Gourd Seeds - Buag Ngu- Heirloom

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Other Common Names: Serpent gourd, chichinda, and padwal.

How to Grow Buag Ngu Gourd

Soak the seeds for 24 hours before attempting germination. Germinate them on a moist paper towel in a sealed container in a dark room. Where growing in zones 5 or 6, start the seeds indoors, harden them off, and then transplant them outdoors. Where growing in zones 7 and above, there is no need to start them indoors. Sow the seeds soon after the last frost has passed in a warm, bright spot.

Hill plant by forming the soil into a 1-ft. diameter mound 3-4 inches tall. Then, space the mounds 4-6 feet apart. Plant one or two seeds in each pile. For row planting, follow the spacing suggestions in the attributes tab above. Grow the gourds on an arched trellis. The long fruits hang down into the archway, making an attractive display and an easy harvest. Provide deep and infrequent water. Fertilize if needed about midseason. The Buag Ngu gourd flowers in the daytime; may need to be hand pollinated. Hand pollinate the flowers by taking a small paint brush and crossing the pollen between the male and female flowers.

Harvesting Buag Ngu Gourd

The fruit is most tender when it is still immature. Harvest the gourds early by making a clean cut at the base of the stem.

Culinary Tips

This gourd is very popular in India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Try adding it to traditional recipes from those areas.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Gourds like the Buag Ngu are a great way to bulk up soups and stews to feed many people a nutritious meal."

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

"How To Germinate Hard Gourd Seeds"

Seeds Per Package

• 3 g packet - Approximately 15 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 140 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 560 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 2,240 Seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 11,200 Seeds