Is a Tennessee Spinner Gourd a Real Thing?

I’m sure you’ve heard by now, Governor Bill Lee visited Granville. Have we mentioned that once or twice? (Or maybe a dozen times? What can we say, small towns celebrate big moments!) The folks came, the cameras clicked, and we all stood a little taller, showing off our corner of Tennessee. Of course, when the Governor comes to town, you can’t just send him home empty-handed. We began putting together a gift basket filled with “Made in Granville” treasures from our talented artisans. That’s when Stan Webster, farmer, volunteer, and occasional supplier of surprises, walked in carrying a handful of Tennessee Spinner Gourds, and well, you can probably guess where this story is spinning.

Now, we’ve been growing these little gourds in Granville and often share them with school groups as toy spinners. (If you’ve ever seen a group of third graders giggling over a vegetable that spins like a top, you know exactly why they’re a hit!) That’s when the idea struck: what could be more fitting for the Governor of Tennessee than a Tennessee Spinner Gourd? So, into the basket it went, complete with a label identifying it.

And wouldn’t you know it, that one tiny gourd sparked more curiosity than anything else. What exactly is a Tennessee Spinner Gourd? Why is it called that? And do they really spin, or is this just one of those small-town tall tales? Questions we didn’t have the answers to, at least, not right away. But with a little help from Google and a couple of phone calls, we’ve pieced together the story of this whimsical heirloom, and now we get to share it with you.

But first, I need to confess, I labeled the spinner gourd as grown in Granville, which wasn’t entirely true. Yes, we’ve grown plenty of them here, but the one tucked into his basket actually came from Stan Webster’s farm in Chestnut Mound. (Shhh… don’t tell anyone. Let’s just call it a “regional collaboration.”) Governor Lee wasn’t the only one to get in on the fun. Mark Ezell, our Commissioner of Tourism, and Ashley Howell, Executive Director of the Tennessee State Museum, also went home proudly carrying their very own Tennessee Spinner Gourds. I like to imagine them all standing around their offices later, giving their gourds a spin and seeing whose would twirl the longest.

Was it the Original Fidget Spinner?

So where did these funny little gourds come from, anyway? Believe it or not, the Tennessee Spinner Gourd has roots (quite literally) going back well over a century. The first known seeds were traced to Mr. Gordon of Primm Springs in Hickman County, Tennessee, and since then, these little gourds have twirled their way through Tennessee gardens, passing from hand to hand like a secret too good not to share.

Long before anyone thought of making a plastic gadget that spins between your fingers, kids were stuffing these tiny gourds in their pockets and heading to school. At recess, they’d flick them across the wooden floors or dusty yards, watching them whirl and wobble like tops. Some say the Tennessee Spinner was the original fidget spinner, and honestly, I think they’re right. The difference is, instead of buying one at a store, you have to grow your own. (Amazon would not be a fan of spinner gourds!)

You may hear them called Tennessee Spinner, Tennessee Dancing Gourd, or even just “those funny little tops.” But no matter what you call them, they’ve kept their place in Southern folklore as both toy and treasure. A gourd that spins, a seed that travels, and a tradition that somehow stuck around, now that’s a legacy worth bragging about.

Want to grow your own? Here’s what you need to know:

Growing Tennessee Spinners: How to Cultivate Your Own Toy from Nature

• Plant Type & Season: These gourds are annual vines that flourish from seed. Seeds should be sown after the danger of frost has passed or started indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.

• Soil & Position: opt for full sun, in rich, well-draining soil.

• Spacing & Support: Sow seeds about 1 inch deep in groups or hills spaced 6 feet apart. Once seedlings emerge, thin to 3–4 per hill. Though vines can trail impressively (up to 30 feet!), they do equally well climbing a trellis or fence, resulting in better-shaped fruit.

• Water & Feeding: Water deeply (~1 inch/week), mulch to conserve moisture, and side-dress with fertilizer when the plants begin blooming and setting fruit.

• Pests & Pollination: Keep an eye out for cucumber beetles, vine borers, and squash bugs. Consider companion planting (e.g. nasturtiums, dill) or light pyrethrin sprays to deter pests. Early in the season, they may benefit from hand pollination using a small brush.

• Harvest & Cure: Gourds mature around 95–100 days after planting. Harvest when the vine dies back; cure in a warm, airy spot until the shell is hard, tan in color, and seeds rattle inside. Don’t forget to poke a small hole to reduce mold risk.

  
  

 Uses: From Pocket Toy to Craft Gem

• Playful Toy: These little gourds could be spun like toys—pinch the neck with fingers and give a snap; they’ll spin on their tip.

• Crafts & Decor: Once dry, they transform into crafting wonders. Paint them, string them as jewelry, turn them into Christmas ornaments, or use them as miniature birdhouses or dollhouse accessories—and yes, some folks even craft them into Halloween “spirit doll” heads.

• Seed Saving: Being open-pollinated heirlooms, these gourds offer the joy of saving seeds generation-to-generation.

  
  

A Fun & Educational Garden Star

• These gourds make an exceptional hands-on project—especially for young gardeners looking to learn botany, childhood play, and craft creativity, all in one.

• Their delightful design, history, and utility make them perfect for educational garden plots, community seed swaps, or heirloom preservation tales.

  
  

Visit Historic Granville and see for yourself why we think this is a magical place.

Thank you to Carolyn and Stan Webster for the photographs.