Loofah Ridged Gourd

Scientific Name : Luffa Acutangula Roxb. Family : Cucurbitaceae Colour : Dark Green Common names : Angled Loofah, Petula, towel gourd, dish-cloth gourd, ridged gourd, silk gourd Best Season : Throughout the year Nutritional Value : 1.09 g protein, 17 mg calcium,1.6 mg iron, 5.6 lU vitamin A, 7 mg vitamin C per 100 g serving.

A warm season plant, Angled loofah is a fast growing annual climbing vine, native to India. It is a popular vegetable.

The plant has fast climbing wines which grow up to a considerable height, with leaves which are lobed severally. The plant produces flowers, both male and female and the male flowers are large, bright yellow in colour and are found in clusters whereas the female flowers are few in number and stand alone. Fruits are tubular 4-6 inches long, with ten elevated angular ridges with a rough surface and spongy flesh inside.


Propagation and Planting : 


This warm season plant is sensitive to frost. It yields well in warm climates. The plant prefers deep well drained sandy loam soils, rich in organic matter with a pH ranging between 6.5 to 7.5. But it can also be grown on any good soil. The soil may be prepared well by adding organic matter or animal manure a few weeks before planting.

Planting can be propagated by direct seeding or transplanting. The seeds should be planted about 1-2  inch deep in the soil. Transplants can be done when 2-3 leaves develop and should be done in such a way as to avoid disturbance to the root system. The plants require a lot of space to grow and should be placed at a distance of 3 to 4 feet apart in rows. Place poles of any wood or bamboo 2m high as support and give wire or twine supports in rows. The plant requires only little water but regular watering is essential. Too much water during flowering and fruition is harmful to the plant.
Flowering and fruition will occur around 6 weeks after sowing. Fruits are picked when they are dark green at the tender stage, before the angular ridges outside harden and fibrous network develops inside. Once mature, they become bitter and inedible. While cooking, ridges of the loofah can be peeled off thinly but the remaining portion with skin is edible.


Problems and Care : 


Prune all side shoots on the main stem till about 1 metre from the ground. Less the number of fruits, more will be the size of the fruit.
Angled loofah is susceptible to many diseases and insect pests, such as nematodes, viruses, powdery mildew, leaf miners and spider mites. The major insect pests are fruit flies and aphids. 

Ladies Fingers Sambol (Okra Salad)

5             Ladies Fingers (Okra)
5-6         small Red Chilies
1-2         Tomatoes
1             Juice of lime
1             sliced B’ onion
              salt to taste

Steam, microwave or placed Ladies Fingers

in warm water for few minutes till tender.
Cut up Ladies Fingers in to thick slices, cut the red chilies, tomatoes, onion and mix with lime and salt to taste.

LADY’S FINGERS

HEALTH  INFORMATION  DETAILS

Ladies finger is a very useful vegetable and inexpensive medicine, as it is available practically round the year. It boosts sexual vigour and reduce excess menstrual blood. Due to its sweet taste, cold potency, vata-pitta pacifier nature, strength promoting aphrodisiac qualities, it is a very useful to ladies close to menopause. It is found beneficial in leucorrhoea and dysuria also.

In general, most anti-diabetic herbs boost fertility, as basically diabetes is an anti-fertility disease.

Take two pieces of Lady Finger (Bhindi in India) and remove/cut both ends of each piece. Also put a small cut in the middle and put these two pieces in glass of water. Cover the glass and keep it at room temperature during night. Early morning, before breakfast simply remove two pieces of lady finger   from the glass and drink that water.

Keep doing it on daily basis. Within two weeks, you will see remarkable results in reduction of your sugar.

Health Benefits of Lady's Fingers

1.     The vegetable is a good provider of good bacteria called the probiotics.  Probiotics helps in biosynhtesis of vitamin B. They also help in proliferation just like the yoghurt.

2.     Nurture your hair : Lady's Fingers can be applied to hair as the last rinse to make your hair bounce.
Follow the steps ahead

o    Slice the lady's finger horizontally and boil it till the is brew is slim.

o    Cool it off and add few drops of lemon juice to it.

o    Apply this to your hair and enjoy the bouncy look.

3.     Lady's finger has other health benefits as mentioned below.

1.       Excellent laxative.

2.       Treats Bowels.

3.       Heals Ulcers.

4.       Soothes the gastrointestinal tract.

Lady finger is also known as Okra. It is a very valuable source of nutrition. It can help with the following health conditions:

1. It helps relieve constipation
2. It helps control blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.
3. It helps in healing acid reflux
4. It contains soluble fibre which helps in controlling the cholesterol level in our bodies.
5. It contains insoluble fiber too which keeps the intestinal track healthy.
6. Lady Finger helps in reducing risks of deadly diseases like cancer.
7. Lady fingers are especially beneficial for the control of colo-rectal cancer
8. Human body is recommended to have a certain level of vitamin B 6 and folic acid. Half a cup of cooked Lady fingers provide nearly 10% of the recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid.

Here are some nutritional facts of Lady fingers:
Ladies Finger Nutrition (half-cup cooked Okra) contains:

• Calories                              : 25
• Dietary Fiber                   : 2 grams
• Protein                                : 1.5 grams
• Carbohydrates               : 5.8 grams
• Vitamin A                          : 460 IU
• Vitamin C                           : 13 mg
• Folic acid                           : 36.5 micrograms
• Calcium                              : 50 mg
• Iron                                       : 0.4 mg
• Potassium                         : 256 mg
• Magnesium                     : 46 mg

To retain the nutrients present in lady fingers, it should be cooked as little as possible, eg with low heat or lightly steamed. You can even eat it raw.