The growth of plant really amazes me. Some plants grow from seeds, while others from cuttings. Many vegetables grew from seeds, and so as this fruit called Patola (Ribbed Luffa or Sponge Gourd).
Yes! The sponge you use when taking a bath to clean your body or panghilod in Tagalog. Though the one used as body sponge is the matured fruit, while the young one is cooked.
The Luffa is planted as seeds.
After a couple of weeks, it will now grow vines.
Then after a month or so, it will flower.
The flower will then methamorposize into a tiny bud...
And so will grow into the fruit...
After 2 weeks, tada ! The fruit is ready to harvest.
Look at these, they are our first harvest, and fruits will be ready for dinner. Since they have a very good aroma, they make you eat more! For this dish, I added them to tinolang isda or fish soup.
They said that patola lowers blood sugar and reduces the pain of arthritis.
Truly, patola is one amazing vegetable!