Are thinking about growing gourds in your backyard?
What fun it would be to watch a gourd grow from a seed to a plant that you could then turn into art. That would put you in charge of the complete process! But what should you consider before you begin? Let’s talk about it.
Growing Gourds, Yourself
Growing gourds can be a lot of fun if you have space, patience, and a lot of time. In this post, I present some important facts about how to get from seed to dry gourds and suggest more sites with detailed information to help you get started.
There are many backyard gourd growers. You are not alone in this endeavor. Gourd farmers in your area are a great source of information to seek out before you start. But before you start asking detailed questions, you should think through how you will address the three major difficulties you will face as a home grower.
- Finding a place to grow them, that you can reach easily and keep them under control
- Make pollination an easy procedure
- Find the proper place for drying your gourd crop.
Where in your yard will you to grow them?
Farmer’s plant gourds in rows in a large field. A different species in each field. Lagenaria is a vigorous grower and develops large plants so you need to select a large open spot with direct sunlight.
Before planting, mix a couple of pounds of common grade fertilizer 12-12-12 into your soil with a rake. This will help keeping them away from the rest of your garden.
Vines normally grow 20 to 30 feet long. You will need a large area and easy access to water.
Growing gourds will takes space
If you want your gourds to keep their true-to-type shape and look, you must plant each variety far from each other to minimize cross-pollination. This includes keeping your different gourd away from melons and pumpkins. They are spreaders and will climb over and up to anything including trees!
That may be want you want if you are still able to reach them!
You could grow gourds on a mound
If you rather direct seed your gourds, plant your seeds in hills about three seeds to a hill and four to six feet between each hill. Gourds will respond to vine pruning by increasing the number of lateral shoots (runners) and of female flowers that develop into a fruit. Vines should be tipped back once with a mower or by hand when they reach eight to ten feet in length.
When the gourd plant begins to vine out it is a good idea to bury the vines with a shovel load of dirt to keep the vines from being torn by the wind.
The truth is, gourds will grow anywhere there is water and sunshine. You could let them take over the whole yard or find a corner where you can somewhat control them.
A big advantage is the gourd grows straighter because of the gravity. Here is the same variety of gourd. One grown on the ground the other from a trellis.
Grow them on a trellis
Besides the yard, you can plant them on a trellis or a tall fence. This is a good choice because you get less rot, they are easier to see and pollination is easier. The big one you can control with a swing!
Growing gourds is a long process that starts with the soil.
Be sure to take soil samples from 2-3 places in your garden and combine them and send them for a soil test. The ideal soil pH is in the range of 6.5 to 7.0. Amend the soil based on the results.
Gourds need between 100 and 180 days to reach full maturity. If your growing season is short, you can start the seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the usual safe planting date. Monitor soil temperature. Transplant the seedling when soil temp has been over 60 degrees for 5 consecutive days.
Growing gourds starts with finding seeds
If you want to save the seed from a drying gourd you must not let the gourd freeze. Germination is greatly diminished if the seeds freeze within a moist environment such as a green or drying gourd. Once you open the gourd and scoop out the seeds, wash them and place them on a screen to dry. Once the seeds are completely dry (several days) put them in a jar or bag, label the bag, and place it in the refrigerator until it’s time to sow. If you have bought gourds, you can use the seeds inside but there is proof you will grow the same gourd.
Preparing seeds for planting
Keep in mind that the germination of gourd seeds is low. Some growers harden the seedlings by letting the seeds sit outside, starting at 30 minutes increments, in a shaded spot, protected from wind and rain. Then Increase the time gradually until they have spent the night outdoors. Avoid full sun. Keep soil moist.
You might also consider these tips.
- Soak seed in warm water overnight before planting (in pots or direct seed.).
2. When planting indoors place the planted seed on seedling heating mats.
3. Sand the outer coating of the gourd seed with sandpaper or use a nail clipper and nick the sides of the seed as shown in the drawing below.
Bernadette Fox grows gourds in Michigan in zone 5b. She has videotaped her process of cutting, sanding, and preparing seeds for planting and takes you through that process in this video, How to Grow Gourds for Crafting
You can also buy seeds from these farmers recommended by the American Gourd Society.
- Blue Whale Arts, Epping, NH
- Quarry Farm Gourds, Randolph, Wi.
- Benjamin’s Landing, Pylesville, MN
- Seedman
- Quarry Farm Gourds, Randolph Wi
- Ida’s Kennedy Gourd Seeds, La Port IN. 219-767-2901
- Call for a’ list.
- Gourd Growing Seeds to Harvest Facebook Group by Blue Whale Arts
Also, check out Gourdlandia. Gram gives seeds away by mail. https://www.gourdlandia.com/growing-gourds
- More information on growing
- https://www.seedman.com/Gourds.htm
Fertilize them once a month
Which means only about twice a growing season with a nitrogen-enriched fertilizer, but lay off the fertilizer when the fruit is just beginning to mature. Most gourds get to full size in 4-6 after pollination but need three weeks to get a hard shell. They also will need plenty of compost and manure.
Watering Needs
Once your seeds are in the ground, then watering will be needed. Gourds are naturally drought tolerant plants so there is no necessity of watering them every other day (like you would your other garden plants). Despite the drought tolerance of gourds, I am sure your plants will be needing water so setting up a good watering system before your gourds start vining out is very helpful for the long growing season ahead. A drip irrigation system (or soaker hose snaked through your garden) is another option.
The gourd flower is a one night wonder!
Gourds get a white flower blooming one night only and can be hand pollinated by you if you do not have the moth and bees in your area that like them. The gourd plant has two different flowers, male and female. The male blossoms are the ones you will notice the most, as the female blossoms are usually hidden in the undergrowth and carry the fruit. Some pollinate by transferring the pollen of the male blossom to the female blossom using a brush.
Others get out there at midnight with spotlights strapped on their heads and move from one flower clipping off the male blossom and tapping it into the female blossom.
When do you harvest your gourds
The stem should be dead after about 110 days. The first frost will kill the vine, but you should leave the gourds on the vine until the stem connecting them is brown AND dried. Gourds will dry on their own. You don’t need to do anything special. Air circulation around gourds will help.
Here are the things to look for:
- They need to be weak and brown and not show any green. A green stem indicates that the gourd is still receiving nourishment from the vine.
- the gourd should be light for its size and the seeds may or may not rattle.
- There is no fuzz on the gourd.
- You can’t puncture the shell.
- The tendrils closest to the stem of the gourd are dead
Drying Methods to Consider
This is the most critical part for gourds that will become art. It is a long time until they are ready and your biggest enemy is rot and critter!
When stored outside you will have less mold mottling. Stored in an unheated shed, you will have a bit more mottling and discolorations. Furthermore, when you store them in a warm spot like your house, you will get a lot of mottling and mold spots. This will allow the spores to decrease the indoor air quality and may even be unhealthy. As they dry, be sure to separate them because where they touch, rot spots can occur.
Dry the rot ones then separate from the others to another spot. You can spray them with diluted bleach e to stop the rot.
It is best to leave them in the yard all winter if you don’t have squirrels and rodents.
Here are some drying options and tips to consider as you determine where you will dry your gourds
Closed in drying shelf.
Dry them on paper sitting on a wagon or cart.
Notice the paper under them and that they are not touching.
Hang them from a tall fence in the sun.
Dry them on a wire rack above the ground.
Move them to a shed or barn. Here they are on a bed of straw with a small fan circulating air.
When they are dry, store them away from critters!
Hang them in netting in the basement or in a garage.
Patience is the Name of the Game Now
Watching and inspecting the bottoms should be a daily event. If you have laid them on straw or paper look for moisture and move the gourd or add more paper or straw. You will know your gourd is finished drying when the outer skin is dry and peeling, The gourd will be very light, and you (usually) can hear seeds rattling inside. Remember you will have the entire coming year to make them into art so be a good babysitter!
There is a 30-minute video about growing gourds on the ground and a trellis by Graham Ottoson at Gourdlandia. She discusses this process and gives you a lot of information.
15 GOURDS You Could GROW and CRAFT With — Ep. 041
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrwpoIbppN8
Learn how to make a biodegradable pot that you can start gourd seeds in.
Once germinated, simply plant the pot and all in the garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C-P4Wxba3o
Growing gourds|Trisha Shirey|Central Texas Gardener
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9azjFyT6jYY
Here are some of my favorite videos you may want to watch.
Growing Gourds- Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0erTBWZLUc
In this video, we will break down the different types of gourds and how to handle the vines during the growing process.
Growing Gourds- Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPRgFcYLM3Q
Gourd Garden 2020 – Blue Whale Arts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uXFWQNxDKc
She is great at giving advice. Be sure to sign up for her Facebook group.
View different gourds on a trellis structure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvVdB97tGnc
How to Plant Gourds | At Home With P. Allen Smith
Growing your own gourds is great fun! Do you have any tip to offer us.
Please, share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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Wow, thank you for all the information. It is so well written and put together.