Wax Gourd Snow White

Benincasa «Snow White» is a perennial climbing plant from the gourd family, characterized by large bright green leaves and fragrant yellow flowers. Fruits can be either round or oblong, with a surface covered in bristles and a waxy coating, ensuring long storage life at room temperature.

Young fruits of «Snow White» have a sticky wax and are used in cooking like zucchini: fried, stewed, or pickled. As they ripen, they become smooth, with a white pulp that is firm, juicy, and slightly sweet. This pulp is rich in pectin substances and is widely used in confectionery industry – for making candied fruits, juices, cereals, casseroles, and soups.

The «Snow White» variety is characterized by a medium ripening period (up to 97 days) and a yield of about 4.4–4.6 kg/sq.m. The plant requires high temperatures and is usually grown in greenhouses or under film coverings. Seeds are also edible; when fried, they become a delicacy, and the seeds themselves have a calming and tonic effect.

The waxy coating on fruits can be easily removed and used for technical purposes, for example, for making candles. Due to its taste qualities and beneficial properties, «Snow White» is valued both in home gardening and in food production.