Long Handle Dipper Gourds Annual Full Sun Zone 3 - 12 Days to Maturity: 100+ Days to Germination: 7 - 14 Soil: Rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6 & 7 (Optimum soil temps 70-90F) Water: Evenly moist, 1 per week Temp Preferences: Warm Long Handle Dipper Gourds The Long Handle Dipper Gourd is much like the Speckled Swan but grows an exaggerated long straight neck. Let the vines grow along the ground & the handle will curve. Their shapelong-necked with a bulbous endhas many uses when dried. The flesh doesn’t win taste awards, keep these originals for ornamental use. Heirloom, Non-GMO Quantity: 20 Seeds Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria Planting Depth: (4-6 seeds together) 1/4 Plant Spacing: 1 - 3’ Row Spacing: 8’ Growth Habit: Sprawling Vine Spread: 94 - 144 Height: 34 - 36 Weight: 5 - 15 lbs Do not plant squash family crops in the same spot 2 years in a row Indoor Sow: 3-4 weeks before last frost then transplant outdoors after 4 weeks & soil temps are at least 70F. Sow (4-6) seeds 1/4 deep in individual starter pots. Thin to 3-4 when they are 1-2 tall. Outdoor Sow: Sow direct in moist soil once soil temps average 70F. Sow (4-6) seeds 1/4 deep & 1-3 feet apart in hills 8 feet apart. Thin seedlings to 3-4 per hill when they are 1-2 tall. Keep evenly moist. Gourds grow well on trellises or supports, keeping the fruits off the ground. Help these viners out by staking & giving a trellis or fencing, something to climb on. Your gourds might suffer discoloration & shape if left to grow on the ground. Harvest: Stems will turn yellow when ready to cut from the vine. Harvest after the shells harden. Cut the fruits from the vines with 1-2 of stem attached. Cure them for a week in a warm, dry location with good air circulation. INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Phytosanitary Certificate Required for Orders Going to Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore & Taiwan. Please Add Phytosanitary Certificate to your cart when purchasing your order. It is your responsibility to understand any applicable import requirements & restrictions for your country. For more information please contact the destination country’s Department of Agriculture or equivalent ministry. Not responsible for items that do not make it through customs. Long Handle Dipper Gourd Seeds, Gourds, Ornamental 20 Seeds // Heirloom, Non-Gmo, Lagenaria Siceraria