Gourds are grown for the decorative fruit which come in weird and wonderful shapes.They are part of the curcurbit family along with cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins and marrows.

Cultivation Tips

• Hard seeds may need chipping or scarifying to allow water for germination.
• Gourds need a long growing season – start indoors in heat.
• The yellow or orange flowers need pollinating male to female like all the squash family to form fruit
• Gourds are ready for harvest when the stems dry and turn brown.
• Leave a few inches of stem attached when harvesting.
• Seed packets often have a mixture of seeds. Plants cross pollinate easily so saved seed may produce strange results.

Gourd Varieties

There are three main types of gourd; the ornamental gourds, the lagenaria or large utilitarian gourds, and the luffa or vegetable sponge.

Other selected varieties

• Aladdin’s Turban, Mini Red Turban, Long Handle Dipper,
• Mini Luffa, Extra Long Handle Dipper, Striped Crown of Thorns,
• Calabash , Striped Pear, Caveman’s Club Miniature Ball, Cannon Ball,
• Round Wax Gourd, Basket Ball, Bushel, Crown of Thorns, Swan,
• Flat Striped, White Egg, Wren House, White Bush Scallop and Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus).

For more information on Squash and Pumpkins read
Growing Butternut Squash
Growing Pumpkins and Squash
Pumpkin for President
Winter Squash from seed
Check out Giant Pumpkin Growing Tips