AMERICAN GOURD SOCIETY PO BOX 2186 KOKOMO, IN 46904
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Gourd Growing & Harvesting Information
One early decision will be to decide what kind of gourds you want to grow. Things to consider:
  • Yield: For an average sized gourd such as an apple or a cannonball you will get 15 or so gourds per plant with attention to details. Smaller types yield more and large types yield less per plant.
  • Growing Season: smaller varieties (eg, egg, banana, bottle, cannonball) require around 100 days to maturity, while larger varieties (eg, bushel, African wine kettle, and luffa) require up to 180 days to maturity.
  • Size & Thickness: Generally gourds grow to their maximum size (based on the variety), and then the walls of the gourd will thicken. Shorter growing seasons yield thinner gourds.
  • Obtaining Seeds. If you want a certain type of gourd you need to purchase seed from a reputable grower. Seed Sellers.
Growing Season: Gourds need between 100 and 180 days to reach full maturity.
  • Where the growing season is shorter, you can start the seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the usual safe planting date. See the gourd seed germination article below.
  • Monitor soil temperature. Transplant the seedling when soil temp has been over 60 degrees for 5 consecutive days.
  • Take soil samples from 2-3 places in your garden and combine them and send for soil test. Amend the soil based on the results.
  • Harden seedlings (starting at 30 minutes increments) in a shaded spot, protected from wind and rain. Increase time gradually until they have spent the night outdoors. Avoid full sun. Keep soil moist.

Caring for Your Plants
Read more details on Plant Care:
  • Watering
  • Fertilizing
  • Mulching
  • Check for Diseases
  • Trimming the Vines
  • Hand Pollination

Harvesting
Read more on Harvesting Gourds
  • When is the right time?
  • What should I do?

                   RESOURCES
Below are informative Fact Sheets for each step of the gourd growing process.


Use our slide show to give a gourd growing presentation to garden clubs and other interested groups. (Under Construction)

Where to buy gourd seeds
Where to buy raw gourds
FACT SHEETS

  • Gourd ID Charts
  • Gourd Seed Germination - How To
  • Growing and Harvesting Gourds Fact Sheet
  • Building a Trellis for Gourd Gardens
  • Grow Gourds in Patio Containers
  • Green Cleaning Fact Sheet
  • Cleaning Dry Gourds With Potting Soil

Cucurbita or Lagenaria?

Cucurbita and Lagenaria belong to the same family, Cucurbitaceae, but different tribes. Cucurbita are the squash, pumpkins and ornamental gourds, where as examples of the lagenaria include the bottle gourd and hard-shelled gourds of many, many shapes and sizes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagenaria https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbita


PictureSeedlings in peat pots under grow lights with heat mat

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Picture
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Books & Web Sites
Gourds in Your Garden, A Guidebook for the Home Gardener, Ginger Summit. Hillway Press, Los Altos, CA, 2006

Seed to Seed, Suzanne Ashworth. Seed Saver Publications, Decorah Iowa, 1991

Extension Offices have resources on pests, diseases and more. A few to check out include:
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension

Raised Beds, newly-planted
A week later, gourd plants climbing the trellis
Trellised gourd plants growing taller
Trellis-growing gourds
Gourd flower and an insect!
Manipulated Long-Handle Dipper Gourds
Moldy, dry gourds ready to be cleaned
Dirty, dry gourds are buried in damp potting soil
This apple gourd just needs to be wiped clean with a sponge after 3 day in the potting soil
Ornamental gourds only need 1-2 days in damp potting soil
They need to dry for a few days before you can craft them.
Green cleaning a mature gourd - scraping with dull knife
Dried gourd that has been green cleaned with have little or no markings on it

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© 2022 American Gourd Society, Inc. All rights reserved. The American Gourd Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
  • Home
  • Join
    • Standard Membership-2025
    • Auto Renewal Membership
    • CA+International Membership
  • Magazine
    • Quarterly Contest
    • Back Issues
  • Chapters
  • Calendar
  • Education
  • Gourd Growing Tutorials
    • Manipulated Gourd Tutorials
    • Sellers: Seeds, Gourds
    • Growing
    • Harvesting
  • Crafting Techniques
    • Pyrography
    • Crafting Resources
    • Crafting Tutorials
  • Judging
    • Competition Scoring Forms for Judges & Clerks
    • Training Apprentice & Certified Judges
    • Judges Activity Reporting Forms
    • List of Judge Instructors
  • Artistry Award
  • Jim Story Award
    • JSA-Eligibility/Entry
  • History of Gourds Around the World
  • About
  • Judging