What are Maranka gourds used for?
They have thick, hard shells and have been dried and used as bottles, dippers, birdhouses and musical instruments.
The hosho are Zimbabwean musical instruments consisting of a pair of maranka (mapudzi) gourds with seeds. They are used as major instruments in many traditional Shona music genres, such as in mbira ensembles and in mhande. They typically contain hota (Canna indica) seeds inside them. Before the hota seeds are added, the hosho is boiled in salted water and the inside is scraped out with a corncob, newspaper plug, or woven wire. Removing the debris inside the hosho allows for a more sharp and percussive tone.
One of the most attractive, hard-shelled gourds you can grow; High yields!
10” to 16”-long, dipper-type gourds are very knobby and unusual looking. One of the most attractive, hard-shelled gourds you can grow. High yields.
Lagenaria
Maranka (Caveman's Club)
Basics
Ease of Growing
Easy
Grown as
Annual
Days to Maturity
125-135 (Spring/Summer)
Growing Habit
Vine
Hardiness
TenderCrops
Spring Transplant, Summer
Growing Season
Long
Cultivar Type
-
Growing Conditions
Warm, HotOutdoor Growing Temp
60°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp
65°FStart Indoors
Yes
Start Outdoors
Yes
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot)
Water
ModerateFeeder
HeavySuitability
High heat, Needs lots of space
Small Gardens?
No
Containers?
Yes
Attracts beneficial insects?
No
Color
Brown
Fruit Size
10.0 - 16.0"
Plant Height
12.0 - 35.0"
Plant Diameter
20.0 - 30.0"
Disease Resistance
-
Taste Profile
Not to be eaten.
Rotation Group
Fruits: Solanaceae + Cucurbits
