MY FATHER IN LAW AND I JUST FINISHED CLEANING 40 NATURAL GOURDS THIS MORNING.
SOME OF THEM ARE HUGE!!!
THE LARGEST MEASURE 14 TO 15 INCHES ACROSS!!
FIRST QUESTION, CAN A GOURD BE TOO BIG FOR MARTINS TO LIKE?
SECOND QUESTION,
I AM ADDING THESE GOURDS IN BETWEEN THE GOURDS ON MY PRESENT RACK.
WILL THE ADDITION OF EXTRA GOURDS CAUSE MY MARTINS ( FIRST YEAR COLONY) TO BECOME SHY OF THE GOURD RACK?
I PLAN TO ADD THE SUPPORT PIPES THAT THE GOURDS WILL HANG FROM FIRST AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER ADD THE GOURDS.
THIS WILL BE DONE VERY QUICKLY WHEN I HAVE THE RACK DOWN.
I WILL ALSO WAIT UNTIL 3 PM TO DO THIS WORK WHICH IS WHEN MY MARTINS ARE USUALLY OUT FEEDING AND NOT AROUND THE HOUSING.
(SEEDS)
THE GOURDS CAME FROM A FARMER THAT ONLY GROWS MARTIN GOURDS. THEY SHOULD BE TRUE STRAIN SEEDS WITH VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF CROSS POLINATION.
SINCE SO MANY OF THESE GOURDS WERE SO LARGE I THINK I SHOULD DISTRIBUTE THE SEEDS HERE ON THE FORUM.
ANYONE WANTING THESE SEEDS CAN CONTACT ME FOR THE ADDRESS VIA PERSONAL MESSAGES. I WILL GIVE THE ADDRESS TO THESE PEOPLE
AND IF THEY SEND A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE I WILL BE QUITE HAPPY TO SEND THESE SEEDS OUT.
REMEMBER, THESE GOURDS WERE ALL VERY LARGE! AVERAGE SIZE WAS OVER 12 INCHES ACROSS.
C.D. BAILEY
NATURAL GOURD QUESTIONS. AND SEED GIVE AWAY.
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roblrich
C.D., I have also added a few very large 13-15" diameter gourds this year. We shall see how they are accepted. One would think bigger is better, especially when avoiding owls and for comfort. But I have added sufficient nesting material so they won't be over worked.
I also don't think adding the gourds will harm a thing, as long as the returning martin's resident gourds are in place. It will cause a lot of curiosity. I am one that is never satisfied with anything, and I am always moving something, or changing this or that. I never move or change anything that the present season's martins are living in. But everything else to me is fair game. And let me tell ya, martins don't miss a thing. If it has been changed or moved, they have to investigate it.
I also don't think adding the gourds will harm a thing, as long as the returning martin's resident gourds are in place. It will cause a lot of curiosity. I am one that is never satisfied with anything, and I am always moving something, or changing this or that. I never move or change anything that the present season's martins are living in. But everything else to me is fair game. And let me tell ya, martins don't miss a thing. If it has been changed or moved, they have to investigate it.
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Guest
Thank you, for considering others who may like, to grow your seed.
It appears your gourds were open pollinated, in very good stock company or association. This is an effective way using selection, of the finest, for each following year's production.
There is only one way to tell if your seed are indeed consistent, in reproduction. That of course is, to plant and continue the above practice.
You may consider giving credit, to the former grower. On the seed packet you might show a picture, of the farmer and his gourd. Then set up the history this way beside the picture:
BIRD HOUSE GOURDS
13" - 15" (growers last name and first initial) 2006 X open
(address and other contact data)
Next summer if someone else grows them
(2007 year's size) (growers last name and first initial) 2007 X open
13" X 15" ( ditto above) 2006 X open
Lick and stick coin envelopes are at Staples and Office Supply.
Any label software makes a nice stick them on label.Done on bright white paper printing to feature photo is inexpensive. Covered with clear packaging tape improves the professional appearance.
Years later when growers speak of these seed they can refer to the original growers line and all other growers that worked, to maintain or improve the selection leading, to a better gourd.
These seed packets make great gifts, to exchange with friends or to include with sales. I am sorry I can not show an example because this board or site will not accept my longstanding nick name #docgipe without the # on my seed labels.
It appears your gourds were open pollinated, in very good stock company or association. This is an effective way using selection, of the finest, for each following year's production.
There is only one way to tell if your seed are indeed consistent, in reproduction. That of course is, to plant and continue the above practice.
You may consider giving credit, to the former grower. On the seed packet you might show a picture, of the farmer and his gourd. Then set up the history this way beside the picture:
BIRD HOUSE GOURDS
13" - 15" (growers last name and first initial) 2006 X open
(address and other contact data)
Next summer if someone else grows them
(2007 year's size) (growers last name and first initial) 2007 X open
13" X 15" ( ditto above) 2006 X open
Lick and stick coin envelopes are at Staples and Office Supply.
Any label software makes a nice stick them on label.Done on bright white paper printing to feature photo is inexpensive. Covered with clear packaging tape improves the professional appearance.
Years later when growers speak of these seed they can refer to the original growers line and all other growers that worked, to maintain or improve the selection leading, to a better gourd.
These seed packets make great gifts, to exchange with friends or to include with sales. I am sorry I can not show an example because this board or site will not accept my longstanding nick name #docgipe without the # on my seed labels.