Ornamental and edible Gourds - Not your everyday......Squash, Pumpkin or Gourd

Most of what we refer to as gourds are the species Lagenaria siceraria. 
Blooming vines of this species have white flowers. They are usually grown for their ornamental value and not as food. Normally they are inedible because of an offensive smell or bad taste. There are hard-shell gourds such as the birdhouse and bottle gourds, and there are soft-shell gourds that look similar to squash.

The words squash, pumpkin and gourd are often used interchangeably, depending on the variety and local customs. The sole exception is the decorative or  jack-o’-lantern pumpkin, which is always called a pumpkin and not a squash or a gourd. 
Squash is edible, most gourds are not - they're dried and used for ornamental purposes.

Gourds grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10. That makes just about anybody able to grow these for fall decor and garden crafts, like birdhouses.

The best way to begin, is to sow seed, as you would with pumpkins. When sowing these seeds is to plant them with the edge facing down. Planted this way, water will run down the sides of the seeds, thus reducing any risk of rotting.

L. siceraria, or the bottle gourd, is thought to originate from southern Africa, and it seems from the DNA record that two distinct subspecies were developed in Africa and Asia. It is thought to have been cultivated as early as 13,000 BC.

American gourds are thought to have come from the Asian subspecies, and it is likely that this was among the first cultivated species in America.

Hard-shell gourds include the speckled swan, bottle, dipper, penguin, and powderhorn varieties, of which the bottle gourd is the most commonly cultivated. These produce beautiful white flowers on long vines and either green or mottled fruits, which come in lots of shapes and sizes.

These are the kind that are typically dried after harvest, at which point they turn a soft tan color. They are edible when immature.

Once dried, they can be kept indefinitely and have been used for centuries for making musical instruments such as maracas, to making lanterns, bottles, bowls, and birdhouses. 

See the craft instructions for birdhouses , Lanterns, and loofah sponges

If you're making birdhouses, read about how to keep bees and wasps out

How To Prep and dry  Gourds

Tasty Winter Squash For Small Space and Urban Gardens

Best Ornamental Varieties of Gourds

The ‘Birdhouse’ gourd (Bottle Gourds) - These come in a variety of sizes.
I love to dry and paint these for birdhouses. I've had quite a few birds living and breeding in them. They are very light when dried, so make sure you tie the birdhouses securely so that they don't fly off fences or tree limbs and damage your bird families. This is the most well-known variety available for making birdhouses, martin houses, and for other uses in crafting. A must-have on the list for anyone who gardens or is a bird-watcher. Allow the fruit to mature as much as possible on the vine before harvesting and drying.

Suggestions for Ornamental and Edible Varieties of Gourds and Winter Squash

If eating squash and gourds, remember to eat them cooked, not raw.

	‘Turk’s Turban’ is a classic gourd that’s popular during the fall for ornamental use, but it is also edible.  Large, brighly colored variety has flattened round fruit with purple, orange, white, and green banding.  The fruit measures eight to ten inches across and four to five inches in height.		Daisy -  Ornamental Cute little cultivars used in fall, harvest, and Thanksgiving displays.  Small and colorful gourds in shades of orange, white, yellow, and green and produces loads of small gourds measuring about two by three inches. Awesome on Autumn wreats and in arrangements.
	Iran Squash - One of the most unusual and beautiful squashes and tastes super sweet. Collected in 1940 in  northeastern Iran and preserved at the USDA seed bank ever since.  This squash is very ornamental. Fruit is medium to large in size (can weigh 15-20lbs). It keeps for a year or more, and is perfect for fall decorating and eating. Prolific grower. Grows on or over anything, and bears late season.		Delicata - Delicious heirloom gourd, with a high sugar content.  Fruit is 1-3 lbs each. Delicate and sweet flavor. I enjoy their sweet taste when roasted or cooked into quick breads and soups.  They have a creamy texture when cooked, and are great for mashing.
	Sweet Dumpling - The Sweet Dumpling Squash is a small 3-4” pumpkin-shaped winter squash with orange flesh. I like that these are shorter plants, about 18-24" tall. They are naturally very sweet and have a slight chestnut flavor. They can be prepared in a variety of ways, including roasted, pan-fried, baked, or even microwaved.  These plants are very heavy producers, and the squash can be stored for up to 4 months after it is harvested. Bonus: The flowers also attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden for pollination of your fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants.
	Luffa Gourds - Used to make Loofah sponges.  It is also a delicious gourd that can be steamed and pan-fried, and cooked like okra.		Bottle Gourd or "Calabash"  - The classic gourd for creating birdhouses and ladles.  Ornamental and used in crafts, but not considered a tasty edible. May cause upset stomach.  If eaten, it should be very young, and cooked, not raw.

Gourds are very easy to grow by sowing seeds directly in the garden. Gourds prefer full sun and rich well-drained soil that is rich in organic material. Sow the seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and the weather is warm. Sow seeds 1-2 inches deep in groups of 4 seeds, spacing in groups 5 feet apart in rows spaced 8 feet apart. Thin seedlings to 2 or 3 in each group when leaves develop. Gourds grow well on trellises or supports, keeping the fruits off the ground.

I use green Velcro plant ties - reusable and cut to any size you like. These are gentle on your plants, and sturdy enough for heavier plants in your garden. I have honeysuckle, clematis and Giant Hibiscus doing well with these ties. I also use the ties to attach light strings and birdhouses to branches.

Squash plants need extra water during dry and hot periods. They grow quickly and will train nicely on a trellis, fence or other tall supports.

All plants in the curcubit family require pollinators to be able to produce their fruit.

This means any pesticides should not be used, to avoid interfering with or killing pollinators.

Start A Gourd Garden

The climbing vines look beautiful when grown on trellises and along fences, over the tops of ornamental plants in your garden. If you do decorate for fall, you're halfway there with colorful plants when the fruit ripens. Some varieties are perfect for placing in tubs and baskets in the yard and garden.

The main thing that is recommended in terms of upkeep is to cut the vines back once they reach 10 feet in length. This encourages the growth of side stems, where the female blossoms (which produce fruit) will grow, ensuring a bumper crop. Gourds also produce male blossoms, which grow on the main stem, but these do not produce fruit. Cutting back the main stem discourages the growth of these male blossoms.

Conversely, if you are aiming to produce a specific number of fruits per plant, or to encourage fewer more robust gourds to grow, you can pinch or cut any remaining blooms and gourds from the vines once you have reached your desired number. The best way to do this is by clipping them near the vine and discarding them. This will force the plant to put all its energy into the remaining vines and fruits. Just be sure to be very careful when you do this, to avoid damaging the plant.

Harvest small gourds as they begin to develop their full color and become hard to the touch. Many small gourds will dry and preserve well. Harvest large gourds at frost time for decoration, they will not keep for drying.

How to Grow

Gourds are sun-loving vegetables, and they thrive in sunny spots with good drainage. it’s a good idea to add a generous amount of compost or aged manure when planting.

• Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating. Avoid disturbing the soil around the plants when weeding.
• Keep plants well watered during dry periods to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil damp, but not saturated.
• Gourds grow well on trellises or supports, keeping the fruits off the ground.
• Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.

An easy and space-saving way to grow gourds is to trellis them, training their stems to grow up wires or over a framework. This is great for space saving, protecting your gourds from insects and rot, and keeping them clean. The frame pictured folds for storage Any type of vining squash, gourd or other climbing vegetables can be grown vertically. Growing on a trellis or other vertical structure helps to keep the aggressive gourd vines from taking over your vegetable beds. Trellising also ensures that your gourds will grow into an even shape, rather than becoming flat on one side, as they do if they are grown on the ground.  Gourds are natural climbers, and they don’t require any training. The main consideration for trellising that you will need to keep in mind is weight.

For heavier varieties that grow to a large size at maturity, two sturdy posts with an upper and lower wire and garden twine woven between will be enough to support them. For smaller types, a tall (approx. 4 1/2 ft.) wire cage, like a larger and heavier version of a tomato cage, will work.  I prefer the square rather than the round cages because you can line them up closer, place along a fence, or squeeze into a corner without wasting space. I like the straight lines and holes wide enough to allow you to reach inside and pick without rocking the support. I like to turn the cages upside down and insert landscape pins or anchors to hold it down. My vining plants will have more room where i planted them, because that end is wider, and they will climb up over the pokey things on top. I bend the pieces in at the top to make it look conical when covered with vines. You could also choose to place them near a sturdy structure that they can climb, such as a pergola, arbor or fence. Fence panels and sections of lattice work very well, and are ornamental, as well. Squash and vining vegetables can be grown in hanging baskets, as well.

Harvest and Preserving

It’s nearly impossible to leave a gourd on the vine too long, but removing them too early will often cause them to shrivel and rot.
Leave them on the vine until the stems and tendrils begin to turn brown. This will typically be around 100-180 days after planting.

A good indication that they are ready for picking is that your gourds will feel light, which means the water inside is evaporating and the pulp is drying out.

Picking A Full-Size Harvest of Winter Squash

Bush winter squash should be harvested before the first frost, because squash subjected to frost don’t keep as well. To determine whether a winter squash is ready to harvest, poke the skin with your fingernail. If your nail leaves a mark, the squash is still immature. Don't rush to pick a squash. Even if it looks ripe and passes the fingernail hardness test, wait a week or two before harvesting it. Squash allowed to mature fully on the vine keep longer in storage.

After being picked, winter squash improves in flavor if allowed to cure for a week or two. Harvested fruits should be kept outside in a warm and sunny place for a few days, then stored in a dry indoor environment with a temperature of around 55˚F. The fruit from most compact winter squash plants keeps for three to nine months—butternuts the longest, acorns the shortest.

Tasty Winter Squash For Small Space and Urban Gardens

Varieties Suggested by Fine Gardening Magazine, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and Burpee

‘Gold Nugget’, a bush buttercup has a strong squash taste. The fruits, which average 1 lb. to 3 lb., start out pale yellow and ripen to red-orange with faint striping. The flesh inside is firm, dry, and dark yellow. The fruits’ tough skin repels squash bugs and cucumber beetles, but the stems, like those of other buttercup squash, are highly susceptible to vine borers. ‘Emerald Bush Buttercup’ is often billed as a true bush variety, but sometimes the plants start out as a tidy bush, then send out runners toward the end of the season. The fruits are pale gray-green, similar to those of most vining buttercups. To prevent sun-scald and insect damage, harvest the fruits as soon as they mature. ‘Burpee’s Butterbush’ is the best of the bush butternuts. It produces small, uniform fruits that usually weigh less than 1-1/2 lb. each. Like all butternuts, is highly resistant to vine borers because vine borer larvae have trouble chewing their way into the hard stems. But you must be sure to thin some of the fruits; otherwise the plants will overproduce, leaving you with teeny squash. ‘Ponca’ Mini Butternut - True to the butternut type, ‘Ponca’ fruits have tan skin, thick necks, and lots of light orange flesh. ‘Table King’ is a bush acorn variety whose compact plants are vigorous. The fruits mature in only 75 days, but taste much better if allowed to cure on the vine a few more weeks, until their bottoms turn orange. Thin to five fruits per plant, and they will develop into full-size, full-flavored squash. ‘Sweet Dumpling’. This variety is a relative of acorn squash has a compact vine most of the season. It develops a larger vine toward harvest time. The green and white striped fruits are perfect for a single serving. Their flavor is richer, sweeter, and nuttier than that of other acorn varieties.

How To Prep Gourds

Storage

If you are planning to use your gourds as instruments or for other crafts, you can tell if they are fully dry and good to go when you can hear the dry seeds rattling around inside

• Harvest after the shells harden. Cut the fruits from the vines with 1-2 inches of stem attached.
• Cure them for a week in a warm, dry location with good air circulation.
• Store them in a cool, dry place at 50-55 degrees F for use throughout the winter. 
  For proper storage, pick a well ventilated, dry area with temperatures between 55-65°F. You’ll need to leave the gourds to dry for 1-6 months. It’s necessary to dry them fully if you plan to use gourds for crafts or other projects. Put the gourd in an area that gets plenty of airflow in all directions. You can hang the gourd or place it on a surface, such as a drying rack or pallet. If drying multiple gourds, make sure the gourds do not touch.
• Add to fall and winter displays or paint them when dried.
• To clean dried gourds - Put it in a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. This kills the mold that has formed on the gourd while drying.

How to make a gourd lantern for railings and tables

• Soak the the dried gourd in a bucket of water for about 10 minutes. The gourd will float, so turn it occasionally to keep all sides wet.
• Use a scrubbing sponge to remove the grime. It should rub off with medium pressure. If you find an area that’s difficult to scrub clean, let it soak a bit longer. 
• Allow the gourd to air-dry.
• The gourd will have some natural discoloration even after cleaning.
• cut off the base of the gourd, clear the inside, and drill holes in a pattern. 
  Mineral oil rubbed on the exterior gives it a subtle shine
• Insert battery-powered tea or string lights complete the effect. I use solar lights for all of my outdoor lighting, crafts and decor.

Making Loofah Sponges

Allow these to mature until the stem turns yellow and the skin begins to dry and fade. 
The fruit should be 16-24 inches long. Cut the gourds off the vine with scissors or a sharp knife and allow them to dry in the sun for about two weeks. They are ready when the skin hardens and turns brown. 
Cut open the larger end of the fruit and shake out the seeds. Soak for a day or two in water. 
Peel off the outer skin. The sponges may be dingy yellow in color. If you wish to lighten the color, bleach the sponges in a 10% solution for an hour or so. 
The softness of the sponge will be determined by the color of the skin of the fruit when it is harvested. Greener fruit produce softer sponges, yellower fruit produces tougher sponges.

• Dried birdhouse gourd
• Wooden dowel
• Pumpkin carving tool
• sandpaper
• Drill
• Paint pen to create or outline a design, if desired
• Outdoor Spray Varnish - I make sure to use weatherproof and non-toxic (food grade) varnishes and paint sprays in my garden crafts to keep the wildlife safe.
• Twine or galvanized wire

1. Use a pumpkin carving tool and cut a circle into belly of gourd. (See note below on suggested hole sizes) Sand cut edges. Clean out as much of the dried flesh and seeds inside gourd as possible.
2. Lightly sand outside of gourd. Wipe off dust with rag.
3. Drill horizontally through top of gourd, using a bit the same size as the wooden dowel. Trim down dowel to fit through top of gourd with 2 in. on each side outside the gourd. If using a birdhouse with an eye screw on top, skip this step. Drill a small hole in the bottom of the gourd to allow for drainage.
4. Draw design onto gourd with pencil, and trace with paint pen, or paint a design with outdoor/weatherproof paints.
5. Spray gourd with varnish to seal. Tie twine around each dowel side, making a loop to hang. If using an eye hook and wire, drill a hole in the top a little smaller than the hook. Screw the hook in, and use the wire to make a hanging loop.
   
   Note: Experience showed me that the twine will eventually rot in wet weather, and will break, possibly harming a bird family. I use thin galvanized wire instead.  I attach "eye" hook screws to the tops of the gourds for hangers.

NOTE: Each bird species has its own requirements for habitat, entrance-hole size and cavity dimensions. For instance, house wrens need a 1-in. entrance hole in a 5- to 6-in. diameter gourd and prefer them hung in a shady area close to brush. Purple martins like doorways that measure 2 1/8 in. and the gourds to be hung high in open areas. Chickadees need a 1 1/8-in. hole and like to nest in wooded areas. Bluebirds and tree swallows require a 1½-in. hole and prefer to nest in open areas. For flycatchers, make the hole 1¾ to 2 in. in diameter and hang the gourd in a tree close to a brushy area.

How to keep wasps and bees out of birdhouses

You can prevent wasps and bees from establishing themselves by applying a thin layer of soap (use bar soap) onto the inside surface of the birdhouse roof. This will create a slippery surface between the insects and the roof of the box, and they cannot build a nest. 

For homemade and gourd bird homes, best thing is to keep them out of areas that are filled with flowers, where bees and other pollinators frequent.  
For gourd birdhouses, you probably won't be able to reach to coat the roof. The bees and wasps will probably be an on-going issue in some areas with wildflowers. 

Spray cooking oil inside the house will help, but don't spray the entrance hole - oil will damage the birds' feathers. A spray of diluted coconut and dishwashing soap near the top, inside the gourd, might work.

sources

Product Photos and Growing Information:
Burpee Seed
Fine Gardening Magazine
USDA

Birds and Blooms
Gourd Lanterns 
Photo and instructions: 
Bob Vila

Uncredited photos: 
Pinterest, public domain photos

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