Luffa - Luffa cylindrica
A vigorous annual vine. Young fruits are used as squash substitute, mature fruits are dried and used as a bathroom sponge.
Sow in spring.
Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. [from Greenharvest.com.au]
Different from ANGLED LUFFA (Luffa acutangula) syn. Okra Vine, Okra Cee Gwa
The bright yellow flower of the Luffa vine
Immature Luffa fruit
Mature Luffa Fruit
Olive – Olea europaea
Contributed by Linda
Originating in the Middle East, the olive tree grows to 4-7 metres with a spread of 5-7m. Olive trees can live for a 1000 years! Olives/olive oil is said to be largely responsible for the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean countries. Olive trees are great for providing shade and can be used as a screen tree/hedge with its silver elongated leaves.
Varieties of olive trees
| Kalamata | Large fruit. Needs warm summers for good production. Can be used for oil production |
| Manzanillo | spreading tree bearing early crops of medium sized olives which can be picked green or black |
