Gourd Seeds - Chinese Okra - Heirloom (Treated)

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Other Common Names: ling chiao si qua, muop khia, oyong, patola, patola tagalog, petola, petola sagi, petola segi, ridged gourd, si gua, sponge gourd, sze kwa, tokado hechima, torai, tsee gwa, vegetable gourd, veta kola, you lin si gua, angled luffa, boap liam, cabatiti, cee gwa, Chinese okra, dishcloth gourd, ewes, gambas, hoyong, ito uri, jhingta tori, jingi, kalitori, ketala manis, or ketola.

How to Grow Chinese Okra 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 room. You can also clip the tip of the seed to help with germination rates. For hill planting: mold the soil into a one-foot diameter pile about three and a half feet tall. Space out the mounds by four to six feet; in each mound, sow two seeds. For row planting: Notice the spacing guidance in the attributes tab above

Chinese Okra Luffa Gourd should be grown next to an obelisk or trellis; the vertical growth provides air circulation, which decreases diseases and promotes consistent fruits. Prune the stems during the season to have a single vertical vine. Hand pollination supports the onset of fruit. In climates with a long growing season, provide the plant added time to develop by removing the first few blooms.

Harvesting Chinese Okra Gourd

For cooking, harvest the gourds when they are firm, uniformly green, about 18 inches long, and 2 inches in diameter. For obtaining a shower loofa or sponge, 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. Try stirfrying or deep frying any part of the plant.

Tips From Our Gardeners

“If you have successfully grown cucumbers before, Chinese Okra will be a breeze! The fruit is underutilized in western cuisine. If you haven’t tried it yet, I encourage you to!”

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

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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