Angled Loofah, Chinese Okra, Ribbed Gourd

It's said that this climbing annual will grow up to 20 feet in warm climate. Keep seeded trays moist at a steady warm (80-90 F) area. G...Read Morerow plant with support so fruits will be hanging. Keep well watered and fertilized. When the main stem and branches are 4-6 feet long, pinch out the tips to encourage branching, and fruiting.

Pick immature fruits for vegetable uses when they age 10-18 inches long.

In my zone 5-6 garden, this plant is a thug! Mistakenly sowed seed beside regular okra in early May. This vine's taken over my entire v...Read Moreegetable garden, climbing 6-8 feet up and over vegetables, flowers and shrubs, smothered in small, bright yellow flowers, leaves 6-12" broad. Now it's bearing fruit, very ribbed, hard spines, but very sweet-tasting raw. Ants cover the fruit (because it's sweet ?) similar to dense texture of courgettes, the form resembles a cucumber but with rigid spines.

I had just moved so I was starting my garden late (mid May). I planted one of these in my raised beds in Eugene, OR and it grew to about...Read More 7-8 feet with beautiful yellow flowers. My mom (outside Salem, OR) also had one but hers died after transplanting. I hear they become bitter and fibrous if the "fruits" grow beyond about 6". I got two "fruits" from this and harvested them early to avoid the bitter taste and toughness. They were very good in a stir fry. I often see these in Asian markets but they are sold about 18" long (I've yet to try them to see if they're bitter). I also hear that you can use Angled loofa as a loofa sponge if you let them grow very large but Luffa cylindrica is a better choice as it makes a superior sponge than Luffa acutangula, which is mainly used for eating.

We grow this plant in containers to climb on a chain link fence. It would grow very high if one wished. We only use it for frying like ...Read Moreregular okra. when picked about 1" around it is breaded and fried like other okra. We like it because of heavy production in a small area and the plants are not spiny like normal okra. Also it is not sticky or gooey. It can be frozen after slicing and put in freezer bags. As much as desired can later be taken out easily.