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Organic Speckled Swan Gourd Seeds

Cucurbita pepo

5.00 (1 reviews)
  • HOW TO GROW
  • FAST FACTS
  • REVIEWS

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: In shorter growing seasons, start gourd seeds indoors in peat pots 3-4 weeks before the last frost. To speed germination, soak the seeds overnight. Plant the seedlings outdoors in rich soil and full sun after the last spring frost. For direct sowing, wait until the soil warms to 70 degrees F, then plant 5 seeds per hill, 1" deep, with 5' spacing; later, thin to the strongest plant.

Growing: Keep the soil evenly moist. When the vines begin to develop, either provide a trellis or lay down mulch to keep the gourds from contact with the soil; too much soil contact can weaken the shell, distort the shape, and cause rotting.

Harvesting: Late in the summer, the skin of the gourd should feel extremely hard, too hard to pierce with a fingernail. Leaving the gourds on the vine until the stem and leaves of the gourd begin to wither and turn brown is also a good indication of ripeness. Cut off the gourd, leaving about 2" of stem. Wash it with a solution of soapy water, then let it cure in a dry place for several weeks in order to preserve it for decorative use. Underripe gourds work well for carving, but will start to rot several weeks after picking.

Seed Saving: When the gourds have fully matured, cure them in a warm dry place for 3-4 weeks to allow the seeds to ripen. Cut them in half to remove the pulp that contains the seeds. Rinse off the pulp, and put the seeds in a container of water; the good seeds will sink to the bottom. Spread the good seeds out on a flat surface to dry for about 2 weeks. When a seed will snap in two, it has dried sufficiently. If the seed only bends but will not break, further drying time is needed. Store the dry seeds in a cool, dry place for up to six years.

FAST FACTS

Latin Name: Cucurbita pepo

Type: Open Pollinated, Warm Season

USDA Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Seeds per Ounce: 175

Planting Method: Direct Sow

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 12 Inches

Color: Green, Brown

Organic Speckled Swan Gourd Seeds 5.0
Review By Kat Deese

Excellent Quality

-great packaging
-my plants are growing on lattice netting and this seems to be working well
-can't wait until harvest!

Size Price Quantity
XL Mylar Packet (~12 Seeds) $3.96 -+
1/4 Oz Mylar (7.09g) $7.96 -+
1 Oz Mylar (~175 Seeds) $14.07 -+
1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) $38.40 -+
1 Lb Mylar (454g) $144.00 -+
5 Lb Mylar (2.27kg) $648.00 Notify Me
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DESCRIPTION

Excellent for crafts and fun to grow, these gourds will delight with their swan-like shape. The base can be up to 8" across, with a flat bottom, while the neck resembles a swan's neck curved elegantly downward. These gourds are green with creamy speckles, and the shell is glossy and hard when dried. Each gourd takes about 120 days to ripen.
The origin of gourds has been a subject of debate for decades. Archaelogical findings seem to show that Asia first domesticated the gourd for use as a container, though Africa and several island nations such as Polynesia and New Zealand also have an early history of using gourds as fishing floats, bottles, or musical instruments. Recent research shows that North America's gourds are nearly as old as those of Asia, which seems to suggest that early peoples who settled in the New World brought gourds with them.

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: In shorter growing seasons, start gourd seeds indoors in peat pots 3-4 weeks before the last frost. To speed germination, soak the seeds overnight. Plant the seedlings outdoors in rich soil and full sun after the last spring frost. For direct sowing, wait until the soil warms to 70 degrees F, then plant 5 seeds per hill, 1" deep, with 5' spacing; later, thin to the strongest plant.

Growing: Keep the soil evenly moist. When the vines begin to develop, either provide a trellis or lay down mulch to keep the gourds from contact with the soil; too much soil contact can weaken the shell, distort the shape, and cause rotting.

Harvesting: Late in the summer, the skin of the gourd should feel extremely hard, too hard to pierce with a fingernail. Leaving the gourds on the vine until the stem and leaves of the gourd begin to wither and turn brown is also a good indication of ripeness. Cut off the gourd, leaving about 2" of stem. Wash it with a solution of soapy water, then let it cure in a dry place for several weeks in order to preserve it for decorative use. Underripe gourds work well for carving, but will start to rot several weeks after picking.

Seed Saving: When the gourds have fully matured, cure them in a warm dry place for 3-4 weeks to allow the seeds to ripen. Cut them in half to remove the pulp that contains the seeds. Rinse off the pulp, and put the seeds in a container of water; the good seeds will sink to the bottom. Spread the good seeds out on a flat surface to dry for about 2 weeks. When a seed will snap in two, it has dried sufficiently. If the seed only bends but will not break, further drying time is needed. Store the dry seeds in a cool, dry place for up to six years.

FAST FACTS

Latin Name: Cucurbita pepo

Type: Open Pollinated, Warm Season

USDA Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Seeds per Ounce: 175

Planting Method: Direct Sow

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 12 Inches

Color: Green, Brown

Reviews

5.00
Global Rating: 5.00 from 1 reviews
5.0

Review By Kat Deese

Excellent Quality

-great packaging
-my plants are growing on lattice netting and this seems to be working well
-can't wait until harvest!