Gourd Seed Exchange

Irish · #1 09-23-2005, 12:42 PM

I am making up my seeds for the gourd seed exchange and I have discovered that I have quite a few extras. If anyone else is interested please let me know. You don't have to have seeds to send back ... consider these as "Free kittens looking for loving home" seeds

I have apple, bottle, kettle, and martin birdhouse varieties.

Kathy, Donna T. and Dave ... your's are going out in the mail today.

Thanks, Susan

BobD · #2 09-23-2005, 12:56 PM

I'd love to try some Susan!

Bob

Irish · #3 09-23-2005, 01:02 PM

Hey Good Sir, Drop me a quick PM with your address and they are out the door today.Susan

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #4 09-23-2005, 01:10 PM

Would you like some coyote gourds or seeds? Not sure they will grow there, they apparently like hot dry places lol........and thank you for the seeds....that comes from Karen, I don't do seeds ha ha.

Irish · #5 09-23-2005, 01:13 PM

Hi_Ho, Yes! That would be very nice. I have a stone walled garden bed right off the driveway turn-around. Hot, dry and perfect for that sort of plant ...

!!!

Susan

Irish · #6 09-23-2005, 01:56 PM

Someone asked about how to plant gourds ...

Gourds are pretty easy and there is a lot of info on the net about growing and tips. In the mid-Atlantic area you will probably want to start them in a coffee cup sized styrofoam cup with starter soil about mid-April. That should give them two or four mature leaves come the last frost date of May 15th which is when you set them out. Plus that gives you a jump on their long growing season.

Find somewhere that is moist or easy to water, has at least a half day of sun and maybe a trellis, fence, or tree with low branches to crawl up on.

You can make a simple teepee styled fence for them and if you have children they love to play under the teepee ... which doesn't hurt the gourds. A simple A frame of pine with cheap fence wire strung on both sides. Plant the gourds on the outside and then the kids can crawl into the middle area under the wire.

Now we use to use the old Indian planting systerm ... in the corn patch, in the hill that you drilled for the corn you planted three corn seeds, three dried bean seeds and two gourd or squash seeds. When everything popped out of the ground you thinned it to one corn, two beans and one gourd/squash. by mid summer the corn is high enough to protect the gourds from the over hot August sun and by September the beans had grown up the corn stalks where they could dry very nicely for harvest.

You can either chose to pinch the plants so that you have only one bud per plant for big gourds. Or you can let them go and usually get 3 to 4 smaller gourds.

Gourds that grow on trellises have nice round bottoms and tend to hang even. Those grown on the ground will have one flat side and perhaps a bent stem.

Lots of water! Lots and lots and lots and lots of water. Oh - and throw in a good handful of manure.

Susan

Mottles · #7 09-23-2005, 04:41 PM

Good job on the gourd planting information Susan. I can supply seed also and can send them out as I cut open my gourds. Just send me your mailing address either by WCI PM or my email address mktrobbins@aol.com
Gourd seeds ready to mail:
coyote, medium kettle and medium birdhouse gourds..........
My present gourd inventory and can send seeds out later on would be
dipper, kettle and pear shape...so let me know and I can add them to your list. t
Those of you who have sent me your mailing addresses your seeds will be in the mail next week.
Kathy

Donna_T · #8 09-25-2005, 11:31 AM

Dave and Karen,
Thanks for the seeds AND THE GOURDS. I'm in awe that there are gourds that don't get all moldy and icky as they dry and cure. I can't wait to get caught up after all the lawn mowing stops so I can try working on them. ANd please tell Karen thanks for the note and background on the coyote gourds. Do they just grow volunteer in your neck of the woods? Or do you have to plant them every year?

Donna T (grateful for the kind and generous sharing from our friends on this board.)

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #9 09-25-2005, 01:10 PM

They grow wild Donna....and we have a volunteer plant in our yard with maybe a dozen or so on it every year...no mold on the outside....too hot and dry, but use caution on the inside same as you would on any gourd I would think....

decoycarve · #10 09-25-2005, 06:33 PM

Boy I didn't know anyone would want the seeds I have a pile of them on the floor over the shop and I am getting ready to roof a few more gourds for Anna to paint this week. We just picked up 15 more gourds on Friday. These are almost all the variety that you can make bird houses out of. If anyone wants any seeds just give a yell and I will scoop some up and send them,
Goody