September is often hot and dry, marking the last month of the year with such conditions. During this time, the goal is to shade and sun-dry our harvest. This month, the loofah gourd is dry and ready to be harvested. The warm days we had in winter helped the annual vines stay alive, allowing them to produce new shoots and small loofah gourds. However, the vines are starting to dry out in some areas where larger fruits grew earlier. The stalks have turned brown and can be easily broken off the plant. The loofah skin is brown and brittle, making it easy to crack and peel off. With a light shake, the seeds come out from the base of the dry gourds.
Seeds collected in dry weather after completely drying are less likely to get mold during storage for next year’s planting. The small loofah gourds from winter are not expected to dry before the rains start. We will collect them for composting and pull out the vines to make way for new plants during the rainy season.
#LoveHomeGrown.
