Which gourds have you grown?
I want to grow some gourds this spring that I'll be able to use as scoops and for other things.
Are there any gourds you've grown in the past that you've had success with? And if so which company did you order them from?
I'd love to hear your thoughts, thanks.π
Comments
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I grew gourds a few years ago but I haven't got a clue as to what kind they were or where I got the seed. They looked a bit like a yellow crookneck squash but had green ends. They grew quite well and matured in my zone 3-4 climate. I just used them for decoration at Thanksgiving.
My daughter grew gourds last year that did phenomenally well. Huge spread on them and they even climbed a small poplar tree that was several feet outside of the bed they were planted in. They completely overtook some of the other things she had planted near them. If you have a hillside that needs covering, they would work well. That is what she is going to do with them this coming year. This is the link to the variety ordered from Renee's. Its the crafter's mix producing bowls, dippers and bird houses. She had several that matured although it was an extended growing season for us this year.
I was really surprised at the flowers. Delicate white papery looking flowers. Not the usual big robust yellow flowers found on other squash varieties.
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This is great,@torey, thanks. I'll check these out on Renee's Garden website.
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@JennyT Upstate South Carolina Bushel, dinosaur, bottle, short and long dipper, canteen, tennessee spinning (disappointed), luffah, decorative (great for drying and crafting), apple. Kuta, and more.
Long dippers can have a knot tied in the handle when they are young. You need to do it slowly and carefully.
having a white blossom means the gourds pollinate better at night and shady days. I mix flower in with them to help pollination. Night blooming flower too.
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Awesome thanks, @Monek Marie! I'll look for those other varieties. π
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@JennyT Upstate South Carolina You can make scrubbers or soap with luffahs. They start slow but grow fast once they get going. They will like your climate. They like rich soil too.
I usually trellis mine but they can get heavy, so the trellis has to be really sturdy. I have seen people grow them on a side of a building or up a tree. Smaller gourds take 60 to 80 days, larger gourds up to 120 days.
The bushel gourds I grew I only grew 2 to a plant so that they would get big. I had to cut them and load them into a wheel barrel to move them!
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@Monek Marie I intend to grow loofahs. You had to use a wheelbarrow I get your bushel gourds! That's crazy!
What did you end up doing with your bushel gourds?
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@JennyT Upstate South Carolina
I made end tables, toy box and a hinged box. they took almost a year to dry up here. In SC they would dry a bit faster.
Luffahs are fun to grow.
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I have tried loofa a few times. The only time they did well was underneath the orange tree. I had given up on them and figured they had died like the rest of them, until I found one hanging in the tree. They blended in with the green leaves but once they started drying it was easy to spot them. I think I got over 20 dried loofa that year and more seeds than I will ever need.
Last year I tossed some seeds into the garden from some squash we bought at the grocery store. They have germinated and have tiny baby squash on them. Hopefully those will grow and mature and we can get more seeds for this year.
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@gardneto76 Wow, that's a lot of loofah!π
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Wow,@Monek Marie! You made all those items with your bushel gourds? That's absolutely amazing!π
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@JennyT Upstate South Carolina The bushel gourd wall was almost 1/2inch thick and almost like wood when dry. I had to use a jigsaw and small hand power saw to cut it. It was worth it.
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@Monek Marie, that's amazing, 1/2in thick! I'm definitely going to look for some of those seeds.βΊοΈ
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@JennyT Upstate South Carolina
The most amazing thing about gourds is all you can do with them. Leave plain, decorate by painting, staining, wood burning, collage. etc...
I have drilled holes in them then added cord, feathers or pine needles sewn on.
They make great musical instruments.
And of course, utensils, water dippers, bowls, bird houses and more.
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That all sounds wonderful, @Monek Marie! Many of the things you mentioned are what I'm hoping to try to do/make. π
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I wanted to grow some Luffa a couple of years ago, but I had no luck. I will try again.
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