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Growing Gourds Part 1

© Bill Richardson

Growing Gourds.

An interesting species and a fun plant to grow.

A few years ago I went to a festival at Halls Gap in Victoria. It was a lovely setting and beautiful weather with much to see.

However, I can never resist markets and they held one every Sunday in this town. Whilst browsing all the plant stalls that usually fill up markets, I came across a young lad selling Gourd seeds.

I had never grown these before and thought I would support him and buy some of his seeds. There were only five seeds in the packet that I brought home.

I kept them in my cupboard for nearly a year before I planted them. Not expecting much, I planted them in pots and three of my seed germinated. I then transplanted them into a garden bed near a trellis. That season, I grew my own gourds and have been doing so ever since.

I'd like to share with you some of my knowledge gained on growing Gourds.

Growing gourds is easy as they are a member of the squash family -with some differences and are relatively easy to grow. The difference is, that with squash harvest time is a lot earlier. Gourds are very tough plants and this makes them an easy plant to be successful with. The secret is, knowing when to harvest and how to cure.

Gourds need light and a good, well drained soil, although they will survive in less. Give them a Ph. range of 5.8-6.2. , although this is not vital.

What they don't like is weeds or any drought or dry situation. Diseases like bacterial wilt and mildew will affect gourds.

Gourd vines bear male and female flowers. The male flowers will appear first. The difference is the female flowers have a small gourd shape beneath the petals. Vines that grow will have more male flowers than female. You can brush pollen from the male to female flowers. Bees and other insects, are pollinators as well. Pollen can be gently transferred with an artists paintbrush or by picking the male flower and rubbing the pollen on to the female flower. Gourds grown on trellises are cleaner and easier to protect from insects. Gourd vines don't have to be trained. They climb easily and naturally.

Put a few posts in the ground and string some wire between them or you can use ordinary twine as long as it is weather proof.

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