Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina
vegetableSnake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina) is a tropical climbing vine grown for its remarkable long, slender, often coiling fruit, which can reach a foot and a half or more, harvested young and tender as a mild cooked vegetable across South and Southeast Asia. The vine is fast and rampant, climbing to 16 ft, with delicate, lacy, fringed white flowers that open at night. It is very frost tender and needs heat, a long season, and a tall, strong support, on which the hanging fruit grows straighter. It is grown as a warm-weather annual.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 4 days
Harvest
~70 days
Difficulty
medium
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
3-4 ft apart on a tall trellis
Planting Depth
1 in deep
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Rich, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 12
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Feed every 2-3 weeks through the season
Fertilizer
Balanced organic fertilizer; a heavy feeder
Grow snake gourd in full sun in rich, well-drained soil; it cannot tolerate shade or frost. In all but the warmest regions start seed indoors in spring, sowing two or three seeds per pot and thinning to the strongest, then transplant out only after the last frost when the soil is warm. Provide a tall, sturdy trellis or arbor so the long fruit can hang down and grow straight. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, watering at the base to reduce fungal disease, and feed regularly because it is a hungry vine. Hand-pollinating the night-opening flowers improves fruit set.
Direct sow
May 13
Projected first harvest
Jul 22
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Chew leaves and spread disease; use row cover early and remove beetles
Sting developing fruit; bag young fruit, use traps, and remove any infested fruit promptly
Cluster on tender shoots; rinse off and conserve natural enemies
White coating in humid weather; provide airflow on the trellis and avoid overhead watering
Pick snake gourd young, while the fruit is still slender, firm, and pale, usually about two to three months from sowing and within a week or so of flowering; at this stage it is tender and mild. Harvest often, as fruit left on the vine grows tough, fibrous, and bitter and turns orange-red. Cut the fruit from the vine with a knife rather than pulling it.
Snake gourd is very low in calories and high in water and fiber, with some vitamin C. The young fruit is cooked in curries, stir-fries, and soups, taking on the flavors it is cooked with.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.