If you've had success growing pumpkins or squash, you might want to consider trying your luck with gourds. Since most gourds have a long growing period (from 90-130 days) now is a great time to start them indoors. They aren't very good to eat, but they are notoriously easy to grow. And if history is any indicator, you'll find plenty of other uses for them. Turn them into birdhouses, bath sponges, bowls, scoops, centerpieces, Christmas tree ornaments, trinket boxes-even jewelry.
Start Hardshell seeds early (indoors) if you live in a climate with a short growing season. The seeds are hard and rigid and should be soaked for a day to two to speed up germination. Most of this gourd's early growth takes place below the soil so make sure you give their roots plenty of room to grow when they are just starting out. Hardshell gourds mature late but their vines grow quickly and can reach over 100 feet in a single season. Provide vines with a sturdy trellis or vertical support immediately after sprouts are transplanted. Fruit should be supported off the ground with slings made from nylon hose or socks to prevent rotting and keep fruit from developing flat spots. Prop them upright in place on the ground (on a can or cardboard) if you want them to develop a flat bottom for craft purposes.
When Luffa gourds are healthy, their leaves are a bluish-silver color. Leaves that lose this color indicate the plant needs a boost of fertilizer. Luffa gourds can be harvested when the outer skin turns brown or yellow or left on the vine until completely dark brown. To prepare the luffa for use, peel off the outer skin and shake the seeds lose.
Soil Requirements: Ideally, gourds should be planted in mounds of nutrient rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-6.2. Space mounds about 4 feet apart with 3-4 seeds to a mound. Mulch around plants to control weeds. Gourds will deplete the soil of nutrients and should not be planted in the same place in consecutive years.
Exposure: Full sun. Plant them several hundred feet away from late varieties of squash and pumpkins to avoid cross pollination.
Feeding: Fertilizing gourds is generally not necessary, but plants can be given a balanced organic fertilizer or side-dressed with well-rotted manure once about mid-season.
Watering: Gourds are not drought tolerant. Soil should be kept consistently moist (not wet) and plants should be watered at least once a week during dry periods.
Supports: Fruits are heavy and plants are fast climbers. They should be provided very sturdy supports while growing.
Harvesting: Gourds should be left on the vine until the stems die back and turn brown unless there is danger of a hard frost. Handle mature gourds with care and place them in a warm place with good air circulation to dry. When you shake them and hear their seeds rattle they are completely dry.
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Get 2 packages of miniature gourds and plant them in two long rows. You will have so many that you will be able to sell many of them to garden shops. Now pick out flower seeds, baby's breath and other grasses that will dry.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Is it OK to cut the vines of bird house gourds to allow the gourds to grow larger or will this hurt the plants? We have grown them a few times, but seem to have smaller fruits to harvest before frost strikes. Thanks.
Hardiness Zone: 3b
By weiner from Tomahawk, WI
what do you mean "cut the vine?" Do you mean prune?
phil
Perhaps if I drilled holes for drainage, put some gravel in the bottom and used very good potting soil in the bucket? Then when they started growing, I could place a trellis for the vines to grow on? Any ideas would be great!
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Barbara from East Tennessee
I'm with Cheryl (see feedback forum). Why not try it? Not only will you save space, but by growing them vertically, each gourd will receive more light and the vines will be less susceptible to borers and other pests diseases.
I once read about a man who planted pumpkins in 5-gallon buckets that he nailed along the roof of his garage. As I recall, his intention was to grow a mass of vines that would eventually cover his roof and provide shade for his garage. I'm not sure he produced many pumpkins, but he got his shady roof for sure.
Light-colored buckets (maybe 2-3 seeds in each) or large terra cotta pots will probably work best for this project. Gourds climb like monkeys so they will also need supports. Make sure to put a sturdy trellis of some kind in each pail.
After the seedlings emerge, cover the top of the soil with some course mulch. This will help keep the soil cool while helping retain moisture. If the plants start to decline and you suspect the roots are getting too hot, you might try deflecting some of the heat away from the bucket by wrapping the outside of the bucket with something shiny like aluminum foil.
Just like anything grown in containers, watch moisture levels carefully. Gourds like a lot of water to begin with, so plan to check them everyday. How much (if any) fertilizer gourds need depends on whom you ask. Some growers claim they need a little bit, others say they need none at all. I don't normally fertilize gourds when growing them in the ground, but if I was growing them in containers I would consider giving them a balanced (10-10-10) liquid house plant fertilizer (diluted to half strength) early in the season, and then again about mid-way through.
Keep your gourds well away from pumpkins, squash, and other cucurbits in the garden to avoid the possibility of cross pollination.
Good luck!
Ellen
Hi Barbara,
The major challenge here will be to keep the bucket somewhat cool ie. out of the sun (you don't want to cook the roots), but still provide enough sun for the plant's leaves and fruits.
Why not give it a try? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Regards,
Cheryl
Can I grow gourds around live oak trees? I cannot put up trellises and I thought they would look nice on the trees. Would it damage the tree? I just read that gourds deplete the soil of nutrients. Would this harm my trees?
Hardiness Zone: 9a
By kepp from Kerrville, TX
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Karon from Paxton, IL
As long as they don't show signs of rotting or damage, I wouldn't worry about it. Several varieties of gourds turn white when they mature, and others go through several color changes as they develop, including white, before they set their final color. When the stems start to dry and turn brown, you'll know your gourds are ready for harvesting. Most varieties will tolerate a light frost providing that they have matured sufficiently enough to form a semi-hardened shell.
To harvest, cut the gourds from the vines with a sharp knife or shears, leaving each gourd with a few inches of stem. Before curing, wash the gourds in warm, soapy water to remove any dirt and wipe them down with a soft cloth moistened with bleach water or rubbing alcohol. This will help to destroy any organisms that promote rotting. Dry each gourd with a soft cloth and place them in a single layer on newspaper or paper bags so that they don't touch each other while curing. The curing process takes several weeks and should be done in a warm, dry location with plenty of air circulation (e.g. shed, barn or garage). Inspect the gourds frequently throughout the curing process. Turn them occasionally and discard any that show signs of decay. The gourds are dry when the seeds rattle inside.
Smaller gourds can be used as they are or preserved with wax, shellac, or paint. Large gourds can be polished smooth with steel wool or fine grade sandpaper and then painted, stained, or waxed for preservation.
Ellen
Check out these photos.
For those who saw my "baby" gourds right from the start, this is all I finished up with. No exactly what I was hoping for BUT there is always next year!
