New Zealand Garden Swap Newsletter
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Birdhouse gourds are the easiest to grow and require the shortest growing season. They need light and well drained soil. The soil should be well worked because the roots of the gourds are very shallow. You may add compost, commercial manure and potting soil as amendments.
Regular water is important. Morning watering is best so the leaves are dry at night and mould will not develop on the leaves.
You can plant your gourds against a trellis, or fence. They will need support as they are a vine and the fruit needs to be free of blemishes and stains if you are intending to use them for craft or decoration. Be sure your support will hold lots of weight as a vine full of Gourds is very heavy.
When the main vine gets to about 3m, trim it. This will encourage the main vine to grow side shoots .branches (laterals). Male blooms grow on the main vine, female blooms grow on the lateral vines.
To hand pollinate. The female bloom has a small round bulb at the base of its bloom whereas the male doesn't. They are both funnel shape. Male blooms develop 2 weeks before the female bloom. The female blooms are only open a short time, about 24 hours. Be sure and hand pollinate while the female is fresh and new. The blooms open early in the morning, early evening or on overcast days.
Method : Carefully cut a male bloom from the vine that is closest to the female. Gently rub the male bloom onto the female bloom. Transfer as much pollen as possible.
Harvesting: Approximately 4 weeks before the first frost, decrease water to your gourds. This is called "hardening off". You want the gourd dehydrated enough where the first frost will not affect the gourd. Remove the gourds from the vine and sit them on pallets or in a shed where they will have good air circulation between the gourds. Handle them carefully, bruises will cause the gourds to rot.
Gourds should be cured or dried for at least 2 to 4 weeks before using. Many gourds used for utility purposes such as dippers, bird houses or containers should be pierced with a wire at the neck and hung until thoroughly dry. A dried gourd will be lightweight and sound hollow when thumped. If you can hear the seeds rattle inside you know the gourd is thoroughly dry. Wash gourds before drying to ensure they are free of soil and other garden debris. They are often dipped in a weak solution of one part chlorine bleach to ten parts water to sterilise the surface and prevent rotting. Hang gourds for drying in a warm location with little moisture. After drying the gourds exterior can be polished with beeswax or shellac. A few gourds will develop an interesting pattern on their surface as they dry. Any fungal growth doesn't appear to alter the quality of the dried gourd and may actually improve its appearance.
Saving Seeds: Saving seeds from gourds could prove to be an interesting experience. Considerable cross pollination occurs in the cucumber family. The gourd and pumpkin seeds purchased from the garden centre or through seed catalogues are from varieties grown in areas free from pollen of any other varieties. Even so a cross may sneak in occasionally. Seeds saved from gourds grown in the home garden will likely produce a cornucopia of different shapes, sizes and colours, none of which may resemble the fruit from which it was taken.
Luffa Seeds: Luffa seeds require special handling to ensure uniform germination. Seeds should be scarified by roughening the side of the of the seeds with an emery board or sandpaper and then soaking in room temperature water for 24 hours prior to sowing.