Variety field guide
What to expect from Crown of Thorns Shenot Ornamental gourd Seeds
Crown of Thorns Shenot Ornamental gourd seeds produce orange ornamental gourd, 5-7 inches, on vining/climbing plants.
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Crown of Thorns Shenot is an ornamental gourd grown for its striking crown-shaped fruits and ring of projecting fingers. Cream, orange, yellow, and green colors bring variety to autumn displays and decorative arrangements. Give the vigorous vines room to spread or climb a sturdy support. Grow these gourds for decoration and crafts, not for eating.
Minimum seeds per packet: 10 seeds.
Grown for decoration and crafts, not for eating.
About Crown of Thorns Shenot
Crown of Thorns Shenot is an annual ornamental gourd with orange color, 97-120 in mature height or spread, and a vining/climbing habit. Harvest form or size: 5-7 inches. Botanically it is Cucurbita pepo L. Maturity or first bloom: 90-99 Days; germination: 7-10 Days at 75-90 degrees F. Best for autumn displays, decorative arrangements, craft projects, and seed saving. Grown chiefly for form, rind color, drying, and craft use.
History and provenance
Crown of Thorns Shenot is a named ornamental form of Cucurbita pepo, selected for its small crown-shaped fruits and ring of projecting fingers around the blossom end. Fruits can be cream, orange, yellow, or green, with variable stripes and markings. It belongs to the decorative gourd tradition: growers preserve distinctive shapes and colors for seasonal displays and crafts. It is grown for decoration, not for eating. A specific introduction year or breeder history is not established for this seed lot.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cucurbita pepo L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 90-99 Days |
| Germination | 7-10 Days at 75-90 degrees F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 97-120 in |
| Growth habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Spacing | 24 in between plants; 72 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0-6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | Trellis |
Starting Crown of Thorns Shenot from seed
How to grow Crown of Thorns Shenot Ornamental gourd
Botanical identity: Cucurbita pepo L. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 75-90 degrees F. Expected emergence: 7-10 Days. No stratification; direct sow into warm soil or start briefly in biodegradable cells and transplant young
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 24 in apart with 72 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0-6.5. Support: Trellis.
Garden performance and care
Give Crown of Thorns Shenot enough room for its vining/climbing growth. Direct irrigation to the soil, keep developing fruit on dry mulch or boards where rot is common, and leave seed-saving fruit on the plant until the rind is hard and the fruit is fully mature. Expected emergence is 7-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 90-99 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Crown of Thorns Shenot is best for autumn displays, decorative arrangements, craft projects, and seed saving. Harvest form or size: 5-7 inches. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Orange. Grown chiefly for form, rind color, drying, and craft use.
Saving seed
Select healthy, true-to-type plants with the distinctive crown-shaped fruits. Crown of Thorns is insect-pollinated and can cross with other Cucurbita pepo varieties, including many summer squashes and pumpkins. Use appropriate isolation or controlled hand pollination to maintain the variety. Allow selected fruits to reach full maturity with hard rinds. Extract sound mature seeds, remove adhering pulp, dry thoroughly with good airflow, and label with the variety and harvest year before storing cool and dry.
Common problems
Watch Crown of Thorns Shenot for cucumber beetles, squash bugs where applicable, aphids, powdery or downy mildew, bacterial wilt, crown rot, poor pollination, and fruit damage on wet soil. Rotate cucurbit crops, provide airflow, water at the root zone, protect young plants before flowering, and remove covers when blossoms need pollinators. Do not work wet vines.
Frequently asked questions
When is Crown of Thorns Shenot ready?
90-99 Days from warm direct sowing or equivalent established transplant
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-10 Days near 75-90 degrees F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 97-120 in with a vining/climbing habit. Support: Trellis.
Can it grow in a container?
Best in open ground or a large raised bed; mature vines require substantial horizontal or vertical space.
How is it used?
Primary uses: autumn displays, decorative arrangements, craft projects, and seed saving. Grown chiefly for form, rind color, drying, and craft use.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
