Benincasa

( ben - in - CASS - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

These flowering plants are related to Cucumbers, and the genus includes just two species. These are mainly cultivated in Asia, and are used in many culinary applications in their native range. They are considered easy to grow, and can be added to home vegetable gardens, grown in raised beds or containers, and even placed in larger grow bags. 

Benincasa Species and Varietals

The genus Benincasa is a member of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, and includes just two species. The best growing zones for Benincasa plants vary depending on the species grown. For more information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Benincasa fistulosa (Tinda, Indian Squash, Round Melon, Indian Round Gourd, Apple Gourd, Indian Baby Pumpkin) 
This species forms a vining plant that is commonly grown as an annual. Fruits are spherical, about 2 to 3 inches wide. They are gourd-type fruits, green when ripe, and are very popular in Indian, Southeast Asian and Pakistani cooking, added to curries and other gourmet dishes. Seeds may also be roasted and eaten.

Benincasa hispida (Wax Gourd, Ash Gourd, White Gourd, Winter Gourd, Winter Mellon, Tallow Gourd, Chinese Preserving Melon)
These vines are grown for their very large fruits, eaten as vegetables when mature. Stems are hairy and leaves are rough, green and large. Flowers are yellow, and bloom in June through September in the plant's native range. Plants are native to south and southeastern areas of Asia, where they are cultivated widely. They can be stored for many months, and are used in a variety of dishes. ​ Variety 'Chi Qua' is very popular in Asian cuisine.

Caring for Benincasa

These gourds require a long growing season, and produce fruits that ripen in late fall. Due to their size they are not typically trellised (though they can be if desired), and are instead allowed to spread over a large patch of ground. These crop plants need plenty of sunlight, appreciating basking for between 6 and 8 hours each day. Seeds can be sown out in the garden when soil has warmed to over 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also be started indoors and planted out after the last frost of the year has passed. Soil should be well-draining but moisture retentive. If local soils are compacted, poor, or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting site with plenty of organic material or compost before planting. Benincasa plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH of between 5.8 and 6.8. Seeds can be planted in mounds of fresh, fertile soil in order to provide more healthy growing space for roots and to access more nutrients. Ensure that the planting space has plenty of airflow; this will lessen the chances that plants develop fungal issues. Provide regular, consistent water to these plants during the flowering and fruiting seasons, keeping the soil evenly moist.

Harvesting Wax Gourd and Indian Squash
General harvesting times for these plants is in fall, when the fruit reaches full size and the skin turns a pale green to whitish color. This typically happens around 120 days after sowing seeds. To harvest fruits, use a sharp, clean knife or pruning shears to cut the fruit from the vine. Leave a small portion of the stem attached to the fruit, and handle it carefully to avoid bruising. Fruits can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months (up to a year) before being consumed. The mild taste and texture of these gourds is described as a mix between cucumber and zucchini. Flesh is typically thick and white, and is popular in Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. They are incorporated into soups, stir fries, eaten as a condiment (sort of like a mango salsa) on seafood and shellfish, or added to curries. Skins and rinds are often pickled. 

Propagation

Benincasa plants are best propagated by seed; to propagate your Winter Gourd, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Benincasa by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. They are contained inside of the fruits produced by these plants, and are typically harvested and collected in late fall to early winter. Remove seeds from the fruit flesh, rinse them, and then lay them out to dry in a cool, dark, dry place. After they have completely dried, transfer them to an airtight container and store in a dark, cool place. They can be started indoors a few weeks before the last frost date of your area.
  3. To sow, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about an inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 3 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until after the danger of frost has passed, when you can transplant the seedling out in the garden.
  5. Benincasa seeds can also be direct-sown in the garden, after the last frost of the year has passed and soil temperatures are consistently remaining above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant a few seeds (3-4) per hole to ensure that enough will germinate to produce a good harvest.
Benincasa seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by plants.
The seeds of the Benincasa genus are typically light in color and large.

Problems and Pests

Benincasa plants can suffer from time to time from the following pests and diseases:
  • Blossom End Rot
  • Powdery Midew
  • Fusarium Rot
  • Bacterial Wilt
  • Downy Mildew
  • Thrips
  • Aphids
  • Cucumber Beetles
  • Squash Bugs
  • Stink Bugs
  • Cutworms
  • Pickleworm
  • Squash Vine Borers
For more information on these problems, including how to correct them, see the following links.
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Gallery

Benincasa fruits first have a fuzzy exterior, but when mature form a waxy coating on their skin, making them able to be stored for up to a year before being used.
Benincasa flowers are yellow. Plants produce male and female flowers on the same individual.
These trees and shrubs produce delicate green leaves, pink flowers, and red seed pods.

Videos

All about growing Ash Gourds.
How to harvest Benincasa fruits.

Resources

Winter Melon (Benincasa hispida)
How to Grow Benincasa
What is a Winter Melon: Winter Melon Wax Gourd Info
Wikipedia: Benincasa
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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