Bottle Gourd — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Lagenaria siceraria |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 7–14 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 18.3–32.2 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 60–90 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 91.4–152.4 |
| Mature height (cm) | 30.5–61 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 304.8–609.6 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 4–11 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | indoor-start |
Growing directions
Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in warm mix or directly in warm soil; nick the seed coat or soak overnight to speed germination. Bottle gourd is a vigorous, tropical vine that requires a sturdy trellis or fence and very warm conditions to thrive. Harvest immature fruits when they are 6–8 inches long (or the desired shape depending on variety) for vegetable use — they are delicate and best cooked; allow fruits to mature fully and dry on the vine if growing for use as a gourd vessel. Pollination requires both male and female flowers to be open simultaneously; hand-pollinate in the morning if fruit set is poor.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0