While Cucuzza vines can run along the ground, growing them vertically on a trellis, fence, or arbor allows the long fruits to hang freely. This results in straight, uniform gourds and prevents rotting or discoloration caused by soil contact. Vertical growing also saves garden space and makes harvesting much easier.

For the best tender texture and mild flavor, harvest Cucuzza gourds when they are young, slender, and between 12 to 18 inches long. At this stage, the skin is soft enough to peel easily and the seeds inside are tender. If allowed to grow larger (they can reach several feet!), the outer shell hardens and the flesh becomes fibrous, making them better suited for decorative crafts.

Unlike common summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) which bloom with large yellow or orange flowers in the morning, Cucuzza (Lagenaria siceraria) belongs to the bottle gourd family and produces fragrant, night-blooming white flowers. The blossoms open in the late afternoon or evening and are naturally pollinated by moths and nocturnal insects.

Cucuzza gourds belong to a different genus (Lagenaria) than traditional squashes and pumpkins (Cucurbita). Because of this, their tough, fibrous stems and natural chemical composition make them notably more resistant to common garden pests like squash bugs and squash vine borers.