#111147
October 3rd, 2005 at 11:19 PM
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Someone was nice enough to send me some gourd seeds last year (my memory is gone). I bought a metal thing and planted the seeds. Now I have 2 very heavy, green gourds. What next?
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#111148
October 3rd, 2005 at 11:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
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So glad you asked this question, Sheri! I, too, have some pretty nice sized green birdhouse gourds and was wondering the same thing!
Anyone?
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#111149
October 4th, 2005 at 06:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
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I have read up on these cause I did manage to plant a few and have a few up. one place I read said leave them to die on the vine then you can either leave them to dry there or hang them in a dry place to dry. (It did say mice are bad to eat a hole in them and eat the seeds) I'll see if I can find that information it was on my other computer and haven't been able to get that one up lately.
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#111150
October 4th, 2005 at 07:01 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
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hi there! I have a few different kinds of gourd seeds and forgot to plant them this year but I've read that you just let them stay on the vine and then when the vine dies you hang them in a dry place or something where they can dry in. you'll know when they're good and dry when you can shake them and hear the seeds rattle around :-)
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#111151
October 7th, 2005 at 06:15 AM
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#111152
October 7th, 2005 at 06:22 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Mike57 grows some gourds.. Maybe he'll be peakin' in on this.. *if he doesn't see it... somebody PM him in a day or two* I have 5 birdhouse gourds I grew this year, was wonderin' the same thing... Mine are still hanging out there... Those were alot of fun to grow this year... wouldn't mind growing them again..
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#111153
October 7th, 2005 at 06:22 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Hey Sheri and Belinda, What kinds' did you grow???
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#111154
October 7th, 2005 at 09:36 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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down in crafts back aways Mike57 explains the process real good I think. He has pictures and everything.
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#111155
October 7th, 2005 at 09:51 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
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I'm very interested in all this too. Like Weezie, I have about 6 birdhouse gourds still hanging on the vines which I noticed today are getting moldy - the vines, not the gourds. Anyway... here is a link to Mike's post, but the pictures don't come up! Mike\'s gourds
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#111156
October 11th, 2005 at 12:21 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
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I grew some last year!!! I left mine on the vine& its NORMAL for them to get mouldy,you can scrub the mold off or just scrub a lil and paint over it like I did on mine.you KNOW they are ready when the vine dries up that they are attached too.good ventilation helps(why I left in place)they DO take a bit to cure.they are done when you can hear the seeds rattle inside.Mine dripped from the bottom,but the one I tried to poke holes in colapsed and was mis shaped.sometimes when i'd shake um you could hear the innards slosh.you may want to create "slings" to hold them as they dry so they don't fall off and go "spalt!" or try what i did.I took a coat hanger and shaped it to my needs and part of THAT was taped to the gourd vine.then when vine was dried out i snipped and hung at back of yard on my summer plant hangers.they can smell when drying so don't recomend indoor drying& scrubing outter shell can maybe help with the drying not takeing till next august.I did use a lil,bleach when scrubbing.I really missed not haveing any this year.i thnk i tried planting too early,then my 2nd planting was too wet& they rotted.I grew birdhouse gourds last year.if someone grew some loffa....please share with me. hollar back if need more help
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#111157
October 11th, 2005 at 03:33 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
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njoynit....I think I might have a few luffa gourd seeds left over from a trade on another site that I can send you if you want me to :-)
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#111158
October 12th, 2005 at 09:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
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my northern buddy said they will cure faster if remove from vine when the vines dried up,but you will want to hang them so don't re shape them.she did hers on back porch& may have a slight smell but if use bleach on outside of them on the mold.that will diminish some of the smell& said 3-4 months,but that can still vary.when the inside is drying up you may get drips. I'd love some luffa seeds.I was really hopeing to grow some this year.My sis use luffa spounges& was wanting to surprise her for christmas,guess will be NEXT christmas.I hear ya can wash dishes with um!have ya?
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#111159
October 13th, 2005 at 07:46 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Njoynit, Sent you a PM!!!
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#111160
October 14th, 2005 at 06:51 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
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#111161
October 24th, 2005 at 03:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
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My gourds are still very green and I don't hear any seeds rattling around. They're very heavy. The vine is withering up though, but we've had a lot of dry weather.
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#111162
October 31st, 2005 at 03:23 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Just picked my birdhouse gourds off the very dried up vines. We've had a few frosts here already, so it's time to bring them indoors. This was my first time growing them, and they aren't very large, but I'm thrilled with them anyway. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to dry out...
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#111163
October 31st, 2005 at 05:21 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Hey, If I didn't know any better, I'd say you snuck into my yard, and took pictures of my exact gourds!!!!!!
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#111164
October 31st, 2005 at 06:53 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Interesting Weezie!
So, now how do we get them bigger and better next year? These seem too small to make birdhouses out of - except maybe the one on the left...
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#111165
October 31st, 2005 at 06:56 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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but, they can be painted and make great gifts, or small planters!
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#111166
October 31st, 2005 at 09:27 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
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I have never tried growing gourds, but I think I'll give it a try, any sugestions? ******Stephanie
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