Lagenaria siceraria
Origin: Africa via Massachusetts
Improvement status: Landrace
Seeds per packet: ~15
Germination tested 12/2025: 80%
Life cycle: Annual
Nate first found this super-long (4ft+) dipper gourd hanging from the wall of a western Massachusetts antique store near the Vermont border. Not knowing how old the fruit were — the proprietor didn't know either, but said he got them from a local grower "a while back" — but excited by their huge length, he bought the longest fruit, cracked it open, removed the seeds, and planted them. Much to his delight, a good portion of the seeds germinated and produced a fine crop of extremely long-necked grouds. We assume that this is simply a local selection of the "Extra Long Dipper Gourds" offered by other seed companies, which is why we're calling it by the same name, but it does seem to have extraordinary length, so we're referring to it as the "Western Massachusetts Strain."
Like other Lagenaria siceraria gourds — the African species known to have arrived in the Americas long before European colonizers by floating across the sea — the fruits are edible when small, but mainly used for carving into containers or other tools. The original banjos were made from just this type of gourd, and this long-necked variety would be a perfect candidate for making your own musical instruments! They are best grown on a trellis, for the longest, straightest fruit, otherwise — if left to grow on the ground — the neck will be twisted and bent around like a pretzel! (See photos.)
GROWING TIPS: Direct-sow after danger of frost has passed, or start a couple weeks earlier indoors. Space sprawling plants at least a foot or two apart and provide a tall trellis for maximum fruit length.
