Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). This is a popular gourd for making bottles, birdhouses and many other useful items. It is also incredibly fun to grow. This plant will thrive with minimal effort, gracefully climbing a trellis or sprawling across the garden.
Gourd Seeds, Dishcloth (Edible Luffa):
Description: (Luffa aegyptiaca). Whether you spell it 'loofah,' 'luffa,' or 'loofa,' these gourds are tasty cooked like okra when young, and the mature fruits, when dried, make excellent sponges. Burpee’s 1888 catalog said, “A natural dishcloth, and a most admirable one. Many people prefer this as a dishcloth. The fruit grows about 2 feet, and the vine is very ornamental, producing clusters of yellow blossoms, in pleasing contrast with the silvery-shaded, dark green foliage. In the north, this variety requires starting in a hotbed. The dried interiors of these gourds have already become an article of commerce; grown in Florida, they are sold by Philadelphia and New York druggists.”
Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). This edible gourd has been cultivated in the lush landscapes of Ghana’s Ashanti and Bono regions for at least 150 years. A prolific and easy-to-grow plant that yields gigantic fruits capable of stretching up to 2 feet in length and span an impressive 15 inches in diameter. We are thrilled to offer this highly revered heirloom, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic work of seed saver and farmer Solomon Amuzu. Best eaten cooked, this gourd’s flavor profile is utterly unique, boasting a distinct umami flavor akin to mushrooms. In Ghanaian cuisine, it serves as a versatile alternative and substitute for meat and fish in soups, stews, and sauces, imparting depth and richness. In times past, it’s believed these gourds emerged as formidable weapons when tribes in northern Ghana heated them over a roaring fire, mounted them onto a long sturdy pole, and hurled the molten hot gourds at their unsuspecting enemies (do not try this at home).
Gourd Seeds, Giant Bushel Basket:
Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). Would you like to be able to grow gourds that weigh over 150 pounds? How about 200 pounds? We did just that, and we will have a limited number of seeds available. To grow truly giant fruit, it is typically necessary to reduce the runners down to just one primary vine and to grow only one fruit per plant. It's a gargantuan gourd, perfect for competition growing or to impress your friends and family! These spectacular specimens can be used for craft projects, art pieces, or made into utilitarian containers. And this one happens to even be edible, with a crisp, clean, cucumber-like taste. You are in for a show, as the long vines meander across the garden and the fruit quickly swells to stunning sizes!
Gourd Seeds, Giant Zucca Melon (Edible):
Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). You can’t miss this gourd growing in your garden. With a weight of 30 to 100 pounds, it is one of the largest gourds in the world! It is not only big but also very delicious. Pick it young and cook it like zucchini! This was a real show-stopper at the National Heirloom Expo. Everyone wanted to know how we grew this monstrosity. Unbelievably, there are no trade secrets to growing this whopper. It’s extremely easy to grow, and thrives with little care. Start early and keep warm. If you do not have night pollinators, hand pollinate the evening blooms.
Gourd Seeds, Kikinda (Edible):
Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). Grow mammoth 5-7-feet long gourds and amaze your family. This super tasty fruit is tender up to 4 feet long. The tenderness and great flavor made them a favorite in our kitchen. Fun for craft projects and entering garden fairs. The Kikinda comes from a small village in Northern Serbia that is famed for its pumpkin festivals. We grew ours in a “gourd tunnel,” and it is important to trellis if you want straight fruit.
Description: (Luffa acutangula). Luffa (also spelled Loofah or Loofa), is grown for both its tasty immature fruits – slightly sweet and delicious in soups and stews – and its mature luffa sponges. Resembling a zucchini with ridges, the young fruit is often used in Ghanaian kitchens in place of eggplant. Its huge vines can reach 20 feet or more; average fruit size is about 12 inches long and 2 to 3 inches across. It likes warm weather.
Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). These splotchy, pale green oval-shaped gourds require a long, hot growing season to mature. Delicious when young, they are excellent for making beautiful bowls and jewelry boxes when dry. Trellis for smooth, unblemished fruits.
Gourd Seeds, Serpente De Sicilia Cucuzzi (Edible):
Description: (Lagenaria siceraria). A popular Italian edible gourd. Long, slender fruit is a brilliant, light green color; very tender and delicious with a rich flavor. The Italians eat these steamed, sautéed, or stuffed and baked. Preferred by many to zucchini, this is indeed a gourmet treat. This ancient vegetable was popular in Italy long before squash was brought here from the Americas. These are not bothered by many pests and tend to be very easy to grow.
Wax Melon Seeds, Giant Bullet Head:
Description: (Benincasa hispida). A mammoth version of the ancient winter melon from Asia. Wax melon dates back 2700 years ago in China. Thanks to its long history, countless recipes exist for this versatile fruit. A staple winter food, its waxy rind helps to preserve the fruit for up to 12 months. The flesh is candied and stuffed into dessert pastries, stewed into hearty winter soups, stir-fried and used to fill moon cakes for China’s Autumn Moon Festival. Fruit can weigh up to 75 pounds each. This beautiful black type is a popular wax melon variety in China, but still unknown here. Named for the long dark fruit which resembles a bullet. Excellent storage quality and snow-white flesh. An excellent substitute for zucchini squash, but these are tastier! Thin (and eat) young fruit to get giant-sized fruit.
