On the vine, these gourds can reach anywhere from 6 inches to 2 1/2 feet long, and about 4 to 7 inches in diameter. They ripen to dark green in late summer, and should be left on the vine until the skin begins to shrivel. When this occurs, harvest them and scrub the skin away, revealing the porous, dense network of tan-colored matter within. They will be full of seeds; just cut the gourd to desired size and shake out the seeds. They're ready to use! Sow seeds directly in full sun after the soil has warmed. Train the vine onto a trellis or fence to save space and to produce more rounded fruit. Needs 90 days to harvest for sponges. North of zone 6, start seeds indoors. Vines spread 12'. Product Details Sun: Full Sun Spread: 12 feet Height: 6-8 feet Days to Maturity: 90 days Sowing Method: Direct Sow All seeds are packaged and for the current growing season. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER SEED LISTINGS