The information on this page applies to seedlings sold by LEAF Nursery during our 2021 Seedling Sale.
Benincasa hispida. A mammoth version of the ancient winter melon from Asia. Wax melon has been dated back 2700 years ago in China; thanks to its long history, countless recipes exist for this versatile fruit. A staple winter food, its waxy rind helps to preserve the fruit for up to 12 months. The flesh is candied and stuffed into dessert pastries, stewed into hearty winter soups, stir fried and used to fill moon cakes for China’s Autumn Moon Festival. Fruit can weigh up to 75 pounds each. This beautiful black type is a popular wax melon variety in China, but still unknown here. Named for the long dark fruit which resembles a bullet. Excellent storage quality and snow-white flesh. An excellent substitute for zucchini squash, but these are tastier! Thin (and eat) young fruit to get giant-sized fruit.
Seed Type
| Organic | Heirloom | Non-GMO | Hybrid | Open-pollinated | Untreated |
Additional Information
| Container Friendly | Trellis Needed | Easy to Grow | Pollinator Friendly |
Planting Season
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Growing Conditions
| Light | Temperature | Soil | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sun | warm temps | Well-drained | As needed |
Planting Tips
| Plant Spacing | Plant Size | Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|
| 48-72" | 100 |
- Additional instructions: Wax gourd requires a long warm growing season, and the vigorous vines require support. Train to climb a vertical support for better air circulation and ease of harvest or leave to sprawl on the ground. If sufficient pollinators are not present, hand pollinate.[2] [4]
- Harvesting instructions: The skin will form a white waxy layer when ripe and can be stored for up to a year. The fruit flesh is sweet in immature fruits, but loses sweetness as the fruits ripen. The flesh is candied and stuffed into dessert pastries, stewed into hearty winter soups, stir fried and used to fill moon cakes for China’s Autumn Moon Festival. Fruit can weigh up to 75 pounds each. Snow-white flesh and a tastier substitution for zucchini squash.[2] [4]
Common Diseases and Pests
- Pests: Spotted and striped cucumber beetles, bacterial wilt disease, fruit flies [5]
- Disease: Powdery and downy mildew, rusts, rots, watermelon mosaic virus, bacterial wilts [5]
Useful Resources
- https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/new-items-2019/giant-bullet-head-wax-melon (seed source)
- https://www.onecommunityglobal.org/wax-gourd/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_gourd
- https://www.kitazawaseed.com/seed_320-41.html
- https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-bitter-melon/
If you bought this seedling and have any questions or feedback, let us know in the comment section below.