10 Winter Melon Wax Gourd Seeds - Heirloom Benincasa hispida for Soup & Curry

Winter Melon, also known as Wax Gourd, is a traditional heirloom vine grown for its large, mild-flavored fruit. Botanically known as Benincasa hispida, this Asian vegetable is prized in soups, curries, and stir-fries, where its tender flesh absorbs seasonings beautifully. The vigorous vining plants produce heavy, oblong fruits with a waxy, pale green rind that helps them store well after harvest.

Winter Melon is a warm-season crop that thrives in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Its sprawling growth habit makes it a good choice for garden trellises, fences, or open ground where the vines have room to run. The mild, versatile fruit is typically harvested when mature and can be used fresh in home cooking.

Plant Features

• Heirloom Asian vegetable grown for its mild, versatile fruit
• Vigorous vining growth habit with large, lobed leaves
• Fruits develop a waxy, pale green rind
• Well suited to soups, curries, and stir-fries
• Warm-season crop that performs best in full sun

Growing Information

• Botanical Name: Benincasa hispida
• Plant Type: Annual vining vegetable
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil
• Water Requirements: Moderate; keep soil evenly moist
• Growth Habit: Sprawling vine
• Spacing: Allow ample room for vines to spread or provide a trellis

Planting & Care

Sow winter melon seeds indoors or directly in the garden after the last frost, when soil has warmed. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep in a sunny location with rich, well-drained soil. Keep the seedbed evenly moist until germination, then thin or transplant seedlings to give vines room to spread. Provide a trellis or fence if growing vertically, or allow vines to run along the ground.

Water regularly during dry spells, especially while fruits are developing, and mulch to conserve moisture. Winter melon vines benefit from consistent care and warm conditions throughout the growing season. Harvest fruits when mature and the rind feels firm.

What's Included

This listing includes 10 Winter Melon Wax Gourd seeds (Benincasa hispida).