Tennessee Spinner

Family: Cucurbitaceae Ornamental / Edible

Sink your senses into the Tennessee Spinner’s sculptural beauty: a long, elegant gourd that ripens to a rich, mottled skin and feels satisfyingly firm with a dry, refined interior.

When fully mature, it develops a distinctive “spinner” form—slender and gracefully curved—ideal for drying and display, with a clean, mellow character that holds its shape beautifully. Grow it for the pleasure of watching its vines climb and for the striking, heirloom silhouette it brings to the garden at season’s end.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 100 DaysHabit: Vine

Botanical illustration of Tennessee Spinner

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	May 9th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	May 23rd
Harvest Begins	Aug 31st
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	100
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	12

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Tennessee Spinner is a gourd that earns its keep through structure: even when seasoned hard, it keeps a firm, tidy bite instead of turning watery. If you let it mature, it becomes a rehydration dream—soak first, then simmer until tender, without losing that “dry interior to supple body” transformation.

Best Uses

cube it young for quick sautéing, where it holds shape
use fully mature gourds for drying and later rehydration in stews
roast wedges young for caramelized edges and a clean, nutty finish
season and simmer in brothy dishes where it won’t collapse

Flavor Profile

mellow, quietly sweet gourd flesh dry, refined interior when fully mature firm bite that stays architectural

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil smoked paprika chicken stock goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Lagenaria siceraria (Lagenaria) and what should I do?

For cucurbits like Lagenaria siceraria, powdery mildew and cucumber beetles are frequent problems during warm, humid stretches. Start by spacing plants for airflow and removing the oldest, most heavily spotted leaves; if mildew appears, treat early with a labeled fungicide for cucurbits. If you see leaf feeding and striping beetles, hand-pick adults and use a row cover until flowering, then remove covers when pollinators are active.

How often should I water Lagenaria siceraria during its main growing phase?

During active vine growth and fruit set, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, increasing during hot spells. Water at the base in the morning and stop short of saturating the area around the stems, since soggy soil promotes rot. Mulch helps hold moisture steady, which is especially important once the fruits begin to enlarge.

How can I tell when Tennessee Spinner (Lagenaria siceraria) is ready to harvest?

Harvest timing is usually around 100 days after sowing, but rely on skin hardening: the fruit should feel firm and the surface should be tough enough that you can’t easily dent it with a fingernail. Check that the stem attachment has started to dry, and cut with a short stem rather than pulling. If you’re growing them for long-term storage/craft use, wait for full rind hardening before bringing them indoors to cure.