Three years and still no gourd big enough!

[taxidermy lady]

I have tried for three years to raise gourds.
This year Was the worst.
I did get several for crafting the first two years.
I just pulled the plants and threw them all in the dumpster. I would have never dreamed a gourd is that hard to grow. I'm thinking my soil is not what they want. I bought seeds from a seed catalog thinking they would do good. I am not going to give up. I've tried growing them on the ground and on wire hanging. Still nothing big enough for a Martin house. I have started the seeds indoors then transferring them to the garden! HELP, what am I doing wrong??
I just want to grow one big enough to use. I guess I need thumb!!!!

[dhjohnson]

Sharon,
Tell us a bit more about your growing site! What kind of soil are you dealing with? We have very sandy soil here in eastern North Carolina. I have to add potting soil to our dirt to help hold some moisture. Gourds love their sun and water. In the hot summer, I will water about 3 times per week. If your main runners get too long the gourd crop might receive less nutrients, hence smaller gourds.

What type of fertilizer are you using? I like 10-10-34. Heavy potash for strong roots and good gourd wall thickness. They need the nitrogen for healthy vines and to get the bigger gourds. I also like to plant mine on a raised mound with depressions. This helps raise the moisture content. Not too wet though or the roots will rot. I also broadcast fertilizer across the growing area. Gourd vines put down tap roots to help feed long runners. Don't pull these up. Finally, if the side runners with the female flowers have too many gourds the size will suffer. I prune heavy! Usually carry out a wheel barrow full every two weeks! Happy plants produce prolific vines. Those fartherest from the main root will receive less nutrients.

Experiment, prune if you wish! There is not a lot of detailed information about the dos and don'ts to growing that great gourd!. Emil and Ray Gingrich are great resources! Both have many years experience growing gourds. We love to modify natural gourds. We have done several horizontal natural gourds. Natural gourds are fun and yes a little more work but the martins love them!

Good luck next year!
Debbie

[taxidermy lady]

thank you for the info!
My soil is not sandy at all. It would be more clay than anything. I add potting soil as well. I used 10-10-10. I watered a lot, full sun, and I did make a mound to plant. I trimmed vines and pulled a lot of gourds. The ones that began to grow nice early spring just sat there and never did get any bigger so they are missing something. The year I had them grow up over my green house they did the best. I almost got one 8".
Maybe I should add some sand to my soil. I will get some 10-10-34 for next year. I'm thinking the fertilizer is my problem.
Thanks again Debbie!

[John Miller]

Sharon

I'm thinking that the native people who lived there for centuries and then mysteriously disappeared -- such as those at nearby Cahokia Mounds -- grew grounds until they depleted the soil and that is the elusive reason they abandoned the area. Archaeologists have long sought to determine why; now we know. They grew weary of puny gourds. Okay..I'm still just testing the new Forum.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

If you start with clay soil, its difficult because gourds prefer sand.

Maybe you could get a load of sand, spread it out over your garden, and till it in but that may not help a whole lot. We have good drainage here, so the drainage may be your main problem. If you do go with the sand idea, then try to till into the clay so you get a mixture.

I also add a lot of organic matter every year, so that could also help you more than anything else. I put many bags of leaves into the garden every year, and till them under in late summer.

If you try to amend your soil, then another important thing is to start planting gourds as early as possible in the spring. Here at our place, we cannot grow nice gourds unless we start them real early in the spring, they have a long growing season so the early start really is a necessity. As stated above (by dhJohnson), use some fertilizer, lots of water on a regular basis. Best of luck to you.

[John & Linda - KY]

I'm guessing the seed is the problem, wrong type of gourd. I'd send you some but all I have is very old (went to plastic gourds). I'll bet there are quite a few landlords that would be glad to send you some seed if you ask and e-mail them your address. -- John

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Good point about the seeds. I had one set of gourds one year (tried it for 3 years with the same results) that never got over 7 inches, so that definitely is a possibility. I have plenty of good seeds from the gourds, 11 to 13in with a nice shape, that I raised this year.

[John Miller]

Good advice...except mine...from all. I have tried to grow gourds here in clay and part shade with seeds I received from several reliable sources. Some of the gourds grew large...one probably 14 or more inches. (so seeds were right). But they all had soft shells (probably not the right soil nutrients.).

John

[taxidermy lady]

Well all appreciated advice.
Now what!
Ok am I fighting a loosing battle? I may never get a large gourd in this area! Seems to me if John M. Has tried it then it just may not be suitable for us in Illinois and Missouri.
I may try next year again! Maybe just one mound with a few plants. I will turn in some sand as far down in the ground that I can. I will use the 10-10-34 fertilizer.
Emil if you don't mind sending me a few seeds I would greatly appreciate it.
Please do this at your convenience. I will give you my address when you email me. Thanks Sharon

[dhjohnson]

Sharon,
Glad some pros chimed in on this question! When I say mound...I mean 2 feet high by 8 feet wide by 3 feet deep for only 3 gourd plants.. All soil well mixed with sand for drainage and potting soil to retain moisture. Good points about seeds! They can be finiky to germinate. Imature seeds might not produce the desirable giurds. Gourd plants need a good amount of space between them. At least 2 feet plus if you can.

We rigged a watering sprinkler head to each gourd plant. Great results in hot summer 90+ weather! Gourd plants need regular water to reach their potential!
Keep trying. Zero jumpers ever in four years from a natural gourd!

We ended our 2015 season with another colony expansion. 48 pair...254 eggs laid...240 hatched...and 237 fledged! A great year in spite of their tough migration!. In spite of severe hawk raids. WE offered 52 gourds...all were occupied but 4 males failed to find a mate for the season. Note that we had a late surge of SY males that boosted the overall colony growth. I expect to see those SY males next year. Trying for 100% occupancy! Tricky with varying entrance lengths.
Good Luck next year!
Debbie

[BrianC]

I had smaller gourds until I grew "Martin House Giant" I also use composted manure dug into the soil. But the new seed made a big difference. I will be switching out my smaller gourds with new big ones next year. I got them from a place in Ohio but I'm not sure I can mention the name of the farm on the forum. I plan on saving some seed so let me know I can mail you some if you want.

[taxidermy lady]

Yeah that is a big mound Debbie. I did not do that. Going to get the right seeds and give it a go next year again! Will try that.
Thanks for all the advice! Sand, fertilize, the right seed, sun, and lots of water. i will let you know how they turn out.

[Larry A Kronemeyer]

Hi Sharon.
I just now checked to see what's happening on the forum and saw your posts. Looks like you are on the right track. Years ago,my mom grew my gourds for me. She took it as a gardening challenge. In a small, side of the yard garden she produced some great gourds. She had a beautiful and diverse flower garden. Not sure of anything special she did, but I know she watered daily. Space was extremely limited so the gourds were planted by the chain link fence and trained to grow up the fence (neighbours loved her and never minded ). Once gourds started forming, she pruned off most, spacing out along the vines so not too many and the plants could put their growing energy into just a few gourds. She was very successful and the neighborhood marveled at seeing the gourds hanging along the fencing. She just planted gourds for two years, then moved on to other challenges in the garden. Mom's in assisted living now, and her gardens are no more. But I still have the gourds in my basement and they were well used for a few years,until we went to supergourds. I also have the seed saved from these gourds. Recently I gave some of the seed away to the ladies at my veterinarian. Same as you,they were trying this year for big gourds and produced only small. The seed is old, from 2000, but stored as best I can. Seed savers store seeds for decades and it's still viable. It looks good, still clean, not moldy,not all dried up. If you want some seed, you are welcome to it. Shouldn't be too hard to get together on this since we live only a short drive away. Got a few months before the next growing season.
Judy

[taxidermy lady]

Well Judy thank you very much for your kindness.
I am getting some seeds from recent gourds. 13"ers. Should arrive next week.
I will prepare my soil better for next year! I have a spot picked out and will start to prepare this weekend. Some manure and Sandy dirt will be tilled together and will soak all winter with the freezing and thawing. This should make them happier. Will give them extra special attention!
Thanks again everyone!

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

[img]img_1290(440x330).jpg[/img]
I would like to post a photo but don't know how to put the photo into the user control panel

[dhjohnson]

Sharon,
This is a happy gourd patch!
Keep trying and let us know how it works out!
Good Luck!
Debbie

I'm right there with you Emil...how do you now post a picture on the improved Forum???
Debbie

Oh...found it...attachments...LOL...error code...file too large...no way to reduce file size while using a tablet...

I appologize Sharon...photos are too large to post and I don't have a way of reducing the file size with a tablet.
Glad you received some other good advice...keep trying!
Debbie

[taxidermy lady]

yes that's fine Debbie. I wish posting pictures was easier. I always had to download mine to photo bucket then copy it. Then copy back to forum. Not sure if that works. I have not tried it yet. Maybe someone can set us straight on this.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Test...trying to add a file using attachments. It looks like the attachment was added but why is the picture rotated 90deg? Debbie, thanks for your help, it is appreciated!!!!

To post the photo, I resized the photo, then clicked on attachments, it loaded it..thats it! simple

By the way, the photo is a 13-1/4in gourd that I raised this year...

[taxidermy lady]

Emil I hope I can post a picture of a gourd that size next year!!!

[taxidermy lady]

Made my raised bed this weekend. I spade the ground first, then added some cow manure, then sand, then another layer of manure, then some more sand. It's raining right now so I'm glad I did it Sunday and Monday. The winter elements should make it nice for next spring. Should make some nice gourds. Thanks for everyone's help.

I have read that brown gourds will attract the female Martin! What's your input on them? Thanks