Different plants have different properties useful for humans, and if one of them is used only in culinary or decorative purposes, others can serve in everyday life. The latter refers to the lufa, known as good raw materials for the manufacture of bathing washcloths.

Lufa is a representative of liananide plants, with shoots up to 4-7 m in length. All of them have branched mustache and roughness of ribs. Leaves - Palc Pointed (sometimes solid) and located alternately.

According to the outlines, the leaf plates resemble a heart with a diameter of 15-27 cm and located along the edges of the teeth. All of them evaporate quite a lot of moisture, so the plant needs regular irrigation.

Pretty large flowers of louches are monodomal, separation, painted in white or yellow.

Stampless varieties are collected in private inflorescences, while pestle feature a single location. Plant flowering can be observed since June.
Green corrugated fruits of the plant resemble the spine-like "cucumbers", the length of which is about 50 cm, with a diameter of 7-12 cm. Immediately after ripening, they begin to dry, and the sclerorenchymy fibers are developing.

Seeds of such "cucumbers" have an ovoid shape and edge boundary. The length of the seed can reach 1.2 cm. Full ripening of fruit is marked closer towards the end of summer.

Rhizome Liana is weak and is located in the surface layer of soil.

Did you know?The described plant has many interesting names and, in addition to the "Lufa", Lianana is often called the Vietnamese Pumpkin, the Chinese battery, the urinary pumpkin, and even a mad cucumber.

Views

Today there are about fifty types of hubs, however, only two of them are used for growing in the garden: oscillating and cylindrical, and precisely from the latter are made popular louche wash.

This type is represented by annual Lian, reaching a length of 3-6 meters. Pentighed stems have roughness on ribs and fixed to the support with branched mustache.

Sheet plates reach 20 cm in diameter, in most cases they are 5-7 coal or divided into several separate blades.

Fastening sheets to the stalk is performed by means of sufficiently long stuffs - about 8-12 cm each.

All flowers of plants are different and can have five 2-centimeter petals of pale yellow. Stomaching species form carious inflorescences, 17-20 pieces in each, and pestle - single and are in the sinuses of the same leaves as the latch.

Fruits in oscillate lufa have a pin-shaped form and reach a half-meter length, with a diameter of 6-10 cm.
The taste of young copies is reminded of cucumber, except that the flesh is sweeter. As soon as the fruits are completely dried - they are already unsuitable in food, but under the skin there remains a fibrous sponge created by woven conductive beams.

The seeds inside have an ovoid shape and reach a centimeter length. In ripe fruits, they are yellowish black or completely painted black.

Ostrict Lufa is grown to use young cucumbers in nutritional purposes, in particular, and for the preparation of curry. Ripe fruits are unsuitable for food, since they give a strong bitterness.

In the cooking, the other parts of the plant are also often used: buds, leaves, shoots, and even flowers, and everything you need to get a delicious side dish - just to shake them or fill with oil.

Cylindrical lufa is almost the same lenovoid plant, as well as the previous variety, but its length is somewhat more - up to 9 m. Yellow flowers are the same large, and unrivable young "cucumbers" are the perfect ingredient for many dishes.
In length, they reach 60-75 cm, which is almost twice as much as a oscillate variety. As soon as the fruit skin becomes yellow, they can be removed and start cleaning, mining the fibrous flesh itself.

Important! Try not to overtake the lifers on the bushes, because too, the overwhelmed plant will be much worse to clean.

The cylindrical variety of "mad cucumber" is more suitable for the manufacture of washcloths, although in cooking the plant does not happen: in addition to the fruits themselves, leaflets rich in carotine are used (its content here is almost 1.5 times higher than that of popular vegetables like carrots and sweets. Bulgarian pepper).

Like many other plants, Lufa is not yet recognized as official medicine, but its application will still be relevant in a number of cases.

As we have just mentioned, the fiber is present in the fruit for the human body of the fiber, in addition to which such important components should be distinguished as triterpenoids, pectins and carotene.

Juice "Cucumbers" is used to treat conjunctivitis and some dermatological problems, especially related to increased fatty skin.

In addition, young fruits and even the waters of the Vietnamese pumpkin will be useful in the treatment of anemia, the ailments of the respiratory system or simply for the general affecting effect on the body.
The juice juice is an excellent ingredient for the creation of drugs from joint diseases or infusions against nasal diseases. Kashitsa from "Rainy Cucumber" helps to eliminate cough and reduce body temperature, which is often used by the East healers.

In addition, no less useful vegetable will be for nursing women, as it helps to increase the production of milk. This utility list can be continued for a long time, but it is also clear that the lufa is really a very valuable vegetable.

Despite the fact that many gardeners talk about the specifics of the cultivation of the hubs, it is possible to plant it almost on any sites, both in the open soil and to the greenhouse.

The falling down "mad cucumber" immediately in the open soil, mostly, residents of temperate climatic zones are engaged, where summer is quite warm and the earth is quickly warming up.

At the same time, with a colder climate, it is desirable to plant a plant with a seedy way, especially if you hope to get big washcloths. The age of seedlings at the time of moving to a permanent place of growth should not be less than 30-40 days.

In any case, it does not matter whether you seed seeds immediately into the prepared beds, or you are going to plant seedlings in the box, the preparatory stage in both cases is the same:

1. We are looking for high-quality seeds.
2. Warring them during the week on the battery or under the right sunlight (the main thing is that the temperature is at least +40 ° C).
3. Machine in aloe juice solution (divorced in proportion 1: 1 with water) for awakening and activating the growth function.
4. Sit into the soil (on the bed or in the boxes).

Lufa seeds

Important! The plant does not tolerate the transplant, so to avoid unnecessary problems, experts advise landing seeds immediately into peat pots or any other capacity from organic material, with a diameter of at least 6-7 cm. Typically, the seed planting process falls for April.

Having placed seeds to the substrate and sprinkled with a layer of soil, it remains only to pour them with water and, covering the boxes (or pots) with a plastic film, place in a warm place, waiting for the appearance of strong sprouts.

The ideal place to accommodate seedlings will be a windowsill over a warm battery or on the sunny side of the house, since the optimal temperature indicators for the germination of seeds and their rapid growth are values \u200b\u200bwithin + 28 ... + 30 ° C.

The first shoots usually appear after 6-8 days after landing, and as soon as it happens, the containers should be moved with young plants into a cooler room, with a temperature not more than +20 ° C.
When all sprouts are completely fixed, the film is removed and the seedlings are infused, diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. Such a nutritious infusion will accelerate the growth of the hollows, and when 6 real leaves appear, it will need to be tested to the support.

On an open area, young plants are planted only after the average daily temperature is set at +13 ° C. Placing seedlings is performed with smooth rows, with a sufficiently large distance (1 m). This requirement should be necessary to comply with, given the size of the leaf of Liana.

When landing seeds immediately into the open soil (more suitable for growing a lufa in gastronomic purposes), it is necessary to organize pits in the size of 30x30 cm in advance and a depth of 25 cm, up to half filling them with cow dung, mixed with soil. This mixed and seeds are placed, sprinkling their remaining soil.

A seedy way is much more profitable than seed, because by landing in advance in the pots, you get not only early, but also a very rich harvest.

Choosing a place on the site to grow such an unusual cucumber on the site, it is worth paying attention only to well-lit sections with fertile soil and sufficiently deep grounding of groundwater.

Lufa loves the sun, which means the lack of sunlight will lead to a limited growth of the plant and a less abundant crop.

Care

It is not very difficult to care for planted plants, and you will need to fulfill just a few regular procedures:

• watering - 1-2 times a week;
• loosening - a few hours after watering;
• deleting weed vegetation - in the process of loosening.

At the end of the summer, the abundance of irrigation reduces what is necessary to reduce the growing season and accelerate the ripening of the harvest.

Another, no less important aspect of the care of the loufa is the fertility of the plant. The first fertilizer is added already at the time of landing, per 1 kg of manure per 1 square meter. m site.

In addition to manure, complex mineral compositions are used, with participation, and. The specific dosage of each such agent is calculated on the basis of the features of the soil on the site (the instruction on the package will help to be navigated in the exemplary values).

In the future, in the course of the growth of lufa, the feeders are performed with a regularity of 2-3 times in 30 days, for which a special mixture is used, cooked from a glass, 1 kg of a cowboat and water buckets.

During the flowering period, Liana can be picked up by nitrogen-containing compositions, again, calculating the proportion based on the norms specified on the package.

Specific dates for the collection of fruits of hubs directly depend on the goals of its cultivation. If you are interested in the use of "mad cucumbers" in cooking, then you need to remove them yet in green, in about the mid-end of August with a length of 10-15 cm.

Did you know? Rodinic louche is considered hot tropical countries: India and Africa, and in the latter there are still lands that have not yet been a person.

A little leaving, they will become excellent raw materials for further processing on canned food or easy extinguishing.

However, if the plant is grown in order to obtain a good washcloth, then you have to leave the fruits on the bushes so much so that most of the moisture can be removed from the pulp.
You can also cut them off at the end of the growing time (at the end of September) and hang in a dry and warm room so that they do not come into contact with each other, otherwise it may begin by the dent.

To obtain soft rods, the term "ripening" at home is slightly reduced.

When growing in warm climatic zones, lufa is considered to be completely matured when the skin on the fruits is yellowing, and they themselves dry quickly.

The process of manufacture of uroalky

After successfully growing the lufa, it will not make any difficulty from the ripe fetus. The whole process passes in the following sequence:

1. Young or strongly tired fruits need to be collected and well dry (temperature at least +40 ° C), thereby preparing for further processing.
2. After drying, the plant is placed in the water for a week to achieve maximum softening its peel.
3. Then you should remove the skin and clean the fibers from the pulp.
4. It remains only to wash the lumba again in the water, rinse and leave to dry in the sun.

Video: How to make a wash with a lufa After the completion of the process, you will have a finished urine in your hands, and everything that remains is to do two holes from one end and to turn the lace to the convenience of retention. If you caught a long fetus, it can be mounted on the edge of the edge and connect the parts with each other, forming a circle.

Application

Lufa is widely used in different areas of human life: ranging from cooking and ending with cosmetology, and almost everywhere there is simply no equal. Consider the use of its use in each of them.

Important!If you do not grow vegetables yourself, then when choosing a lufa, it is desirable to pay attention to its external characteristics: the fetus should not have any damage on the skin or too soft, clearly shutters.

Non-leaving luve fruits have a very pleasant and delicate taste, resembling a mixture of cucumber with zucchini, and in addition to this, a very fresh smell can be noted. Tight and thick peel is always cleaned, because it is not suitable in food.

Flowers and buds of the above-described types of hubs are great for the preparation of salads: they are very crispy, with original taste and fragrant notes. When used for this purpose, the leaves of the plant should not forget about their bitter taste.
Young "cucumbers" can be eaten both in the raw form, and expose to heat treatment: stew, fry, cook and even stuffing or marrying. Vietnamese pumpkin is suitable for use in raw salads instead of cucumber.

Important! For the preparation of various dishes, it is better to choose the fruits to 15 cm in length, since they are most often the most sweet and tasty.

With due culinary processing, the lufa can easily turn into a good side dish for meat or fish, and this also applies to both fruits and shoots, buds and colors. In addition, "mad cucumbers" are great and for the preparation of first dishes or vegetable stew, and the pulp will be an excellent addition of omelets.

For those who do not like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, there are simpler cooking options: its fruits can be simply frying in olive oil, using Caensky pepper and soy sauce. Having attached a little more effort, you can cook stuffed vegetables, with the addition of rice or meat, and in China it is especially valued with pork and mushrooms.

In a word, the plant can be combined with almost any products, but the options with the use of soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, pepper, seafood, beans, rice and rice noodles will be particularly successful.

Yellow flowers are suitable for beautiful fresh salad, and seeds can be frying.

From a medical point of view, lufa will be useful not only to people, but also animals, thanks to which the veterinarians can be successfully used. However, in this direction it applies little, while human health serves a lot more. In particular, fruits, leaves and planting plants are used in the following cases:

• with anemia and anemia (uses of infusions and decoctions from young bands);
• with constipation and kidney problems (fresh fruits with laxative and diuretic effects on the body) are perfectly suitable for creating drugs;
• in the treatment of jaundice (the plant will be appropriate, obtained from bitter lufa through the fabric);
• in venereal diseases (useful preparation of informations based on fruits and plant seeds);
• for diseases of a dermatological nature (the oil of seeds is especially useful);
• in cosmetology problems and children's conjunctivitis (diluted in water, the affected areas are wiping and washed with eyes, and special masks are prepared to improve the appearance of the appearance of the skin);
• at elevated temperatures like an antipyretic agent;
• to accelerate the healing of ulcers and mechanical skin damage.

Did you know? The longest fruits of the hubs are grown in the garden of the Chinese resort of Baidayhe, some of them reach the length of 4.55 m.

As you can see, the lufa is a universal product that can not only saturate the body with nutrients, but also to cure the existing diseases or even eliminate the problems of a cosmetology character, not to mention the possibility of using dried pulp as an excellent natural washcloth. All this is a good reason to land the vegetable on its site, and how it is better to do - you already know.

Sin.: Lufa, Luffa, Mad Cucumber, Edible Urinary, Urinary Pumpkin.

Lofa is a genus of grassy Lian, which is part of the Pumpkin family. The birthplace of these plants is North-West India and West Africa. Currently, there are more than fifty species that make up this genus, but only two of them were widespread as cultivated plants. Luffa is widely used in eastern folk medicine and in the production of washcloths.

Ask a question to experts

In medicine

Luffa is a plant not included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation and not used in official medicine. However, some species from this kind have made their popularity in folk eastern medicine: in India, Herbal infusions for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases are made in India from the fruits of Venereal diseases, and its roots are used in Iraq and Iran to treat water.

Contraindications and side effects

The fruits of louffes, despite their rich chemical composition, it is not recommended to eat people with individual intolerance to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 12 years old.

In cooking

Young (green) fruits of the luffy cylindrical and louff oscillate marinate canned, are used in cheese or stewed form. In general, green fruits are an excellent alternative to some vegetables, such as cucumbers. Also prepare Curry.

It's hard to believe, but the leaves, buds, shoots and flowers of outer is also used in food, they are extinguished, then refuel oil, feeding as a side dish. It is worth noting that the rest of the fourths of LUFFIs are very proud of, so they are inedible.

In the production of uroalks

For the production of washcloths, only one type of this plant is used - luffy cylindrical. For this, a fibrous fabric is taken, which is formed during the ripening of louff fruit.

The competitive advantage of such a product is that this "vegetable sponge" not only fully copes with the role of the washcloth, but also perfectly massaged the body rubbed. That is why the lufa urine (Lufa - Synonym LuFa) is one of the best in the world.

In other areas

Before the beginning of World War II, up to 60% of the raw materials of Luffa imported to the United States were used in the production of filters required for steam and diesel engines.

Also, the fruits of Luffa are currently used as a filtering element for water purification in technical devices, where quite high demands are presented.

The beautiful noise and antospact effect of fruits LUFFA allowed in the 20th century, steel soldier helmets were made from her. Currently, such technology is not used.

In Japan, the stems of Luffa get juice. It is used in cosmetology for the manufacture of high-quality lipstick. Also made soap with a lufa, which has a number of useful properties, it removes damaged skin particles, stimulates lymph and blood circulation, opens the pores, moisturizes the skin and increases its elasticity.

In Paraguay, the raw materials are used as a material for making furniture, as well as in construction: these are panels made from plant fibers in combination with other vegetable raw materials and recycled plastic.

Oil obtained from LUFFA seeds is used for technical purposes. The seeds themselves serve as an excellent help as an insecticidal agent (to combat pest insects).

Classification

Luffa, or Lufa, or Luth (Lat. Luffa) is a genus of grassy Lian from the Pumpkin Family (Lat. Cucurbitaceae). Currently, scientists have opened more than 50 species of these Lian.

Botanical description

The stems of Lian this kind, as a rule, have a length of 4 to 7 m, are owned (with the help of branched musty), five-marked, rough to ribs. Luffah - a plant with regular palphea-five-pointed leaves, sometimes they are solid. In the outlines, they are heart-shaped, have a length of 15 to 27 cm in diameter, gear around the edges.

Flowers in louffee separatogne, single one, large, have a white or yellow color. Stitching flowers are going to creeps-shaped inflorescences, and the pestle are located singly. The root system of Lian entering this genus is relatively weak. It is located in the surface layer of the soil. At the same time, the leaves of Luffa evaporate a lot of moisture. That is why this plant is moisthed.

The fruits of louffes are spindle-shaped "cucumbers" up to 50 cm long and more, and a width of from 7 to 12 cm in diameter. The fruits of this plant are green and corrugated. Inside they are fibrous (with many seeds). As already mentioned above, the fruits of LUFFA are very much resemble big cucumbers. After ripening, they become dry, they develop fibers of sclerenhim in conductive beams.

The seeds in louff have an ovoid smooth shape, equipped with a edge cut. The length of one seed is up to 1.2 cm. Liana bloom from this kind from June, and their fruits are usually ripening from August. Due to its long-term vegetation period, this plant is an excellent find for gardens.

Spread

The center of origin of plants from the genus Liff is North-West India and West Africa. These lianas grow on rich and wet soils, do not tolerate frosts and shades.

At the moment, a little more than 50 types of Lian are known, however, only 2 of them were distributed as cultured plants: Luffa Ostroject (Lat. Luffa AcutanGula) and LUFFA Cylindrical (Lat. Luffa Cylindrica).

The first type is distributed in Indonesia, Malaysia, in the Philippines and in the Caribbean countries. The second species is cultivated in many tropical countries as old and new light.

Preparation of raw materials

The raw materials are vascular bundles of mature fruits, pre-purified from the peel and juicy parts. It is worth noting that LUFFU is not officially harvested as medicinal raw materials, because Not used in official medicine, but its fruits are applied for industrial purposes, for example, for the manufacture of washcloths.

For this, the fruits of louff are collected by young or brown. They are thoroughly dried for several weeks, after which, as a rule, soaked in water. Pushed follows from a few hours to week. This allows you to soften the peel of the fetus. After that, the peel is rushing, and the internal fibers are cleaned from the pulp with a rigid brush. The resulting raw is washed several times in soapy water, then rinsed, dried in the sun, after which it is cut into pieces of the desired size.

Chemical composition

The leaves of the loudness of cylindrical are extremely rich in carotine. Its content in them is many times more than in carrots or sweet peppers. Also in the leaves of this species, iron, vitamin C, protein was found. The immature fruits of all species of the kind of luffa are the source of phosphorus, iron, calcium and vitamin B, C, and A. In their seeds, fatty oil of stearin glycerides, palmitic and myristic acids was found. In this plant, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, selenium, zinc were found in this plant.

Pharmacological properties

The therapeutic effect of LUFFA is currently not clinically proven, however, it is believed that its young promiscuities have a general fascination effect on the body, useful for anemia and anemia. Also, according to unconfirmed data, it is believed that eating, for example, the LuHiffs of Egyptian can provide the body with some antioxidant components. But all this is the theory.

Application in folk medicine

Luffa is a plant that is very widely used in the folk medicine of the East. The people's headsets of Asian countries found out that the fruits of Luffa have a light laxative and diuretic effect. The herbalists use the juice of various types of luff as a means of jaundice, squeezing it out of ripening bitter fruits through the fabric.

In India, the characteristics use fruits and seeds of this plant for the preparation of herbal infusions in the treatment of venereal diseases. Lucta seed oil rubs into the skin for the treatment of dermatitis. Porridge made from louffe, is used as an auxiliary agent from the chest cough.

Also there is information that the juice obtained from the stem of the LUFFAT stem helps in the treatment of children's conjunctivitis, swabs moistened in juice, washed with a child's eye. The roots of this plant trailies of India, Iraq and Iran are used as a laxative, as well as during the treatment of water.

Healers from Western Africa use the extract of luffy leaves is an israged to treat ulcers provoked by marine worms. The herbalists living on the island of Mauritius are used by the seeds of this plant to get rid of the worms, and the juice of his leaves is from eczema. Also, the plant was rapidly popular in Medicine Colombia: Local healers make the infusion of luff fruit for the treatment of chronic diseases of the nose and the incomplete sinuses.

1. Drums E. I. Botany: Textbook for stud. Higher. studies. establishments. - M.: Publishing Center "Academy", 2006. - P. 241. - 448 p.

2. LUFFA - an article from the Big Soviet Encyclopedia.

3. Mirkin B. M., Naumova L. G., Muldashev A. A. Higher plants: a short course of systematics with the basics of vegetation science: a textbook. - 2nd, perabot. - M.: Logos, 2002. - 256 p. - 3000 copies.

4. Schreter A. I., Panasyuk V. A. Vocabulary of the names of plants \u003d Dictionary of Plant Names / Interddes Union Biool. science Nat. Kt biologists of Russia. Vseros. In-tk. and aromatic. Plants grew. Agriculture. academy; Ed. prof. V. A. Bykov. - Koenigstein: Koeltz Scientific Books, 1999. - P. 22. - 1033 p.

Nature around us never ceases to affect us with your fictions. Today I want to introduce you, dear readers with an amazing plant, which does not grow in Russia in vivo, but many are familiar with him. This is Lūffa (Lūffa), herbal liana of hot tropical countries, from the fruits of which natural washcloths make.

But a surprisingly plant and the fact that the young fruits prepare delicious food and it is no worse than taste qualities than cucumbers or zucchini, and it is also used for medical purposes and is used as decor.

What is the wonderful plant, its benefit for a person, is it possible to grow a herbaceous lian in our conditions, read below.

LUFFA What is it, Botanical Description

Herbal Liana Lioff belongs to the family of pumpkin, so it is easy to confuse with a zucchild or a pumpkin, but with a detailed consideration there are many differences. The main of which is the porous structure of the pulp of the fetus.

Her homeland is the tropical hot countries of Asia and India, Oceania and Africa. The eponymous genus of this Liana has up to 50 different species. Now the area of \u200b\u200bits cultivation has expanded, it is cultivated in China, in the countries of the Caribbean, in the Philippines.

In Russia, tropical liana grows well in the Crimea and in the south of the Caucasus. And if for the plant to create favorable conditions, then it can be raised in the middle lane of Russia.

Types of tropical lianas used for technical purposes

Of the variety of Liana Perebanist, only two species are allocated, which received a confession of the people, this is: Liffe Egyptian or cylindrical ( LUFFA CYLINDRICA) and Ostrogrous Liffe ( Luffa AcutanGula.). Look below the photo Lian. All other species have small fruits and therefore are not suitable for use.

Lofa cylindrical, Like all other representatives of this kind growing in a wild form only in subtropical conditions. Liana one-year, multiplied by seeds, the length of the stem is sometimes reaches 6 meters. The stem has 5 rough ribs, from which a strong mustache with three branches, clinging to the support.

Large leaves, up to 25 cm in a circle have long stiffs up to 12 cm, the plate of the saw-Pilly-Pyothabnoye.

The plant has sedipope flowers with bright petals, bright yellow. Men's (sticky flowers) grow brushes for 16-20 colors. And female (pestle) - single, arranged next to the stitching, in the sinuses of the same sheet.

From female colors, a fruit is developing, having a cylindrical or pin-shaped form, which can grow up to 50 cm long. It has a smooth shape, inside which numerous flattened and smooth seeds with a edge cut.

Louiff Ostrogryst Or the edge, in the wild, grows only in Pakistan and India. But now it was naturalized in all countries of the tropical and subtropical climate.

The description of the plant is the same as the luffs of cylindrical. Stems, leaves, grow as well as almost identical in the description. Flowers are revealed only at night, pollinating their night insects. This type of liana is less capricient in cultivation and more resistant to infectious infectious diseases.

But the fruit is different. It grows up to 30-40 centimeters and up to 10 cm in diameter, has a cone shape. Its surface is covered with protruding ribs.

The pulp of a young fetus is soft and juicy, a little sweet, resembling the taste of cucumber. As the fetus and its ripening grows, it is penetrated with solid fibers and becomes completely dry. And after the fruit drying, the inner maintenance of the fetus resembles a fibrous sponge consisting of intertwined beams of conductive tissues. The skin is very tightly adjacent to the fibers and it can only be separated after soaking in hot water.

In the middle of the sponge there are flexible, wrinkled seeds up to 1 cm long. Black. During the period of complete ripening on the painting of the fetus, a hole and the fruit "shoots" seeds together with accumulated mucus are formed. Therefore, the people of the plants belonging to this kind are called "rabid cucumbers"

Useful properties and application

As noted above, among the entire variety of species, vegetable and technical varieties of plants differ. These species (cylindrical and oscillating) are used in food, and for the manufacture of washcloths with complete aging.

Chemical composition

Fruits are rich:

• fiber;
• vitamins from which vitamin C and A are prevail;
• minerals, especially styled iron and careta;
• salts of phosphorus and potassium;
• triterpenoids;

And plant seeds are rich in oils and proteins. Oils are used to prepare cosmetics: creams and masks, hair balms.

Useful properties of tropical lianas

Frequent use of liana fruits, decoction from leaves and colors has a beneficial effect on the health of the body. It contributes:

Strengthening immunity , After all, its composition is saturated with vitamins and minerals, which is important for maintaining health and vital tone. Therefore, the population of tropical countries is used in food not only fruits, but also all other organs of the plant.

Normalization of digestive organs . The presence of organic acids and minerals activate the operation of the stomach and intestines. The peristalistic improves, the gas formation and bloating of the abdomen decreases, colic and belching are removed.

Cleaning the body from toxins and slags And their elimination. The pulp of a fetus having a porous structure of the sponge, absorbs all the harmful and unnecessary substances in the intestine and displays it all naturally. What reduces weight.

Promotes slimming Not only due to the purification of the body. Fruits themselves are low-calorie food, consisting mainly of water. And the presence of a large amount of fiber in the fruits also brings its result. It is not by chance that the louff recommends nutritionists to people who adhere to the diet.

Pressure normalization. The fruits contain the necessary microelements (magnesium, sodium, potassium), which are indispensable for the work of the heart and the blood formation process.

Suspension of thromboms and sclerotic plaques. Due to the unique composition, the blood is diluted and cleared, because the fact is known that the blood clots are formed in a viscous, thick blood. Liquid blood saturated with useful trace elements prevents the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of the vessels.

Healing wound and tissue regeneration. The fruits of luffa have an anti-inflammatory effect, thanks to the presence of vitamins of the group B and A, which help to remove inflammation and contribute to the activation of the regeneration and update process.

Improving metabolic processes. The fiber of the fetus of Liana contributes to the restoration of the intestinal flora, the food is well processed by microorganisms and is completely absorbed.

The plant is a natural doctor, the local population treats them eye diseases, skin problems associated with the regulation of the sebaceous glands. For the treatment of anemia prepare drug from the barriers and the fruits of tropical lianas.

Amenable to cure a respiratory system, especially breast cough, immunity is strengthened. Folk recipes offer bravery treatment at ARVI and ARZ, chronic nose diseases.

Infusion, decoctions and tinctures are used to remove the heat, especially this is practicing Eastern medicine lycari, where, when the temperature is raised, drugs are always given from LUFFA.

Women nursing to babies breast milk, take decoctions to increase lactation.

The plant is used in pharmacology, where medicinal preparations are prepared from its extracts, relieve inflammation and joint pain.

The nutritional value of fruits per 100 g:

• proteins - 1.2 g;
• fats - 0.2 g;
• carbohydrates - 4.35 g;
• water - 1.1 g;
• calorie - 20 kcal.

Contraindications for use in food The fruits of tropical liana do not have, it is important to only take into account individual intolerance.

Where this is an amazing plant

In folk medicine the plant is used in the form of decoction and info. The drug is used for the treatment of kidneys and liver, rheumatism and neuralgia, in diseases of the skin, trophic ulcers, inflammatory diseases of the mucous membrane of the nose and the geimor sinus, intestinal inflammation.

Apply the lover sponge as a locking dressing for fractures and stretching. It is durable, light and at the same time strong and is an excellent alternative to the gypsum.

In cosmetology the juice of plants and oil oil is used for the manufacture of masks and creams, lotions, hair balm and as an additional component of lipstick.

In cooking We use only the unimportants, the young fruits of tropical lianas, especially the popular luff in oriental cuisine. It is extinguished, fry, canned, eat in the raw form. They are added to salads and soups.

As already noted, it resembles cucumbers to taste. In addition to fruits in food, young shoots and leaves are walking. Not open buds and flowers are fried in a sweet cat. Plant seeds are very tasty in fried.

At home. The main purpose of Luffa is the use of its fruits for the manufacture of washcloths. After ripening, the fruits are suspended for drying. After removing the peel from them, pre-soaking in boiling water, washed in water and dried again.

Natural urging is short-lived, in comparison with synthetic, can serve as 3 to 6 months. But it has its own special advantages:

• possesses hypoallergenia, does not cause skin irritation,
• rigid enough, well stimulates blood circulation,
• well cleanses the skin,
• promotes lympority
• resorption stretch marks and scars.

After each application, since it is organic material and it can quickly start pathogenic bacteria, the washcloth must be rinsed well with soap and dry.

For technical needs The sponge was widely used in pre-war time. The porous structure of LUFFAT was well suited for the manufacture of filters for diesel cars. We used it for noise insulation when sewing helmets for the US military army and for isolation of military vehicles.

As decor A unique plant is currently used. What did not come up with designers when using a sponge, see below in the photo. It is used as pots for growing plants, adorn the coffee tables and furniture, make beautiful panels and lampshades. Planphone in this lamp will not be heated and eliminate unpleasant odors, as it happens with synthetic gloves.

And these flower pots look harmonious and aesthetic. And here you see the acoustic tile from LUFFA, which perfectly absorbs extraneous noise.

Bath slippers are beautiful, easy and carry the healing effect, gently massaging the sole.

Interior toys. In veterinary clinics, Japan practices such dog toys, with the aim of preventing the health of their teeth.

People like glasses and thermoses, which retain warmth and hands do not burn, are the design developments of the mexican designer of Lappos. The combination of ceramics and louffs are real works of art, which are applications and at home.

Growing from seeds at home

Many dackets are wondering if it is possible to grow a tropical lian in her dacha? The numerous experience of Dachnikov says it is possible. Liana is unpretentious to the conditions and can grow even in a short summer. The cultivation of an exotic plant requires compliance with some rules on which it will stop in more detail.

The plant has a long vegetation period, therefore, in conditions of temperate climate, it is grown by a seaside. At the time of disembarking seedlings in the ground, it should be about 30-40 days.

Casting plant from seeds

The problem before dackets is not in how to grow Lian, but in that - where to buy her seeds. Seeds to buy better in specialized stores or order through online stores. If you have already become happy with the owner of the seed, then certainly before landing in the ground, warm them in the sun, it is possible on the battery. It is important that the warming temperature be close to 40 degrees, and the number of warming days of at least a week.

The second step, to obtain a sturdy seedling, is the activation of seeds in aloe juice, diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio. This mixture activates and awakens seeds.

The plant, as well as cucumbers, poorly tolerates the pickup, so it is necessary to plant them immediately into separate cups, filled with fertile land, saturated with trace elements. And even better to purchase cups from organic material, which together with the seedle are buried in the ground.

The cups must be up to 7 cm in diameter, because the seeds are large, and the depth of seed seeds - up to 2 cm. Goes fill the ground not completely, to their edges there should be free space up to 3-4 cm.

Cover the pot with polyethylene, to create a greenhouse effect and do not remove it until the appearance of strong sprouts. One watering before planting will be enough to distort the seed sprouts, since the resulting condensate will again fall into the ground.

To germinate seeds, it is necessary to maintain a high temperature up to 30 degrees, so the pot can be placed on the sunny side, on the windowsill, located above the battery.

Shoots appear quickly, already on 6-7 days after landing. At this time, the seedlings are better to move to a cooler room with a temperature of up to 20 degrees.

After the sprouts are fixed, the film will need to remove and feed the shootings of the cowboy, prepare the mixture in the ratio of 1:10 with water. This organic fertilizer will have to taste LUFFE.

Soon, the sprouts will appear other leaflets when their number will reach 6, the first mustlemen are formed. At this time, the whole time to put a support for them, because Liane must be cling to something.

When to plant in open ground

Since Liana, nevertheless, the plant is thermalized, it is better to wait for pores when night temperatures will be installed at least 13 degrees. Liana rows with a distance of one meter to low beds. The soil should be loose and nutritious, and the place is sunny and windless. The seedlings are plunged until the first seedy leaves.

The disaster method is used only in cases if there is a desire to get large fruits for the manufacture of washcloths or to get early fruits. If you want to grow Lian for culinary delights, then the seeds can be planted directly into the ground. For which the pits with a depth of up to 25 cm are filled with cow dung.

Each plant needs its own support and it is necessary to put it immediately when planning, not after a week, do not damage the gentle root system.

Liano often gardeners are used as decoration of the site. It gives a lot of greenery with the leaves of a beautiful shape, please the eyes and its large bright yellow flowers, which in diameter reach up to 10 cm, and it blooms from July to September.

How to care for a plant

Although Liana belongs to the same family of pumpkin, that both cucumbers with zucchini, she forms a lot of greens by nature, and therefore requires additional feeding.

It should be borne in mind that the first feeding is the application of manure during landing (per 1 sq. M. It takes up to five kg of manure) and inorganic fertilizers with potassium sulfate, ammonium nitrate or superphosphate. When calculating fertilizers, read the instructions and consider the chemical characteristics of the soil.

Twice a month, Liana must be picked up with a mixture cooked from one kg of a cowboat mixed with a glass of ash and a bucket of water. And when flowering plants, add nitrogen fertilizers as feeding.

Watering should be frequent and abundant (1 time in 2-3 days), with imitation of tropical rain, that is, watering warm water from the hose with a sprayer. Fresh irrigation is due to the large volume of green leaves and high evaporation, and the root system is weak and does not have time to provide a plant with water. However, it is characteristic of almost all tropical plants.

By the end of September, watering is reduced to complete the growing season and the fastest ripening of fruits.

It is necessary to use supporting structures so that the fruits hung on them and did not come into contact with the Earth. Upon contact with the Earth, the plant is amazed by fungal diseases, and the fruits are often obtained by curved. At the beginning of the growth of Liana, the side branches can be deleted to form a beautiful crown.

When the main stem reaches three-meter length, it is also pinched, all uneven and curved fruits are removed. On one cylindrical Lian, 7-8 healthy fruits should be left, and 11-12 pieces on a oscillate louff. If the fruits are needed larger, then the number of oblasts decrease so that they receive more nutrients.

When collecting a crop

When creating favorable conditions for a plant, it can give up to 12 large fruits. It is necessary to remove the fruits when lowering the night temperatures up to + 10 degrees. Not seized fruits are also removed, their ripening passes at home, however, the drying passes for a long time, up to several weeks. Moreover, dry the fruits are necessary in a suspended state, excluding their contact with each other.

To obtain seed, it is important to cut down the fruit before opening the hole on the top of the top, until Luffa shot. After full ripening, when the fruit changes to yellow and the fruits threaten, like rattles, the peel is removed.

To facilitate the process of removing the peel, the loudness is soaked in boiling water for several minutes and remove the peel when it becomes soft and pliable. The inner of the fetus is purified from the remaining pulp and seeds. Wash the sponge in soapy water and dry well.

How to sew a washcloth

Since the cooked sponge is long, it should be cut to several parts for convenience and tie the handles to the edges.

For strength, the washcloth can be given an oval shape by cutting it with it with scissors and to sew a cloth throughout the oval, attaching pre-locked on both ends. The correctness of the treatment of the washcloth is determined by a simple way. It should not stretch in hot water, and in the cold - should not shrink.

Where to buy uroalku

You can buy a washcloth in the online store "Hegeless". Click on the banner and go to the store:

How to use a natural washcloth

The porous fetus structure of LUFFA fruits is very tough, to soften it a little, hold her moments 2 in hot water. Reviews of natural washcloth of Lianen fruits are only positive. The urban is well exfoliated with old leather skin cells, does not cause irritation.

But in the organic washcloth, pathogenic microbes will quickly populate, if not monitor its purity. After each water procedure, it is necessary to rinse the wash with soap and dry well and then it will last you until 6 months.

As you can see, Luffa is a very universal plant, but its most important property is its healing peculiarities that benefit health.

Health to you and longevity!

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Without a washcloth from the hubs, no hike is in the bath. Natural sponge replaces all synthetic mittens for washing, foamwalls and other means for mud laundering. Do not everyone know that lufa, it is the dried fruit of a thermal-loving plant similar to the zucchini.

In gentle age, the fruits are edible. As ripening, a gentle flesh is grubby, turning into a coarse porous fiber. Do not everyone know that it is quite realistic to grow their own washbasin in the garden. This is a fun and exciting occupation.

What is Lufa - Edible Village of Pumpkin Family

For the aging of the hubs requires a lot of sun and rich soil.

Lufa or Luffa, spongy pumpkin from the genus of grassy lian. For us, she is more familiar in the form of a genuine washcloth. Luhu can be grown from seeds, but long summer season is needed for ripening long sponges. After all, the natural range of growing an amazing plant, it is Africa, Oceania, Asia.

Relatives of louche, it is a pumpkin, watermelon, cucumbers, melons, zucchini. Luffa is distinguished by the porous structure of the fetus. With full aging, the flesh dries, and the peel is bursting. The plant will cause both medium latitudes, the main thing to create the necessary conditions. As a result, you will collect your own harvest of the washcloth. Long ripe fruits are used for technical purposes, and young in culinary.

The ripe fruit of the peel is cracking, and the flesh dries, leaving rigid fibers.

Most of us will not grow louff, and buy a ready-made washcloth in the store. Before paying for a fibrous purchase. The sponge is sold in the form of long cylindrical washcloths (these are their natural shape), wash mittens. Choosing, pay attention to the following:

• Fibers must well shrink. After compression, the "fresh" urban is easily taken by the initial shape.
• Fiber should not be tough and crack. This suggests that the urine has lost its qualities.
• Fibers must be elastic, but not broken.
• Choose an organic lough. You are easily distinguished by an unbleached sponge on the darker color. Sponges, which have passed industrial processing are brighter, almost white.
• Listen to the purchase. The smell should be fresh, without sharpness. There should be no black or brown spiders on the sponge, which are talking about the presence of mold.
• It is better to buy a long sponge, and then cut into several parts that are comfortable in size.

What is useful to louf - the perfect body rocker

Hard, rounded fibers are ideal for exfoliating the skin without damaging it. Exfoliation, this is an important component of the skin cleansing process. In the process of soft scraping, the upper layer of dead cells is removed, the pores are revealed, the skin begins to breathe.

After each use, wash with lufa should be rinsed with clean water, squeeze, give dry. Do not keep luif in a wet place, as the humidity contributes to the growth of bacteria. It is best to dry out a natural washcloth in the sun. This is the best disinfection method.

Use natural washcloth is very simple. Water a sponge with warm water for softening. Add a shower gel to a wet sponge or soap that you like more, exfoliate dead cages with smooth circular motions.

• Natural lufa urine easily removes contaminants that have scored pores.
• Extended pores are reduced, which improves the appearance of the skin.
• Removes dead skin cells that make skin wrinkled, rough, inelastic.
• Reading the skin is better absorbed care products.
• The use of natural luth helps naturally reduce visible disadvantages.

Lufa is a plant belonging to the genus of herbaceous Lian and related to the pool family. At first glance, it is not distinguished from the most ordinary zucchini, but the whole secret lies in a unique porous structure of the pulp of fruit. Homeland hubs are hot tropical countries - Africa, Asia, India and Oceania. However, as many years of experience shows, successfully grow luifa on an industrial scale in the south of the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea. But even this territorial distinction does not interfere with collecting good "homemade" yields in the central part of Ukraine and in the middle latitudes of Russia.

According to some data, the cultivation of "porous zucchini" can be engaged even in conditions of short polar summer in the north! The main thing is to provide the plant due.

So if you live in a moderately cold climatic zone and you have our own plot or a small garden, you can successfully grow luif (photo). In nature, there are more than 50 varieties of this plant, but for household needs, only two of them are used - oscillate and cylindrical. All others grow too small and do not possess the necessary physical characteristics for which large fruits appreciate.

You can use lufu in different ways: young slightly unworthy fruit go to the dining table, and ripe or overwhelmed raw materials to create unique natural washcloths. What exactly to grow fruits, solve you, but in any case, lufa is an amazingly useful culture.

Varieties of luffy

As mentioned above, only two types of hubs are used for growing industrial scales. Each of them is easily leaving and richly fruits and at home.

Ostrogrous Lofa

This variety is grown mainly for culinary needs - young juicy fruits cut off a little earlier than the prescription of ripening and prepare delicious useful dishes. Ostroject Lufa is characterized by small oblong fruits of a cone shape with a length of 30 to 40 cm. The flesh is wrapped in very dense leathery peel, to remove which you can only soak the fetus in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.

Interestingly, the flowers of ostelebrist hollows bloom solely at night, therefore, they are pollinated only by night insects. The plant has a rather short period of vegetation, but it is very unpretentious, so it fertures even in the most unsuitable conditions for this basis. In addition, this variety is less susceptible to fungal diseases than cylindrical lufa.

Cylindrical lofa

It is from this variety of lufa that the very famous eco-washings are obtained, which can be found in any supermarket. In general, the topic of environmentally friendly products is now extremely relevant, and the goods with the corresponding sticker are several times more expensive. It did not go around the hubber washings, so if you want to enjoy the gifts of nature and not overpay for it, grow up the washbasins in your garden.

The fruits of cylindrical lufa are 2 times larger than isolastic and reach 60-75 cm long. They are sharpened closer to the fruit, have a more gentle and light pulp, a thin skin, which is easy to remove. But this variety has its own peculiarities that should be considered if you want to get a rich harvest.

How to grow love

Despite the presence of rules and specifics of the cultivation of the hub, it is possible to grow almost anywhere. In a moderately cold climate, it is best to grow it from seedlings, not from seeds if you need good big washcloths. The age of seedlings should be at least 30-40 days.

Landing seeds

Before growing luifa from seeds, you need to find high-quality raw materials. Seeds can be purchased in many crop stores or order via the Internet. Before boarding, it is important to warm them in the sun or in the incubator (on the battery) at a temperature of about 40 ° C for a week. After that, soak them in aloe juice, diluted warm water in a 1: 1 ratio. Nutrients Aloe "will disband" seeds and activate the growth function.

Supporting seeds of louche needs 1 pc. In some containers with microelements of loose soil at a depth of approximately 2 cm. Since the lufa is extremely poorly tolerates transplant, it is better to immediately plant it in peat cups or dishes from any other organic material. The diameter of the tank should be at least 6-7 cm. The landing is made in April, when serious frosts are not expected.

Drinking seeds to the ground, spray the ground, water the room temperature (you can soak on the one in which you are soaked) and cover the pot of plastic film to create a greenhouse effect. Do not remove the film until strong sprouts appear (for this you need to fill the Earth pot not completely, but leave 3-4 cm). You should not be afraid that the sponsors do not have enough moisture - the one that you wrapped in the first time will be enough, and gradually it will accumulate on the inside of the film in the form of condensate.

Put the pot with a lufa on the window sill above the battery on the sunny side. The optimal temperature for growing seedlings is + 30s. The first shoots will appear after 6-8 days. When this happens, rearrange the pots into a cooler place to reduce the temperature to + 20c.

When the sprouts are fixed, remove the film and paint them with a cow diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Corobyan is a very useful and popular organic fertilizer, which is a dropwise solution of cow's litter. It can be purchased in the store, on the nearest farm or do it yourself. For cooking, you should take fresh cow manure and pour it with boiling water in proportion 1: 5. Protectly mix the components to maximum homogeneity, cover with a lid and leave to wander for a couple of weeks. At the same time, every 2-3 days it is necessary to mix the mixture. When solid fractions begin to settle on the bottom, and the color solution itself will change, the korologist will be ready.

When the sprouts appear 6 leaves and small "mustache", it is necessary to provide a support that Lufa clings for it (after all, it is the most real liana).

Outdoor plant

When spring will take the brazers of the board to their hands, and the night temperature will not fall below + 13c, the lufa seedlings can be planted in the garden. Sites their smooth rows on low beds or ridges, making quite a long distance in about 1 m. It is necessary because the lufa has a lot of leaves of large sizes.

It should be remembered that since the birthplace of the hubs are hot countries, then the soil there is another - lighter, loose and rich in nutrients. Therefore, use carefully treated drylies and plant plants into warm solar and windless sections.

It is recommended to grow lufa with a sediment if you want to get large "fleshy" washcloths. But for culinary and other needs, you can simply plant seeds. To do this, throw the pits of 30x30 cm in a depth of about 25 cm and half fill them with cow dung.

A seaside method of growing is also preferable because it gives an earlier and rich harvest, especially in the case of a cylindrical loupe, which has a longer growing season. Bloat the seedlings to the ground before the seedlines.

Locking every sprout, immediately make a support for it so that the root system develops without the risk of injury. If you insert the support sticks in a week, you can hook the roots and destroy the rapid plant.

Useful information: Luhu can be used not only as a fruit culture, but also as a garden decoration. Her big green leaves and beautiful flowers will delight the eyes from July to September. Large yellow flowers of louches can reach in diameter 10 cm. First, female flowers are revealed, later - men (they are larger and collected in brushes for 2-3 pieces).

Lufoy care

Despite the fact that the fruits of the hubs are one in one similar to the zucchini, it is still a liana, characterized by a large leaf mass. That is why she needs to ensure the relevant conditions - give a lot of space and constantly feed fertilizers. It should be started upon landing - per 1 square meter. M Earth will need about 5 kg of manure and complex of inorganic fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate). The calculation of the number of fertilizers should be produced, based on the chemical characteristics of the soil on your site.

As it grows 2-3 times a month, the lufa needs to be superior with a special mixture of 1 kg of cowboat, glasses of ash and water buckets. During flowering, feed the plants with nitrogen fertilizers.

Despite the impressive sizes and power, the lufa has a rather weak root system - all power goes into large leaves, which every day a large amount of moisture evaporates. Therefore, it should be watering quite often, and it is advisable to do it from the hose with a sprayer to simulate the effect of small tropical rain. In the middle and end of May, when Lufa has not yet had time to grow, it must be watered 1 time in 5-7 days, and when it rises to full growth (June-September) - 1 time in 2-3 days. At the end of September, after completing flowering, watering should be reduced to reduce the growing season and speed up the ripening of the crop.

For successful cultivation of the lufa, it is recommended to use supporting structures that will support and direct stalks with heavy leaves. If you do not provide an adequate support, the lufa will give twisted fruits, which will certainly be amazed by fungal diseases, "pickled" as a result of contact with the Earth. Tie the stalks of the plant in several places, and the side branches in the first stages of growth and remove at all to form a powerful beautiful liana.

Useful advice: To maximize the growing up the growing season, the main stem of 3 m from the Earth. Remove all curved, too late and especially infected fruits infected with fungi. The cylindrical lufa on the same Liane should be left at 7-8 "zucchini", in a oscillate - 11-12 pcs. If you want to get large washcloths, limit the number of barriers for cylindrical hubs up to 5 pcs, for isolate - up to 8 pcs. So all the energy and nutrients obtained by the plant from water and soil will get the remaining fruits.

You should not give the lofa to wrapping trees, because when contacting with branches can be injured by the wound, and you will not get a crop.

Harvesting

If you provide the lofe the proper conditions, then from one plant you can get up to 12 large fruits. When they are sleeping, then dry and decrease in size. Remove the "zucchini" with the onset of cold nights, when the temperature drops below + 10c. At the same time, it is possible to cut even unworthy fruit - they will "reach" in the room or on the windowsill. By the way, if you want to get seeds for landing, cut off the fruits that did not open the hole at the end.

When the peel becomes yellowish, it can be removed. Lower the fruit in boiling water for a few minutes and remove the shell together with seeds. You will have only a precious porous flesh of hard fibers. Seeds to dry and fold into the paper package to plant love next year.

Helpful advice: To make sure the musual maturity, take the fruit and shake it over the ear - if it sounds like a rattle, then you can proceed to cleaning.