How To Grow Your Own Gourds
Growing gourds is both productive and fun for the whole family. Gourds are especially attractive when used in gourd art for autumn decorating or arranging as Thanksgiving centerpieces. Gourds are easy to grow, as long as the conditions are correct. Gourds are available to grow in a variety of sizes from small, ornamental types to large melon sizes. Choose the size of the gourds you want to grow according to the space you have available for both the vines and trellises.
Choose soil that is rich with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. You can supplement your soil with fertilizer to make sure the gourds are getting all the nutrients for proper growth. Also, keep in mind that insects and disease can affect the growth of gourds. Using an insect and disease control chemical on the gourds will prevent mildew diseases and control insects.
When planting the gourds, space them about 2 feet apart with trellises that are about 7 feet tall, so the vines will have enough room to grow. If you choose gourds that are large, you have to add extra support to the trellises to hold the added weight of mature fruit. Gourds take from three to six months to mature, depending upon the variety.
You can shape the gourds as they grow to produce interesting, decorative shapes for decorating. Tie string around young gourds where you want the shape to change. You can actually make the gourds grow with different bends or with an elongated, snake-like appearance. If you put a small, young gourd into a bottle or other container, it will grow into the shape of the bottle. Just remove it from the container when it fills the shape. When the gourds mature, cut the stems with sharp plant shears, leaving a few inches of stem.