Gourds
· Ornamental gourds; not edible.
· Gourds are grown like pumpkins and squash.
· They like warm weather and lots of fertilizer.
· The soil should drain well, contain lots of compost, and be kept moist.
· Because they are a vining plant, gourds grow well on fences or a garden trellis. An advantage of fencing is that the fruit grows with fewer blemishes, as there is no contact with the ground.
· You may want to keep the larger hard shelled variety sprawled on the ground, as the larger fruit can break off the vine if suspended.
· Fencing is great for the smaller, ornamental gourds.
· Try growing them in a large container, and hanging them off your deck.
· Place a small bed of sand under each gourd to protect it from slugs when it is young, and to reduce marks and scars on the bottom.
· Space the plants 18 inches apart.
· Pick after first frost and allow them to dry indoors or in a dry location.
· Harvest in the fall after the first frost. Even a heavy frost will not harm a mature crop. Some people say to harvest them before the frost. We know of growers and crafters who actually leave them outdoors all winter long, letting nature do the drying. They believe the gourds dry more naturally, with far fewer problems with mold.
· When harvesting gourds, leave as much stem as possible. You can always trim the stem to the desired length and look when finishing them.
· The gourds should be hardened off prior to harvesting. This process is accomplished by ceasing water and fertilizer, and letting the fruit ripen and harden. A good indication that it is ready to pick are brown, dried stems.
Small Fancy, Mixed Variety Gourds
Gakhaa Gourds
Long Handled Mixed Gourds
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