Bottle Gourd Seeds, Calabash Long

Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF

How to Grow Calabash Long Bottle Gourd

This vine puts on vigorous growth with white flowers. The Calabash Long Bottle Gourd needs a long, warm growing season. Prepare fertile, well draining soil, and sow seeds from late spring to early summer (always wait until after the last frost of the year). Plant in a warm, sunny location. For hill planting, form soil into mounds spaced 4 to 6 feet apart. Maintain 4 to 6 feet between each row. When making your mounds, form them with a 1 foot diameter and a height of 3 or 4 inches. Plant 3 seeds on each mound. For traditional row planting also keep the plants at least 4 feet apart within a row, with the rows 6 feet apart. Keep soil moist and fertilize as needed. A good trellis is the best solution to give better air circulation and straighter fruit, making a healthier and easier harvest. The vines can grow on the ground, but leave extra room to allow the plant to fully grow. This variety of gourd may need hand pollinating.

Harvesting Calabash Long Bottle Gourd

Calabash long bottle gourds are ready to eat when 14 and 24 inches long at about 60-75 days. The flesh will still be tender enough to pierce with a fingernail when ready to harvest for eating. The gourd can be left to fully mature, dry, and harden. Expect it to be fully mature at about 100 days.

Culinary Tips

The immature fruit can be eaten raw, or cooked by steaming, roasting, stir-fry, or used in other types of recipes. The seeds can also be dried, roasted and eaten.

Seeds Per Package:

• 4 g packet - Approximately 20 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 140 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 560 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 2,240 Seeds