Luffa drying

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So my crazy luffa doesn't want to dry out. Guess the 8" of rain we had last week might have something to do with it. I have tried several different methods. Leaving them on the vine: they rot. Putting them in the dark pantry hanging and not touching each other: they rot. Now I have them setting in the oven on the very lowest temp I can....don't know if it will work. Any other ideas? If it were cold here I would hang them near the woodstove, but it was 70 this weekend. It is such a shame to have these rotting on me. Please offer any ideas you might have.....thanks!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), December 18, 2001

Answers

I let mine sit out all winter on a concrete surface, then in the spring, I peeled them. The get moldy, but that peels off, too. You can bleach them once they're peeled.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), December 18, 2001.

I thought you peeled them and then dried them??? I would say the oven should work, as they would not have time to rot. Good Job! getting a luffa crop. I had some sprout, but the weeds grew better! I need to keep closer attention next year and hope the seeds still grow. (they must be three years old now)

-- notnow (notnow@blabla.com), December 18, 2001.

Well when these mold about half of the insides turn to dust, too. I hope the oven works for them. It's taking a really long time. I think I will harvest them all and hang them in the pantry and just bring on batches to dry by the stove or in the oven. I'll let you all know what ends up working, and thanks!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), December 19, 2001.

Hey Doreen, Want to share some of those seeds? Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.

Hi ,It cut me off before I finished, Want to trade for those stevia seeds? Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.


Sure thing, Daryll! It may take me a week or so, tho'- I'll send you my envelope when I have some seds to put in there!cool

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), December 20, 2001.

Hey Doreen,E-mail me your snail mail address and I get your stevia seeds in the mail today. Merry Christmas, Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), December 21, 2001.

When drying your luffa, try hanging them them in the garage, laundry room, or even a spare room your don't use much (cause they're not so pretty). And always remember that they need lots and lots of air circulation. That really is the key to getting your luffa to dry without rotting. Have never tried the oven but do know what you're talking about with the rotting. Another trick is to try putting them in old panty hose, but you really need dry weather for them to dry that way. Our luffa drys right on the vine in California and we can peel them without soaking even. Good luck, it is really worth the effort!!

-- Linda Dahl (linda@mstarvis.com), October 30, 2002.

There is a way to dry in the oven, but as with food dehydrators, its the fan and heat. The fan keep the moisture away, will any heat 90- 150 will dry them. Higher heat only seals the outside and cooks the inside.

A fan can be put into the oven..heres how. Get a motor with an extention(long 2-4 inches) mount the motor on the outside, place extention thru hole into the oven, place fan BLADE on end of extention. Plug the motor in. LOW heat... Open oven about 1 time every hour to reduce moisture. The fan will reduce the time needed, by about 1/3-1/2

-- ed ash (ecash@cableone.net), February 13, 2004.


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