Long Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) from Seed: moon-white blooms, long cool fruit, strong trellis

Long Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) from Seed: moon-white blooms, long cool fruit, strong trellis (lauki, calabash, opo squash) TL;DR Warm soil, full sun, deep moisture, and a sturdy trellis. Pre-soak or pre-sprout seeds, plant shallow, and train vines early. Harvest young, smooth fruits while skins are tender. If any fruit tastes bitter, do not eat it. This is a home-growing guide; not dietary or medical advice. Quick Definition Lagenaria siceraria is a vigorous, night-blooming vine with large white flowers and long, pale-green gourds. Picked young, many people use the tender fruit as a vegetable; left to mature, the shell hardens for crafts. At-a-glance Facts What it is: Warm-season vining gourd grown young for culinary use (also called lauki/opo). Flavor: Mild, cucurbit-light when harvested young and non-bitter. Best moments: Full sun, rich soil, steady deep watering, tall trellis for straight fruits. Grow basics: Pre-soak; sow 1–2 cm deep; train early; hand-pollinate