Gourd Growing FAQs

How long will a gourd last?

Once the gourd is dry, the shell is a lot like wood. Like a thin, light wood. If you keep it dry, it will last indefinitely. If you make your gourd into a birdhouse and hang it outside, it will last a few years.

Can you eat gourds?

Gourds are edible when they are very young. Some people love to eat them; they are quite popular in southeast Asia. Gourds taste a bit like their cousins the zucchinis, but more bitter. Personally, my advice is to eat a zucchini, and make something beautiful out of a gourd.

How can I dry my gourd?

The way to dry a gourd well is to grow it well. Be sure the plant has everything it needs (sun, space, good soil), and leave the gourds on the vine for as long as possible. A fully-matured gourd has had time for the wood-like shell to develop. If a gourd hasn’t had enough time on the vine to mature, the shell will be quite thin, or it may rot.

There’s no need to keep the gourd warm or drill holes, or do anything, really… the gourds will dry by themselves. Farmers who grow lots of gourds just leave them in the field all winter to dry. 

The nice green skin of your gourd will get spots as it begins to dry. As weeks go by, it will get moldy. Quite moldy! If the shell is hard, don’t worry! As Vivalina learns, the gourds are drying, not rotting. It’s best to leave them outside, but keep the mice and chipmunks away.

Do gourds need to grow on a trellis?

No! Gourds will grow just fine on the ground, and sometimes that’s preferable. For example, if they’re going to be big, or if you want them to be curvy, grow them on the ground. Of course, it’s lovely to have gourds hanging all around, in a structure. If you do decide to make a trellis, it should be movable, so you can move it to new soil every year.

Can I grow my gourds in containers?

I used to discourage this. My reasoning was that the roots of the gourd are about as far-reaching as the vine. That is to say, the root system is vast, and hard to contain. That said, I have seen gourds grown very nicely in large containers, by people who paid very close attention to the food and water requirements of the plant. Good luck!

Are these really Frequently Asked Questions?

Yes. Yes they are, most of them. Except maybe this one. Keep asking questions!