GROWING GOURDS IN WISCONSIN

terri schmit
www.thegourdgirl.com
608.437.1944
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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!!!
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Space
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Sun - Full sun
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Heat and Humidity
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…did I mention space?
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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
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Luffa - ~ 70%
Cucurbita pepo
(ornamental) ~ 85-95%
Lagenaria Siceraria
(Hardshell) ~ 80-90%
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Untreated Seed
Chemicals on seed coat
improve germination
by reducing rotting for
seeds with long
germination periods.
Overall germination
rates improve to about
96% for all types.
Treated Commercial
Seed
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Cucurbita pepo
(Ornamental) ~ 30100 per plant
Lagenaria (Hardshell)
~ 13-35 per plant
Garden Planting
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Cucurbita pepo ~
20,000-30,000 per
fruit acre
Lagenaria ~ 2,0005,000 per fruit acre
Acre Planting
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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 throughout the growing season
until the last 6 weeks or so
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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
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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 daysDirect seed or transplant; If direct seeding,
pre-soak and snip “shoulders”; Germinate in
9-18 days or more when direct seeded
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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
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Plants must have their true leaves before
hardening off.
Outdoor temps should be around 70˚
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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!!
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Natural Pollinators: Luna Moth, Cucumber
beetles
Hand Pollination – Get a leg up on the season!
Female Flowers
Male Flowers
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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HAVE
FUN!!!!