Buag Ngu Snake Gourd

Buag Ngu Snake Gourd

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Buag Ngu Snake Gourd is unique and serpent-like! Its dark green and white striped gourd is narrow, twisted, and elongated like a snake and has soft flesh similar to that of luffa gourds and the calabash gourds. Buag Ngu Snake Gourd grows up to 12" long from sweet-smelling lacy, white blossoms. Popular in the cuisines of India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa this plant prefers hot climates. The shoots, tendrils, and leaves can be eaten as greens. Snake Gourd offers a delicate and subtly sweet flavor with a mild and refreshing taste, reminiscent of cucumber or zucchini. Delicious for stir-frying, sautéing, stuffing, or pickling. 

Also Known As: Snake Melon, Snake Squash, Snake Cucumber, Chichinda, Padwal, Pudalangai, Serpent Gourd, Chinese Cucumber, Turiya, Padavalanga, Pathakaya, Pakupis, Snake Tomato, Baup Ngu, Pudalankaai, Paduvalakaayi.

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Plant Name:
 Snake Gourd, Buag Ngu
Latin Name:
Trichosanthes cucumerina
Days to Germinate: 7-14
Days to Harvest: 120
Germination Rate: 85%
Test Date: 3/22
Growth Habit: Vining
USDA Zones: 3-11
Lifespan: Annual, Perennial 9-11
Brand: TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade
GMO: No
Pollination:
 Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
Fungicide-Treated Seeds:*: No
Seeds Packed For**: 2023

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.


Planting Instructions:

 

Soil Preparation:

To prepare soil, remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade the soil 8-12 inches deep and turn each shovel of soil over completely to cover the plant materials with soil. You may add fertilizer (see "Fertilizing" below) or 2-3 inches of organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay over the planting area at this point. Till to mix this organic material into the top 8-10 inches of soil. Make rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 3 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.
 

Planting:

Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is at least 75F. To plant, make 1 inch deep holes spaced 4 feet apart in raised beds down the rows, then plant 1-2 seeds in each hole. Cover thinly with soil and water after planting. After the seeds come up and plants are 3-4 inches tall, thin to 3 plants per hill. Snake Gourd prefers hot climates with an average growth temperature of 85F and can grow up to 16 feet long vines. Trellising is recommended.
 

Planting Depth: 1 inch
Within-Row Spacing:
 4 feet
Between-Row Spacing:
 3 feet, trellis

 

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants enough to keep them from wilting. If the weather is really dry, squash plants should be watered at least once a week. Sandy soils need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

Weeding: Keep plants as weed-free as possible. When plowing or hoeing try not to dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder rooters which may slow the plant's growth.

Fertilizing: You may optionally add scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of garden area. Work into the soil and leave the surface smooth. For small gardens, use 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer for each hill. Scatter the fertilizer evenly over a 2 foot by 2 foot area. work it into the top 2-3 inches of soil. When blooms first appear, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of fertilizer around each hill. Do not let fertilizer touch the plants. Water the plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Larvae of the Squash vine borer are usually found inside the stem and cannot be controlled once they are inside the stem. Sevin® and Thiodan® can control for squash bugs. Pyrethrin and rotenone can control for the cucumber beetle. Before using a pesticide, read the label and always follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: Check the plants daily and if spots or mold appear, treat the plant with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. Please always follow label directions.
 

Harvesting:

Snake Gourd requires close attention at harvest time as they can ripen yellow quickly. Harvest Snake Gourd when they are young but fully grown, the skin is dark green with white stripes in color, shiny, and tender, and the seeds are still soft and white. Ripening can continue after harvest. Old vines can be composted or worked in the soil well before the Spring planting season.


Nutrition Facts:
Calories 50
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.3 g 0%
Saturated fat 0 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 19 mg 0%
Potassium 403 mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 13 g 4%
Dietary fiber 2.6 g 10%
Sugar 4.6 g
Protein 0.6 g 1%
Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 8%
Calcium 0% Iron 1%
Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 5%
Cobalamin 0% Magnesium 4%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.