These easy-to-grow fruits come in all sorts of gorgeous colors, shapes, and sizes.
make a run at describe any pop in of gourd; you might find it trickier than you thought.
Perhaps the word makes you think of gnarly squash-like fruits thatshow up with pumpkins in the fall.
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Musical instruments such as flutes, lutes, maracas, and drums can be fashioned from the hard-shelled fruit.
Did you know that the loofah sponge comes from a gourd?
Small gourds, left whole, add splashes of color toautumn decor.
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What Is a Gourd?
Gourds, likepumpkins,melons,squash, andcucumbers, are members of the cucurbit or squash family.
Like their cousins,gourds grow on long vines.
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This group includes bottle, basket, and dipper gourds.
The third group is the luffa gourd.
Its elongated fruit contains a fibrous material that isused as a sponge.
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Most gourds are strictly ornamental, but a few can be eaten, likesummer squash, if harvested young.
Types of Gourds
1.
In India, young fruit is added to curries.
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The skin is green with lighter green speckles or soft stripes but turnscaramel brownas it dries.
These gourds are great forcrafting into birdhouses, bowls, or ornaments.
When harvesting, be sure to leave a two-inch “apple stem” on the fruit.
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Basket Gourd
Sometimes called bushel basket gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), it’s the monster of gourds.
These gourds are typically sphere-shaped but may be slightly flattened.
When young, it’s an edible pop in of gourd and can be preparedsimilarly to summer squash.
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Once dried, their naturally shiny surface can be coated withfurniture polishto seal and enhance the sheen.
Each has a sphere-shaped base and a long, thin neck.
Although green on the vine, its smooth surface develops a tan color when dried.
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Once dried, their smooth, hard surface makes them a good choice for painting asChristmas ornamentsorEaster eggs.
Penguin Gourd
Also known as powderhorn gourds (Cucurbitasp.
They also make cute birdhouses.
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Grow the vineon a trellisso the fruit can dangle without becoming flattened on one side.
Once dried, these gourds can be painted or carved with a wood-burning tool.
They’re very long-lasting, too.
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Sponge Gourd
The luffa or sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) can be eaten when harvested very young.
If left to mature, you’ll be rewarded with aloofah sponge or natural dish scrubber.
Harvest the gourds when the shell starts to harden and begins to separate from the interior fibers.
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Winged Gourd
These small, thick-skinned gourds display irregular winged surfaces and may be warty or smooth.
With theirvibrant colorsand unusual shapes, these gourds make a great addition toautumn table arrangements.
Harvest when the stem begins to dry and turn brown using asharp knife or garden snips.
Leave a short stem attached.
Handle the fruit with care to avoid bruising.Wash the gourdsin soapy water to remove dirt.
Cure the clean fruit in awell-ventilated shedor garage, spreading them in a single layer on newspaper or shelves.
They shouldn’t touch each other.
Turn each gourd every few days and remove any that show signs of rotting.
