terri schmit www.thegourdgirl.com 608.437.1944
Great for crafting and art Relatively easy to impress children with their size Terrific trellised plant, especially to cover an unsightly building or wall To sell … but don’t expect to get rich!
YOU’RE GOING TO NEED PLENTY OF SPACE!!!
MORE SPACE TO GROW!!
SPACE TO STORE THEM!!!
Space Sun - Full sun Heat and Humidity …did I mention space?
True to type vs. general seed True to type (aka pure seed) are hand pollinated and isolated True to type guarantee a specific type Know your seed sources Saving your own seed Seed viability Germination rates in treated Commercial Seeds vs. untreated
Luffa - ~ 70% Chemicals on seed coat improve germination Cucurbita pepo by reducing rotting for (ornamental) ~ 85-95% seeds with long Lagenaria Siceraria germination periods. (Hardshell) ~ 80-90% Overall germination rates improve to about 96% for all types. Treated Commercial Untreated Seed Seed
Cucurbita pepo Cucurbita pepo ~ (Ornamental) ~ 30- 20,000-30,000 per 100 per plant fruit acre Lagenaria (Hardshell) Lagenaria ~ 2,000- ~ 13-35 per plant 5,000 per fruit acre Garden Planting Acre Planting
SPACE SUN WATER Make sure your garden area has all three! Be sure you have enough SPACE – One plant can vine 50 feet or more! Gourds need FULL SUN Gourds need water er throughout the growing season until the last 6 weeks or so
Aw poop! Gourds love it. Winter additives – Coffee grounds and egg shells – Ideal pH 6.5-7.0 – slightly acidic Till in the Fall Plant “green manure” (winter rye) in the fall Soil amendments – Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium
Cucurbita pepo (ornamentals) – 90 days – Direct seed after last frost. Germinate in about 7 days Luffa – 140 days – Start 6 weeks before last frost and transplant when soil is 70 °; Germinate indoors in 4-7 days. Lagenaria siceraria (hardshell) 90-140 days- Direct seed or transplant; If direct seeding, pre- soak and snip “shoulders”; Germinate in 9-18 days or more when direct seeded
Use good quality potting mix Plant seed flat in moist soil; Cover with one inch of soil, firmly packed. Keep planted seed in warm place, at least 70 ˚ Keep soil moist, not wet NO PEAT POTS
Plants must have their true leaves before hardening off. Outdoor temps should be around 70 ˚
Daytime temps 70 ˚ or above Mound soil; 3 plants or seeds per mound If transplanting, do not disturb the roots! Keep area weed-free HEAT, SUN AND WATER Trellis – luffas must be trellised Late season – Cut back on water End of season – NO WATER!!
Natural Pollinators: Luna Moth, Cucumber beetles Hand Pollination – Get a leg up on the season!
Female Flowers Male Flowers
Leave gourds on the vine through at least one hard frost Vines must be dry and stems brown Can remain on vine through winter or pick and store Drying time about 6 months If gourd freezes, seeds are likely not viable
Soak in water/bleach solution for 24 hours; scrub mold off OR – Place several gourds in a garbage bag and add water. Tie bag and leave in sun for a day. Scrub. OR – Bury in a bin of moist potting soil. Leave for a week. Dig up and Wipe off.
Always wear a dust mask when cleaning the mold off the outside or cutting and cleaning the inside of a gourd. Natural fungus - Aspergilla Allergic effects include dry mouth, sore throat, coughing, soreness in the lungs, itchy eyes, stuffy nose. Wear rubberized gloves when cutting gourds to prevent slipping. Wear eye protection
The Gourd Guy – www.wisconsingourds.com Wisconsin’s largest provider of clean, hardshell and ornamental gourds- Madison, WI Quarry Farm Gourds – www.quarryfarmgourds.com – True to type seeds out of Ohio General seeds are also available at most garden centers
The Gourd Book, Charles B. Heiser, Jr. The Garden of Gourds, Liberty H. Bailey Gourds, Decorative & Edible for Garden, Craftwork and Table, John Organ Gourderly Quarterly Newsletter – Wisconsin Gourd Society The Gourd Magazine – American Gourd Society
HAVE FUN!!!!
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