How To Grow- Vietnamese Fuzzy Gourd
16 September 2011, by gj
A relative of cucumbers and melons, this interesting veggie is just as easy to grow.
aka wax or ash gourd
It’s sensitive to transplanting, so be careful if you choose to start indoors (about a month or so before the frosts have ended).
I planted mine in early summer, covering the seeds a bit and watering.
It produces a much larger flower than cucumbers, so it’s quite striking growing up a trellis.
bee shown for size reference 
Picked at about 8″ long or so, there are only very tiny seeds.
Be sure to scrub the tlittle hairs off before eating with the skin; or you can just peel it.
That would have been too easy, I had to go for it.
scrub those whiskers
It smells like a cucumber when cut, has the consistency of a zucchini, but the flavor is very mild.
I used some of my first harvest for a delicious stir fry, and plan on trying a soup this weekend.
fuzzy gourd stir fry
This same veggie goes by many names, such as Winter Melon and Wax Gourd-
Wikipedia has a niece piece on it here.
I just love the sound of Winter Melon Soup!
Botanical name: Benincasa hispida
Yield: one plant per seed, many fruit per plant
Storage: I’m sure it can be dehydrated, but I’m new to this veggie too. I’ve read that a fully grown plant can be kept in cool storage, but doesn’t taste nearly as good.
Categories: edible gourds, how to grow
