How to Grow Shark Fin Gourd: A Permaculture Vine That Stores for Months
- Andrea
- 12 minutes ago
- 6 min read
There are plants you grow because they look nice… and then there are plants you grow because they solve problems.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to grow Shark Fin Gourd in Australia, where to plant it, how to trellis it, when to harvest, and how to store it for months.
At a glance
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If you love high-yield, low-fuss plants that earn their keep in a permaculture system, Shark Fin Gourd deserves a spot on your radar. It’s one of those “why doesn’t everyone grow this?” vines, it climbs when you give it structure, it produces like it means it, and it stores well enough to keep feeding you long after the season has moved on. In a permaculture system, that matters because the goal isn’t just a pretty garden. It’s resilience, abundance, and food that shows up when you need it.
Also known as Shark Fin Melon or Fig-leaf Gourd, this vigorous climbing squash produces hefty fruits that store brilliantly, and the flesh cooks into long strands that soak up flavour (which is exactly why it’s been used in soups and traditional recipes around the world).
This vine can be bold (some would say rude), so the secret is simple: don’t fight it, give it a job. Train it up, let it shade what needs shading, let it turn vertical space into food, and you’ve got a plant that feels like a partner rather than a pest.
What is Shark Fin Gourd?
Shark Fin Gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia) is a vigorous climbing squash with distinctive fig-shaped leaves and serious productivity. Depending on where you live, you’ll hear it called a bunch of different names, including:
Fig-leaf gourd / fig-leaved gourd
Shark fin melon
Chilacayote / cidra (and other regional names)
What makes it stand out isn’t that it’s rare or fancy. It’s that it’s useful.
In plain English: it’s a big, productive vine that can be grown like other cucurbits (pumpkins, squash, zucchini), but it stands out for two main reasons:
Storage: it keeps well like a winter squash, the kind of harvest that turns into “future meals.”
Texture: when cooked, the flesh can form long strands that carry flavour beautifully (great for soups, fillings, and slow-cooked dishes).
If you like plants that pull their weight, this one belongs on your list.
Why it fits permaculture so well
Permaculture rewards plants that do more than one thing. Shark Fin Gourd ticks several boxes, not because it’s trendy or rare, but because it’s genuinely useful.
1) It turns vertical space into food
If you’ve got trellises, fences, pergolas, arches, even awkward corners, this vine can transform “unused air” into a harvest. Give it a trellis and it’ll climb.
2) It gives you bulk harvests you can actually use
Some crops are cute but fiddly. This one is more like a staple: the kind of thing you can cook into soups, curries, stews, and slow meals that feed a household.
3) Long storage = food security
This is a “harvest now, eat later” plant. When mature and stored correctly, the fruits can keep for months, which means you’re not relying on the garden being perfect every single week.
4) A practical kitchen vegetable (not just pretty)
This isn’t a fragile novelty crop. The flavour is mild and flexible, which means it works in everyday cooking, especially anything with broth, spices, or slow simmering.
5) It teaches the permaculture lesson most people avoid
You don’t control nature, you design with it.
If you try to grow this vine without a plan, you’ll resent it. If you give it a structure and a lane to run in, it becomes one of the most satisfying growers in the garden.
Where to grow it (give it a job)
This is where most people go wrong. Shark Fin Gourd doesn’t belong “somewhere in the middle of everything.” It’s happiest when you plan for its size instead of fighting it, and it belongs where it can be directed.
Best placements
Along a strong trellis at the edge of the garden
Over a pergola for seasonal shade (and even summer shade)
Along a fence line that needs covering
Near a compost area or rich soil zone (it will use the fertility)
On the sunny side of a structure where it can climb without smothering everything else
In a transition zone between veggie beds and the food forest/orchard (great use of “in-between” space)
Avoid
Lightweight trellises (it gets heavy)
Tiny/tight beds where the vine will spill into everything
Anywhere you can’t easily access for harvesting
How to grow Shark Fin Gourd (simple guide)
When to plant (Australia)
Plant once the weather has properly warmed and frost risk has passed. This is a warm-season vine and it won’t thank you for cold soil.
Temperate + warm areas: spring onwards
Hotter climates: you can start earlier, before the full heat of summer arrives
Sowing + spacing
You can direct sow or start in pots, both work.
Sow about 1.5 cm deep
Allow generous spacing (or plan one plant per trellis section)
Keep soil evenly moist while germinating
As a rough guide, give it around 1–1.5 m in all directions if it’s going to sprawl
Germination
For fastest germination, it likes warm soil. Once it’s up and established, it grows quickly.
Sun, soil, and water
Sun: full sun is ideal, but it can cope with some part shade
Soil: it’s not precious, but like any heavy producer, it rewards better soil
Water: steady moisture is your friend; don’t swing between drought and flood
Trellis (don’t under-build it)
Think sturdy. Treat it like a pumpkin with ambition.
Use heavy-duty supports that can handle weight and wind
Tie and train young growth early (don’t wait until it’s a tangled mess)
If fruit sets up high, use simple slings (cloth/mesh, old stockings, mesh bags) to support the load and reduce strain
Pests and Problems
No plant is “no maintenance”, but this one can be surprisingly forgiving.
What to watch:
Frost: it won’t tolerate it
Seedling pests: birds, chewing insects, and sap-suckers can smash young plants
Aphids: keep airflow up and manage early
A useful bonus: many growers find it less prone to powdery mildew than other cucurbits, but like anything, airflow and weather still matter.
Harvesting, curing, and storage (the part most people skip)
When to harvest
Harvest when the plant is clearly finishing up and the fruit is mature:
stems toughen and become woody, and/or
the vine foliage starts drying off toward the end of the season
How to harvest
Cut the fruit with a knife/secateurs
Leave 5–10 cm of stem attached (this matters for storage)
Cure for better keeping
Cure the fruit for about a week in an airy spot out of direct sun and away from cold snaps. This hardens the skin and improves storage.
Storage conditions
Store in a cool, dry, frost-free place. Check fruit occasionally and use anything that shows signs of soft spots first.
Download the PDF growing guide here:
How to use Shark Fin Gourd in the kitchen
If you’ve never cooked it, here’s the easiest way to understand it:
The flavour is mild (think “squash family”), and
The magic is in the texture it forms strands when cooked.
Simple ways to use it
Add to soups, curries, and stews (it absorbs flavour brilliantly)
Cook and pull into strands, then use like a vegetable “noodle” base
Slow-cook it with broth, aromatics, and spices
Traditional uses (fun fact)
In some cuisines the strand texture is used in soups as a substitute for the texture people associate with “shark fin” style soup, which is where the common name comes from.
It’s also used in sweets and preserves in different parts of the world (the strands lend themselves to that “threaded” jam style).
Watch the harvest video
▶️ Watch the harvest walkthrough:
Want to see what Shark Fin Gourd looks like when it’s actually ready? In this harvest walkthrough I show:
what to look for on the vine
what the fruit looks like up close
and why it’s such a useful “grow once, eat later” crop
Question for you: Would you grow this vine in your garden? Why or why not?
FAQ: Shark Fin Gourd (quick answers)
Is Shark Fin Gourd the same as Shark Fin Melon?
Yes, these names are commonly used for Cucurbita ficifolia.
Does it need a trellis?
It doesn’t need one, but it’s often the smartest way to grow it. A trellis saves space, improves airflow, and makes harvesting easier.
How long does it take to mature?
Treat it like a winter squash: it needs a full warm season to mature properly.
How long will it store?
With proper maturity and storage conditions, it can keep for months (sometimes longer).
Is it worth growing in a small garden?
Only if you grow vertically and you’re willing to give it a dedicated structure. If you try to squeeze it into a tiny bed, you’ll spend the season annoyed.
Want to grow it?
We sometimes have seeds available here:
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