Gourd Seeds - Buab Laem - Hybrid
80-90 days to maturity. Luffa acutangula ’Buab Laem’. Buab Laem Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This is a highly productive and vigorous hybrid. The green, edible fruit is tender and flavorful. It grows up to 15-17 inches in length and is cylindrically shaped with ridges. The appetizing fruit matures 40 days after the flower sets. Try growing it in a deep planter or over an archway for a statement in your landscape. The fruit can develop into a fibrous structure used as a shower or kitchen sponge. Approximately 200 seeds / oz.
Gourd Seeds - Buab Laem - Hybrid
Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF
Other Common Names: Luffa plant, Chinese okra, si gua, silk gourd, lin jiao si gua, edible luffa, you lin si gua, sze kwa, see kwa, hechima, or luffa gourd.
How to Grow Buab Laem Gourd
Increase the germination rate by soaking the seeds in warm water for twenty-four hours; then, put them in a closed container with a wet paper towel in a dark space. In northern climates, this plant does best when cultivated with supplemental heat in a greenhouse.
For hill planting: Form the soil into a one-foot diameter mound about three and a half feet tall. Space the mounds four to six feet apart. In each mound sow two seeds. For row planting: See the spacing guidance in the attributes tab above.
Buab Laem Luffa Gourd should be grown next to a structure to climb; this provides air circulation which discourages diseases and promotes uniform fruits. Prune the branches during the season to have a single vertical vine. Hand pollination helps the onset of fruit. In climates with a long growing season, provide the plant additional time to develop roots and foliage before fruiting by removing the couple blooms.
Harvesting Buab Laem Gourd
For cooking, harvest the gourds when they are firm, uniformly green, and 4-6 inches long. For harvesting the fibers, leave the gourds on the plant until they are brown and dry. Then, break open the skin and shake out the seeds.
Culinary Tips
The young edible gourds do not store well for more than a day or two. Buab Laem gourds, flowers, and foliage are all edible. Try stirfrying or deep frying any part of the harvest.
Tips From Our Gardeners
“The unique flesh of the luffa gourd is somewhere between a zucchini and a cucumber. It's tender but crisp. A fantastic texture!”
 |
- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
"How To Germinate Hard Gourd Seeds"
Seeds Per Package
- 2 g packet - Approximately 10 Seeds
- 1 oz - Approximately 140 Seeds
- 4 oz - Approximately 560 Seeds
- 1 lb - Approximately 2,240 Seeds
- 5 lb - Approximately 11,200 Seeds
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Luffa acutangula ‘Buab Laem’ |
| Buab Laem Gourd Color: | Green gourds, stems, and leaves |
| Buab Laem Gourd Flavor: | Lightly sweet and mild |
Growing Info
| Days to Maturity: | 80-90 Days |
| Days to Germination: | 7-14 Days |
| Seeding Depth: | 0.5 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 36-48 inches |
| Plant Height: | Vines up to 30 feet |
| Growth Habit: | Vine |
| Soil Preference: | Loamy soil with sand for drainage, rich in nutrients. 6.0-6.5 pH. |
| Temperature Preference: | 70-90℉ |
| Light Preference: | Full sun |
Other
| Plant Width: | 12-18 inches |
| Pests and Disease: | Prevent downy and powdery mildew by avoiding water on the leaves. Be aware of the condition of the leaves as they often show the first signs of a problem. At first sign of pest or disease, act quickly! |