Fuzzy Star Hairy Gourd is a hybrid variety of wax gourd with a coating of fine hairs on dark green skin and creamy, white interior flesh! This 9-11 inch long gourd is a staple of Chinese diet and can be prepared and eaten in a similar fashion to summer squash or zucchini. Eat very young Fuzzy Melons raw or peel, cut into chunks and add to soup or steam. Try slicing and shredding fuzzy gourds to add to a stir fry, or core and stuff with pork, prawns and other mixtures before baking and steaming. Fuzzy Hair Gourd is also very popular around the globe! It is used in Andean, Caribbean, Indian, Southeast Asian, African, Indian, Mexican, and South American cuisine.In traditional Eastern and Ayurveda medicine, Hairy Gourd gourd has been used to improve digestive function, help reduce symptoms of asthma and other lung problems, and is also used as a diuretic to aid in flushing toxins from the body naturally. Also Known As: Hairy Melon, Fuzzy Gourd, Chinese Preserving Melon, Wax Gourd, Moa Qua, Mo Gwa, Chi Qua, Jointed Gourd, Hairy Cucumber, Small Winter Gourd. Plant Name: Fuzzy Melon, Fuzzy Star F1 Latin Name: Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua Days to Germinate: 7-14 Days to Harvest: 90 Plant Height: 12 - 18 Inches Spread: 6 - 8 Feet Growth Habit: Vining USDA Zones: 3-11 Lifespan: Annual Brand: TomorrowSeeds Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade Pollination: Hybrid GMO: No Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No Seeds Packed For**: 2026 *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: Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. 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 or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth. Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 3 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. Planting: Fuzzy Hair Melon grows best in warm weather. Starting Indoors: For an earlier harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when the soil temperature is above 65F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish. Directly Sowing: If directly sowing fuzzy hair melon outdoors, plant in mid-late spring when the soil warms to at least 70F. Fall planting is not typically recommended but is possible in climates with mild winters (USDA Zones 9-11), or if growing indoors >70F and using supplemental grow lights. To plant, make holes 1 inch deep and spaced 4 feet apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish. Planting Depth: 1 inch Within-Row Spacing: 4 feet Between-Row Spacing:3 feet (trellis) or 8 feet (sprawl) Care During the Season: Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once to twice a week. If there is no rainfall, water 3-4 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. Mulching around plants can help retain moisture. Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots. Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 2-3 weeks after germination, you may optionally apply a complete fertilier, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants, following fertilizer instructions. Optionally, continue fertilizing every 3-4 weeks as plants grow, especially after flowering begins. Water 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. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions. Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions. Harvesting: Fuzzy Hair Melon is best harvested when it is still young and covered in fine white hairs, usually about a week after the flower blooms; use a sharp knife to cut the stem close to the vine, ensuring you leave a small section of the stem attached to the gourd. As the fuzzy hair melons mature, the fuzz will diminish, indicating it is no longer suitable for fresh consumption.
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