Bottle Gourd Cobra

Bottle Gourd Cobra: variety and characteristics

Bottle Gourd Cobra (Lagenaria siceraria) is an annual vegetable of the Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). Lagenaria Cobra is an annual plant that is used for decorative purposes.

Reaches a height of up to 3 m and produces fruits that resemble a cobra in shape. The colour is dark green with light patches or mottling.

Lagenaria is an annual plant native to the tropics and subtropics. Therefore, for successful growth, it needs above all enough warmth.

The bottle gourd (calabash) is a fast-growing climbing squash with ornamental fruits that, once dried, are made into containers, bird feeders and souvenirs. Young fruits are edible.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 95%
• Pack size: 1 g
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: April; seedlings
• Harvest: October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Bottle Gourd Cobra

Bottle Gourd Cobra seeds are sown in April. Harvest takes place in October. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Bottle Gourd Cobra

• Sowing method: seedlings
• Depth: 2–3 cm
• Spacing: 1–1.5 m, with support
• Germination: 7–14 days at 25 °C
• Position: sunny spot

With seeds for pre-growing you can start in April. The sowing depth is 1-2 cm. Germination time is usually 1-2 weeks. At this time it is important to provide the plant with a steady temperature of 20-25 °C . We plant the plant outdoors in the second half of May, when there is no longer any danger of morning frosts. We can plant in the greenhouse earlier. Any drop in temperature below 10 °C will irreversibly damage the plant. Growth stops and the flowers begin to fall. The same situation arises during excessive drought. The position should be sunny, the soil should be sandy-loam and sufficiently rich in humus. The plant needs regular watering and feeding.

Soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing. Plant next to a fence, pergola or trellis in a sunny position; water generously.

Harvest and use

To dry, leave the fruits on the plant until the stalk turns yellow, then dry them in a ventilated place for 2–3 months.

Frequently asked questions

When should Bottle Gourd Cobra be sown?

The recommended sowing month is April. Sowing method: seedlings.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 95%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

How is a gourd dried?

Pick fully ripe fruits, wash them and leave them in a dry, ventilated place. They are ready when they are light and the seeds rattle inside.