An annual, decorative climbing plant that grows 60 to 90" (1.5-2.5 m) long with light green, bottle-shaped fruits and a weight of 7-15 lbs (3-7 kg). Fruits have the ability to regenerate if a part of them was cut off. Young fruits are up to 20” (50 cm) and are edible. Used as a squash; fried, stewed, , or pickled.
Planting instructions:
Prepare long-handle gourd seeds for sowing in springtime approximately to four weeks after the last frost. Wait until soil temperatures reach 60 degrees F (15 ). Place the seeds in a shallow bowl and cover them with water. Soak the seeds for at least 12 hours before sowing them. Work the soil a rotary tiller or a cultivating fork, depending on the size of garden patch. Break up the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm). Remove any stones, sticks or other debris from the planting site. Amend the soil if it is very sandy or clay-based. Create a soil mound for each long-handle gourd plant. Push the soil into shape by hand until its stands 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) tall with a diameter of approximately 20 inches (50 cm). Moisten the soil with a garden hose while mounding it to help it hold its shape. Space the mounds at least 4 feet (1.5 m) apart. Install a wire trellis, tomato cage or other structure at each soil mound to provide a place for the gourd plants to climb.