Bottle Gourd

Start seeds indoors in peat pots several weeks before your last spring frost date. Use a seed-starting mix and keep soil temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors once soil has warmed and frost danger has completely passed.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost date when soil temperatures have reached at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Space transplants 36 inches apart if training on supports, or 4 to 6 feet apart if growing along the ground. Handle peat pots gently and plant at the same depth they were growing in containers.

Direct sow seeds outdoors once soil temperatures have reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically occurs shortly after the last spring frost date. Plant several seeds together in mounds spaced 3 feet apart for trellised plants or 4 to 6 feet apart for ground-trailing growth, then thin seedlings later to the strongest plant.

Harvest young tender gourds when they are still small and the skin remains soft enough to pierce with a fingernail, typically 60 to 70 days after planting. For mature gourds intended for drying and storage, wait until the skin hardens and turns a pale cream or tan color, which signals the fruit is ready for curing. The stems should dry and brown before you cut mature gourds from the vine. Harvest by cutting the fruit from the vine with a sharp knife rather than pulling, leaving a short stem attached to the mature gourd.

Pruning is generally minimal for bottle gourd, though you may selectively remove damaged or diseased vines to maintain plant health. When growing on supports or trellises, you can pinch off side shoots to direct energy toward main vine development and encourage upward growth. Removing excessive foliage around developing fruits can improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.