You probably remember gourds as the weird, prickly things your dad or grandpa grew in his garden. The ones that sat around all summer on the dining room table before we threw them out because they looked too strange to keep. It’s true, our dads and grandpas were onto something—gourds are more than just “weird pumpkins.” They’re a beautiful yet humble garden staple that deserves to be admired and enjoyed. Here are some of my favorites:
Winchester Gourd
Winchester Gourd
In the fall, this small, white and round gourd is a delight to harvest. The Winchester Gourd is good for drying and making into ornaments, but it also makes great small birdhouses and musical instruments as well as small boats or feeders for animals. If you have children who want to learn how to craft with their own hands, this is an easy choice because it’s so easy to work with.
Arapaho Pumpkin-Shaped Gourd
Arapaho pumpkin-shaped gourd is a squash variety that has a smooth, hard shell that’s light brown in color. It’s heart shaped and has white flesh with orange spots. This variety of gourd grows on vines that can reach up to 20 feet long. The plant is native to North America, so it prefers warm temperatures and lots of sunlight. If you live in an area where winters are mild enough for this plant to grow year round, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy these delicious fruits throughout the growing season!
Small White Dipper Gourd
- Grow in a greenhouse
- Grow in a container
- Grow in a garden
- Grow in a field
- Grow in a pot
Orangette Bottle Gourd
Orangette Bottle Gourd: The orangette bottle gourd is a winter squash that can be used for decoration as well as food. Although it’s not difficult to grow, you need to know how to harvest and store your crop correctly. Harvest the fruit when it’s ripe—which means its rind will be hard but still have some give—and then cure it before storing in a cool, dry place. Cut open one end of the fruit and pull out its seeds with your fingers; discard them completely (or roast them if you’re feeling ambitious). Then cut off any remaining strings at either end of your gourd’s flesh and use it immediately or store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin
Gourds are used to make all sorts of things, from jewelry to artwork and musical instruments. They’re also edible, which is what we’re going to focus on here—and if you’d like to get started with a tasty gourd that may be new to your garden, then Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin is for you!
Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin is a variety of Lagenaria siceraria (a type of bottle gourd). It has been around since the 1920s but wasn’t officially named until after its creator passed away in 1986. This medium-sized pumpkin grows between 2 and 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide; depending on the growing conditions, it can produce pumpkins weighing up to 100 pounds!
Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkins need lots of sun—at least 6 hours per day—and regular watering throughout their life cycle (which takes about 90 days). They should be planted in soil that drains well but doesn’t dry out too quickly; additionally, they should be planted 18 inches apart from each other so they have enough room for both roots as well as mature fruit growth.
Turban Squash
Turban squash is a winter squash, which means it needs to be planted in the summer or very early fall. It’s also a good choice for beginners, since they’re relatively easy to grow and do well in containers. They can even be grown indoors under lights all year long if you live in an area where outdoor growing isn’t possible during the winter months. You can also plant your turban squash in a greenhouse or cold frame, but keep in mind that these structures may not provide enough warmth on their own—you may need supplemental heat if you want to get them through the winter alive!
Mary’s Large Dipper Gourd
The Mary’s Large Dipper Gourd is a small to medium-sized gourd with a thick and heavy shell. The gourd is a cylindrical shape with a rounded bottom and a flat top. It has thin stripes, which come in white and yellow or orange. The interior of the fruit is often used to make birdhouses, bowls, vases and other crafts.
Caserta Ornamental Pepper or Gourd
If you’re looking for a hardy plant that can be used indoors or out, look no further than the Caserta ornamental pepper or gourd. This perennial grows to about 3 feet in height, but it’s not particularly showy. The small yellow flowers it produces are beautiful—but you’ll have to wait until fall for them to appear.
This gourd may not be flashy, but it’s an excellent choice if you want something easy-to-care-for that will fill up empty space in your garden or flower bed without taking up too much space itself. As long as they have decent soil drainage and regular water, they’ll grow happily just about anywhere!
Opo Squash or Long Squash aka Luffa Sponge
You can grow Opo squash or long squash in your garden. The plant produces edible seeds that are used in cooking, as well as its stem and leaves. These are high in cellulose, which makes them great for making flour.
The seeds can also be dried and roasted to make a tasty snack, ground into a powder to use as a thickener, or even made into oil!
Zucchetta Rampicante (Cucuzzi) or Serpente di Sicilia
Zucchetta Rampicante (Cucuzzi) or Serpente di Sicilia, a variety of Cucuzzi, or Serpente di Sicilia. Zucchetta Rampicante (Cucuzzi) or Serpente di Sicilia is an heirloom gourd with dark green skin and dark stripes. It’s also known as “the snake-skin cucuzzi” due to its wavy appearance. The plant produces large fruit that can reach up to 30 inches long! The fruits are edible and taste similar to butternut squash when cooked fresh off the vine or after being dried for storage purposes.
Gourds are an often under appreciated fruit. Here are some of the top types you can grow yourself.
Gourds are an often under appreciated fruit. They can be used for a number of things, including making birdhouses and decorating your yard. But how do you grow them?
There are many different types of gourds available for sale at garden stores or online. Here are some of the top ones that you can try growing in your own garden:
- Shaped like ears, these gourd plants produce yellow fruit that has a rather odd shape. The interior flesh is white and has a sweet taste similar to pumpkin pie filling, so it’s great for pies!
- These green gourd plants produce round green fruits that turn yellow when ripe! They’re delicious eaten fresh as well as being cooked into pies, soups and other dishes (or dried out). You’ll want to keep these guys indoors during winter months because they cannot tolerate freezing temperatures very well at all!
Conclusion
Have you ever grown gourds? If yes, what’s your favorite variety? If not, which one do you think you would try first? Let us know in the comments.
