When to harvest ornamental gourds????

[HunkieDorie23]

I have ornamental gourds in the garden this year and they are doing great. Several of them are very good size and I wasn't sure if I should pick them. I know that with cucumbers you should harvest fequently to keep them producing ... is it the same with this gourds. I also have birdhouse gourds. I was going to let them drying before picking... but they are just starting to form.

 

[jemagsy]

I don't really have any experience with the ornamental gourds. It's my project for next year though - luffas and Lagenaria - I was really excited to find out that I can grow the luffas. As for your question I found this on an University of Illinois extension website (the link is below and is quite useful): "Harvest gourds after they have fully ripened on the vine. A hardened shell and withered vine indicate maturity and readiness for harvest. Cut the gourd from the vine with one to two inches of stem attached." Hope this helps. The extension page also provides info on curing the gourds too (they take a bit longer than I expected).

Source: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/hortihints/0108b.html

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Thanks a lot, I think I am going to try luffas next year. I have a lot of fence around my garden and I am going to try my gourds there next year.

 

[Greensage45]

Hi,

I did a really big patch of gourds last season. They grew like weeds and took over half of my driveway. I grew them for a friend who does gourd art and sells at our local Farmer's Market.

I was quite pleased to offer her 20 plus gourds, some were really big, she was really excited.

Sadly they all failed. Even the little ones failed. Both of us had some from my vines and we both stored them over the winter out of harms way. She even cleaned hers with a bleach solution to prevent fungus growth. Eventually by Spring they turned into a mess and shriveled up on themselves.

What we found out from several growers in our area was that you must have them stay on the vine until the vine dies. I can only assume that is when the stem that attaches is dried and dead for a few inches to the gourd, however, since I lost all these fabulous gourds I decided next time I would have them sit out there through the winter on the vine to be 100% sure. It was a big loss.

Wishing you luck. Try to be patient and let those vines die when it is time.

Ron