Getting dusty and dirty in the garden is hard to avoid, but Jerry grows a couple of plants that also offer a solution.

One is the sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) – a type of cucurbit, related to cucumbers and zucchini. The dried fruit doesn’t look much until you peel away the hard, outer skin to reveal the bathroom luffa that you can buy at a chemist’s. Except Jerry’s home-grown version also provides him with seeds to grow the next crop.

Jerry says this is a pretty easy plant to grow, requiring a compost-rich, free-draining soil and a 2m x 2m frame to clamber up. Start them in early summer if growing in southern regions such as Melbourne, but in Queensland Jerry plants them in February.

Plant 2-3 seeds about 1m apart and thin out the weaker seedlings, then encourage the plant to weave through the frame as it grows.

You can use the end product just as it is, but Jerry value-adds to his, first by bleaching it in some warm water with a drop of hydrogen peroxide, then by combining it with soap.

You will need:
4 bars of soap
Bowl
Pot that’s wider than the bowl
Blender
Jojoba oil to help set the soap
A cup of water
A long cardboard tube as a mould
Greaseproof paper
Luffa
Sharp, long knife

What you do:
Grate the soap into the bowl and place this in the pan, half-filled with water. Bring to the boil and simmer, stirring every 10 minutes, until the soap has melted evenly.
Put the soap in the blender with 2 tablespoons of jojoba, then slowly add the cup of water and blend.
Line the cardboard tube with the greaseproof paper and place the luffa inside; if the luffa sticks out the end cut this extra bit off.
Slowly pour over the soap. Tap the tube to remove any bubbles then place the tube in the fridge to speed up the hardening.
When it’s set, remove the soap tube from the mould. The luffa soap can now be cut into bar-sized slices. Allow it to air-cure at room temperature for a couple of days and then it will be ready for use – or for wrapping as gifts.

The second plant Jerry uses for cleaning is a ginger called Red Frogs (Zingiber newmanii).
This tropical plant grows in swampy, wet areas in Thailand and gets its nickname from the unusual red flowers that are produced at the base.
Jerry uses it to make shampoo, harvesting the flower stems. He cuts the stems into 2cm lengths then minces them to squeeze out the slightly slippery juice. He sieves the juice to remove any large bits and it’s ready to use as a shampoo.

Watch Gardening Australia on ABC iview: [ Ссылка ]

SUBSCRIBE: [ Ссылка ]

About Gardening Australia:
Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content.

Connect with other Gardening Australia fans:
Like Gardening Australia on Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Follow Gardening Australia on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Visit the Gardening Australia website: [ Ссылка ]

This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel.
********
Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use [ Ссылка ] (Section 3).

свернуть