Fresh Heirloom Wax Ground Seeds Fast Shipping The wax gourd also called ash gourd, white gourd, winter gourd , tallow gourd, ash pumpkin, winter melon , Chinese preserving melon and (Alu) Puhul, is a vine grown for its very large fruit, eaten as a vegetable when mature. The gourds are used in stir fries or combined with pork or pork/beef bones to make winter gourd soup. Sowing Sow seeds in late spring/early summer after last frost in a warm, sunny location. Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours to soften the hard seed coat. Keep soil moist. Fertilize as needed. Planting Fertilize with nitrogen after the plant has been in the ground for 30 days and then after 60 days as well. This will keep the vines growing strong. Hand pollination may be necessary. Train to climb a vertical support for better air circulation and ease of harvest or leave to sprawl on the ground. Harvesting First fruit can be harvested in 70-75 days after sowing. The wax gourd can be stored for many months, much like winter squash. Customer Service: Your success is our success. If you feel like you cannot leave us a 5 star rating or if you have any issues with your order, like damaged or wrong items etc...just send us a note and we'll promptly resolve the issue for you. Free Shipping: Seeds are packaged in a small poly bag. In an effort to keep costs low, and pass the savings onto you, we do not offer specific planting directions on seed packets. If you cannot locate planting instructions for your specific conditions, contact us and we'll do our best to instruct you on the proper methods. There is no tracking number for economy shipping. Economy shipping order usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive depending on the state you live. If you want seeds to arrive faster and safely with the tracking, it is HIGHLY recommended to choose USPS Ground Advantage.