Gourds and Purple Martins

[Guest]

Gourds and Purple Martins..

Even before the White Man came to America there were well documented evidence that the Indians put up gourds fore the martins to nest in.. It was thus passed on to the early settlers.. and gourds for martins to nest in became common ? Especially in the Southern States.. As the white man started clearing the forests it became more suitable for the martins who love open space and fly ways to come in to there gourds and housing.. So the martins increased rapidly.. starlings and English sparrows were not here ..and the martins had few enemies.. Gourds in the South became popular and it was easily the favorite housing .. The martins in the North nested in multiply houses , wooden houses..
At the beginning of the 20th Century a few aluminum houses were introduced but landlords thought they were to hot in the summer and too cold in the winter,.. In the years of the 196Os however the aluminum houses became popular..

In the last 20 years the Gourds have swept the martin range and now we find it as a sensation where ever it is being used.. Gourds are easy to grow and need lots of fertilizer..I use triple 15..but am planning to use less nitrogen .. and more potash..
To much nitrogen makes for lots of rank vines with fewer gourds,, although quite large with thin shells.. Potash makes hard thick shells we like so well and gives you more years before replacements are needed.. A 10 16 24 should be excellent mix to use..
DO NOT PULL GOURDS UNTIL THE VINES ARE DEAD LEADING TO GOURDS?Then put them in a breezy place in full Sun?..until they are dry?

Get gourd seed from those landlords who have extra saved.. I put my seed in 4 per hole ..My rows are 12 ft apart each way on 4 ft. black plastic.. I spread 800 lb of above mix per acre,.,. I spread it over the ground and work it in to about 7 Inches.. Then you are ready to plant? When seeds emerge you should spray them and continue spraying every 10 days with Sevin Insecticide?I need to clarify that 10 percent nitrogen,, 16 percent phosphorus and 24 percent potash mixing the 3 together??Victor

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Victor, I agree with you, especially about the nitrogen....Last year I didn't add nitrogen, but added a very small amount of potash, and I had the best gourd crop with thicker gourds than I ever had before. I already added more potash & sulfur for this year and tilled it in about 6in, letting it sit until planting time. I am hoping for thicker gourds

[dcartwright]

I have used gourds for the last three years with very few problems for my birds. The only problems that I have had is trying to use a single gourd that was too small. All of my large gourds and the gourds that were too small that I doubled up have not lost a single baby. The double gourds also stay very dry and the depth keeps owls from reaching the little ones. Single small gourds just do not provide enough depth, as do the six inch space in medal and plastic houses, to provide the needed protection. Jumpers are not a problem with my naturals and I believe the natural gourd is also cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather.

Naturals are my choice.

Good post and information on the potash Victor. I'll try it.
Thanks.

[Guest]

Victor, I agree with you, especially about the nitrogen....Last year I didn't add nitrogen, but added a very small amount of potash, and I had the best gourd crop with thicker gourds than I ever had before. I already added more potash & sulfur for this year and tilled it in about 6in, letting it sit until planting time. I am hoping for thicker gourds

Emil, what did you use to add potash? And where did you find sulfur?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I used my hands to spread it into the garden, just slung it out there and tried to get it a bit even, same with the sulfur...Both are in pellet form, I purchased it from the feed store.

[Guest]

I forgot to mention that I put 4 seeds in each hill and thin each one to just
one plant just befor they start to vine out.. This is very important.. Victor

[Guest]

Are you saying there are potash pellets available at the feed store? I assume you add more potash than sulfer.

Victor, do you water your gourds during the year?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Hogwild, I added potash & sulfur, but that doesn't mean that you should add that...You may need to add potash & lime, it depends upon the type of soil that you have. I may need to add something completely different from yours.


Yes potash & sulfur are both purchased form the feed store in pellet form. Again, I don't know what kind of stores you have or what they handle, it may be different in every city, town, or state. Just get on the phone or stop by and ask for it..