Bottle Gourd Snake

What Bottle Gourd Snake is

Bottle Gourd Snake (Lagenaria siceraria) is an annual vegetable of the Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). The snake gourd is a widespread annual vine that produces shoots growing up to 2.5 metres long.

The main ornamental feature of this variety is its very long, winding, hard-skinned fruits, which reach about 80 centimetres in length.

The fruits are a beautiful indoor decoration and are often used to decorate gardens. The snake gourd is especially recommended for decorating various garden features.

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: Italy
• Sowing: April; seedlings
• Harvest: October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Bottle Gourd Snake

Bottle Gourd Snake 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 Snake

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

Sow the seeds under cover in April or directly in the ground in early May. Sow 2 to 3 seeds at each position, 2 to 3 centimetres deep in the soil, 70-100 cm apart. Plant the plants outdoors or in a film tunnel. The plants require moist, fertile soils in sunny, wind-sheltered spots.

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 Snake 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.