Growing Luffa, also Loofah, plant sponge

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19 May 10 dixiebelle (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I grew Luffa's in ACT, hoping maybe to get some loofahs from them. They took a while to really get going (after a good rain) then the vine took off, but wasn't til towards the end of Summer that any flowers finally came on. I was surprised they actually formed fruit, and thought it was too late by then anyway, but then they grew & grew, and even into Autumn, the vine & fruit were still green and growing well. I didn't do anything particular to help them grow, but perhaps will try pinching the tips to encourage more female flowers next year! I was going to leave them on the vine to dry, but a few mornings of frost put an end to that. I took off the large fruit, and the next day, the frost had killed the vine anyway. I am trying to dry the fruit out on the sunny laundry windowsill, and hope that does the trick!
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