Cucurbita pepo. 95 days. Open-pollinated.
Tennessee Spinning Gourd, also known as Dancing Gourd, is an heirloom gourd variety that has long been grown as a toy for children, as they're the perfect size and shape for spinning like a top.
Thomas Jefferson mentions the Spinning Gourd in a letter he wrote to his granddaughter, Ann, in 1809, where he describes a gift he purchased for Ann's younger sister Mary as "the minutest gourd ever seen." He even sketched a picture of the gourd in the margin of the letter!
Vigorous vines, which can grow over 8 feet wide, produce dozens of small, 2 to 3 inch, bottle-shaped fruits that are green with white stripes.
Harvest after 95 days, then place in a cool, dark location to dry. Once fully dried they can be painted, decorated, and made into toys or ornaments!
Tennessee Spinning Gourd
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones:
3 to 12
Light Requirement:
Full sun
Soil Type:
Rich, well drained
Sow Depth:
1 inch
Plant Spacing:
5 feet
Germination Temp:
70ºF or higher
Germination Time:
7 to 14 days
Maturation:
95 days
Growing Tips
Direct sow once soil temperatures are 70°F or warmer. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in hills, 4 seeds per hill with 5 feet between hills. Thin to the strongest plants once the seedlings have obtained their first set of true leaves.
