Bottle or Birdhouse Gourd Seed

Scientific name

Lagenaria siceraria

Soil and setup

Give gourds full sun and fertile, well-drained soil at pH 5.8–6.8. Plastic mulch and a medium-weight row cover help young plants and keep insects off; take the cover off once flowers open so bees can pollinate, since poor fruit set usually means poor pollination. Vines can also climb a strong trellis, which gives straighter fruit on long-necked types.

Transplanting

About 3 weeks before planting out, sow 2–3 seeds per 2" pot or plug cell. With a mix, sort the seed by size and shape first and sow like with like in each cell, so you end up with the full range of fruit. Thin to one plant per cell, harden off for 4–7 days and plant out after frost danger, handling the roots gently.

Direct sowing

Sow in late spring once frost danger is over and the soil is at least 70°F (21°C). Sort mixed seed as above, plant 2 seeds 1/2–1" deep at each spot, and thin to one plant once they are established.

Plant spacing

Rows 6–12' apart. In the row, allow about 18–24" for small fruit, 24–36" for medium and 36–48" for large.

Disease

Powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt, viruses and Phytophthora blight are the main diseases. Good drainage, open airflow, insect control and rotation away from cucurbits prevent most trouble; ask your county Extension office about control options if needed.

Insect pests

Striped and spotted cucumber beetles, squash bugs and squash vine borers are the usual problems on this crop family. Floating row cover shields young plants. Look under the leaves for clusters of bronze squash bug eggs and crush them. If a borer gets into a vine, slit the stem to remove it and mound soil over the cut so the vine can reroot. Mowing field edges, clearing crop debris in fall and plowing in spring all cut down on overwintering pests; pyrethrin gives partial control.

Harvest: pumpkin-family gourds

For C. pepo types, pick once the color is fully developed and the stems have dried, before a hard frost. Cure out of direct sun at 80–85°F (27–29°C) with good airflow for 5–7 days, then wash, dry and wax them for display.

Harvest: hard-shell gourds

For bottle and other Lagenaria types, leave fruit on the vine as long as possible (frost does not hurt them) and pick when stems are dry and the color fades. Dry them in an airy place for 3–6 months before crafting.

Seeds per lb.

About 9,900 for small-fruited types and 2,600 for large-fruited types.

Packet

30 seeds.

Seeds per lb.

About 2,350 on average.