Growing

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

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

Seedlings in peat pots under grow lights with heat mat

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