Snake Gourd.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Mittel

Pflanzenart

Annual vine

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 2 bis 4 Tage

Endgröße

15 to 20 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 9 bis 12

Blütezeit

Mid to late summer

Pflege

Provide a sturdy trellis so the heavy fruits can hang straight and develop properly. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew on the leaves if the air is too humid or stagnant. Ensure the soil stays consistently moist but never waterlogged to keep the plant productive.

Gießen

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the peak of summer heat.

Düngen

Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks to support rapid vine growth.

Schneiden

Trim back excessive lateral growth to encourage better airflow and fruit production.

Umtopfen

This plant is typically grown as an annual in the ground and does not require repotting.

Boden

Well draining, fertile, loamy soil

Boden-pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperatur

15 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

60 bis 90%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Gering

Lebensdauer

Annual, typically 1 growing season

Duft

Stark

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Mittel

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is generally considered non-toxic, though some individuals may experience mild digestive upset if consuming large quantities of raw material.

Kinder

The long, dangling fruits may be tempting for children to pull, which can damage the vine.

Kontaktallergene

Handling the fuzzy stems and leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergene in der Luft

The pollen can trigger mild reactions in those prone to seasonal allergies.

Essbarkeit

Ensure the fruit is harvested while young and tender, as mature fruits become bitter and fibrous.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Extremely long, slender, snake like fruit
• Deeply lobed, bright green leaves
• Delicate white, fringed, lace like flowers
• Tendrils for climbing support

Höhe

2 bis 5m

Breite

1 bis 3m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

white, 3 bis 5cm

Früchte

green, red, Late summer to autumn

Häufige Probleme

• Powdery mildew — White fungal growth on leaves often caused by poor air circulation.
• Aphids — Small insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant sap.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

Spring

Überwinterung

This plant is a tender annual and will die back with the first frost.

Im Kübel

It grows well in large containers of at least 20 liters with a strong trellis.

Plant near a sturdy support structure to keep the heavy fruits off the ground and prevent rot.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Mais — The tall stalks provide a natural trellis for the vines to climb.
• Tagetes — These help deter soil pests that might bother the root system.

Ähnliche Arten

• Luffa — Shares similar growth habits and requirements as a climbing cucurbit.

Botanisches

Familie

Cucurbitaceae

Gattung

Trichosanthes

Ordnung

Cucurbitales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Tropical Asia and Australia

Artenschutz

This species is widely cultivated and not currently of conservation concern.

This vine thrives in humid, tropical environments by rapidly climbing over vegetation to reach sunlight.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Nachtfalter

Verwendung

culinary vegetable, traditional medicine, ornamental vine

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

How do I know when to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is still green and firm, usually about 10 to 15 days after flowering.

Can I grow this in a pot?

Yes, provided you use a large container and a sturdy trellis for the vine to climb.

Woher der Name kommt

The genus name comes from the Greek words for hair and flower, referring to the fringed petals, while the species name means cucumber-like.

Gut zu wissen

• The fruits can grow up to 1 meter in length.
• It is often called the snake gourd due to its long, coiled shape.
• The plant is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, related to cucumbers and melons.
• In some cultures, the red pulp inside mature fruit is used as a natural dye.