
luffa sticking out from among the leaves of the plant. This is my first luffa after more than three years.In the west, luffa are usually left on the plant to grow old and dry up. They are then used as bathroom accessories. Here we eat it as soon as it is big enough for the table …… it was really delicious, my very first one, yum!! yum!!
It was already almost big enough for the table when I
discover it and not wanting it to be taken by some pesky pest, I harvested it. Home minister made egg luffa omelette for dinner ………. burrp!! yummie!!!
