big gourd

[airborne]

This is an African kettle gourd. It is 34 inches in circumference as of June 1 with 3 months to grow.
See the picture at

www.airbornebirds.spaces.live.com

Airborne

[Guest]

OK, where do you get the seeds? Do you know if they are thick walled?

[Guest]

Airborne, bigger may not be better. I raised some mighty big gourds last year. Had a least 6 over 40" in circumference & they picked the one in the middle over the one on the right in this photo. The one on the left is 43" in circumference & the right is 41. They are nesting in the 43" one though. The small gourd is a little over 9" diameter. I believe a 10 to 11 inch gourd is more than plenty to raise Martins. Below is some sizes my Martins are using this year inside diameter size.

2- 9" gourds
4 -10" gourds
3- 11" gourds
1- 12" gourd
3- 13" gourds
1- 14" gourds

May have a 12" & 11" in use or it might be a few SY males making the nest to draw a female in. I have some 30 Martins here so far this my 3rd year. Had 4 pair last year.