Kind of frustrating!!
Spent all summer messing with them now most of my really nice ones are rotting.
I kept my 4 or 5 best ones inside so I could save the seeds and they appear to be doing OK.
We had a very hot/dry summer. These gourds set late...so they likely could have used more time to harden off.
We had some temps in the single digits recently. If I would have kept the others indoors, do you think that would have kept them ok or do you think they just came along too late and would have rotted regardless?
Still got 20 or so good ones but was hoping for better.
Thoughts?
Had to throw out 30 nice gourds.....rotting
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
A suggestion is to plant them as early as possible, the gourds get larger and they mature better. Even here in S Texas, we start them as early as possible. They grow best when nighttime temps are under 75 to 80deg.....They do best if they mature on the vine. Do not pick them if they are heavy or if the stem is green. I often pick them when the stem is nearly completely dry, the gourd is lightweight, and the gourd is starting to turn color brown.
A gourd must be at a certain maturity age or it will rot. Some people try to drain the gourds that have water in them, but the gourd quality is low if you do that, because the gourds that get water in them are not mature enough. Even if you do save an immature gourd, it usually is softer than normal and not very good for housing.
Another thing, you cannot save all the gourds even if you have very good conditions, as some will rot anyway. You probably will never have more than 80% success in gourds.
Maybe this will help you to determine why so many of yours rotted.
A gourd must be at a certain maturity age or it will rot. Some people try to drain the gourds that have water in them, but the gourd quality is low if you do that, because the gourds that get water in them are not mature enough. Even if you do save an immature gourd, it usually is softer than normal and not very good for housing.
Another thing, you cannot save all the gourds even if you have very good conditions, as some will rot anyway. You probably will never have more than 80% success in gourds.
Maybe this will help you to determine why so many of yours rotted.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Guest
I'm no gourd expert. I spoke with a gourd grower near Joplin who said she leaves her gourds out till Feb. before harvesting. Seems it doesn't hurt anything (freezing etc.) and they rot if you pick them early. Just a thought.
Here is a link to the gourd farm I mentioned if you wanted to ask them a question about growing gourds in Missouri:
http://www.ozarkcountrycreations.com/
Here is a link to the gourd farm I mentioned if you wanted to ask them a question about growing gourds in Missouri:
http://www.ozarkcountrycreations.com/
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TreeGreenwood
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:27 pm
- Location: Virginia/Catlett
How did you store your gourds? Did you do anything to them?
I now lose less than 10% to rot. Keep them up off the ground and sheltered. I cure mine under the leanto on the back of the barn, hung from the rafters. Once hung, I drill a couple of holes in the bottom of each gourd. That prevents explosions from gook fermenting inside and helps the gourds dry, even the imature ones. I've also cured them inside the barn on wire shelving. It's best if they are separated. I've had rotten spots where gourds rested against each other.
Although I lose few to rot, only 20% or less of my gourds are suitable for PM housing. Once the vines are running, some small gourds escape my notice until frost. If I were more diligent about removing all but the biggest, I'd get more nice ones but I get enough for my purposes. Of the large ones of suitable size, half are thin-walled or soft, too fragile (IMO) to house PM. Smaller gourds house Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. Even smaller ones are homes for Carolina and House Wrens out under the trees or eaves in front of the house.
My advice is to keep gourds up off the ground and protected in a spot the provides all-around air circulation and drill a couple of drain holes early to help with the drying and curing.
Take care,
Tree
I now lose less than 10% to rot. Keep them up off the ground and sheltered. I cure mine under the leanto on the back of the barn, hung from the rafters. Once hung, I drill a couple of holes in the bottom of each gourd. That prevents explosions from gook fermenting inside and helps the gourds dry, even the imature ones. I've also cured them inside the barn on wire shelving. It's best if they are separated. I've had rotten spots where gourds rested against each other.
Although I lose few to rot, only 20% or less of my gourds are suitable for PM housing. Once the vines are running, some small gourds escape my notice until frost. If I were more diligent about removing all but the biggest, I'd get more nice ones but I get enough for my purposes. Of the large ones of suitable size, half are thin-walled or soft, too fragile (IMO) to house PM. Smaller gourds house Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. Even smaller ones are homes for Carolina and House Wrens out under the trees or eaves in front of the house.
My advice is to keep gourds up off the ground and protected in a spot the provides all-around air circulation and drill a couple of drain holes early to help with the drying and curing.
Take care,
Tree
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