Also known as Big Apple or Speckled Apple, this old gourd is the size of a large grapefruit and shaped exactly like an apple. The vigorous vines that produce them are very easy to grow, can be as long as 20 feet, and are best managed with trellising, fencing, or some other sturdy structure. This allows the growing gourds to hang versus lying on the ground, preventing a flat side and ensuring their roundness and symmetry. Mature Apple gourds are about 7 inches in diameter (much larger than an actual apple!) and should be harvested late in the fall when the leaves die. Just be sure you pick them before any heavy frosts arrive. Mottled green when fresh and caramel in color when dried, Apple gourds can take up to 6 months to dry completely, when they'll feel much lighter and you'll hear the seeds rattling inside.
More Information| SKU | DL013834 |
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| Item Package Size | Packet |
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| Seeds Per Packet | approx. 10 seeds per packet |
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| Botanical Name | Lagenaria siceraria |
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| How To Grow | Direct sow or start indoors |
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| Light Requirements | Full Sun |
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| Planting Depth | 1 inch |
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| Seed Spacing | 3-4 feet |
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| Row Spacing | 8-12 feet |
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| Space After Thinning | 6-8 feet |
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| Days To Germinate | 7-10 days |
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| Days To Maturity | 95-120 |
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| Growth Rate | Slow |
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| Seed Life Cycle | Annual |
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| Certifications | Heirloom |
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| Advantages | Ornamental, Edible |
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| Additional Information | Introduced in 1888 |
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| Item Unit Of Measure | Packet |
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| Ships As | Seed |
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| Ships To Canada | Yes |
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