Gourd Seeds - Nam Tao Yai - Hybrid

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Other Common Names: Calabash gourd, Dudi, White-flowered gourd, Moo gua, poo gwa, Hyotan

How to Grow Nam Tao Yai Hybrid Gourds

Requires a long, warm growing season. Prepare fertile, well-drained soil. Sow seeds in the spring/early summer after the last frost in a warm, sunny location. For hill planting: Form soil into a 1-ft. diameter mound 3-4' tall. Space mounds 4-6' apart. On each mound plant 1-2 seeds. For row planting: See spacing info in the attribute tab. Keep soil moist. Fertilize as needed.

For the best potential harvest train your Bottle Gourd vines off the ground allowing the gourds to hang straight. The best fruit will grow on lateral shoots. To take advantage of this and start training early on a support system for upward growth and better gourd production. Because pollination is done by night-flying insects hand pollination is recommended for a better harvest. It is best to pollinate before sunrise or sunset as this is when the flowers are open. To encourage better fruiting cut long shoots that go further than a couple of leaves past the fruit.

Harvesting Gourds

Nam Tao Yai gourds are edible when picked before the skin hardens. As a long variety, you can harvest this gourd at any length. The younger you harvest the gourd, the more tender it will be. To remove your gourd cut at the base of the stem where it connects to the gourd.

Culinary Tips

Use the Nam Tao Yai Bottle Gourd in soups, srit-fries, and other traditional dishes that use courgettes or other squashes. We recommend trying it with shrimp or other meats. Just be sure to remove hard seeds before cooking.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"I highly recommend using a trellis system to grow your gourds vertically to save valuable garden space while displaying your healthy, long gourds."

- Ashleigh Smith, True Leaf Market Managing Editor

Articles on Gourds

"How To Germinate Hard Gourd Seeds"

Seeds Per Package

• 3 g packet - Approximately 10 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 140 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 560 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 2,240 Seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 11,200 Seeds