Warty, winged and wonderful… grow your own gourds!
Plants have
“personalities”—some seem calming, others are bold and beautiful. But ornamental gourds offer characteristics ranging
from FUN to FUNKY, and add a splash of color and whimsy to your autumn décor.
Although
I’ve often grown gourds in our home garden, last year I purchased some winged gourds (genus Cucurbita) and saved the seeds for
planting this summer. In early June I
planted a dozen seeds in our southern exposure garden. Gourds are heavy feeders, so I sprinkled a
bit of fertilizer over the seeded area.
Soon cotyledons emerged; then leaves formed, and vines developed soon
after.
Velvety, vivid
yellow-orange blossoms appeared, which were attractive to pollinators, and soon
tiny gourds formed. By mid-August I
harvested my first winged gourd, but it was still a bit soft around the edges,
so I allowed remaining gourds to develop fully and form firm outer shells. (Since I enjoy decorating with gourds through
late November, allowing outer shells to mature is preferable. Gourds with soft
shells can shrivel and rot prematurely… be patient!)
Gourds and
pumpkins (a type of gourd) share the same genus, Cucurbita. Their growing
habits are similar also, but the pumpkins I have grown in the past took longer
to reach maturity. This summer, the
winged gourds were ready to pick in less than 90 days. There are additional gourds developing which
should be mature by mid-September—then the vines will be added to our compost
bins, while the winged gourds will be enjoyed indoors for the next few
months.
NOTE: Gourds and pumpkins will be available soon
at Lammscapes!
in Jackson. Come visit to find
some FUN and FUNKY gourds for your autumn décor. Save the seeds in a dark, dry place and try
your hand at growing gourds next season!
M. Lynn
Schmid, Certified Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
