I’m looking for gourd seeds preferably larger ones that grow to 10 to 12 inches. If anyone has some I would appreciate it.
Thank you, Neil
Gourd seeds
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dcronwell
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2022 7:23 pm
- Location: Florida
- Martin Colony History: Panama City, FL
2026 - 24 gourds - ...
2025 - 15 gourds - 14 nests - 72 eggs - 64 fledged
2024 - 12 gourds - 12 nests - 61 eggs - 45 fledged
- Single pole 6 over 6; (4) SG R; (2) TH C; (3) TV C; (3) TV R
2023 - 12 gourds - 9 nests - 42 eggs - 36 fledged
- Single pole 6 over 6; (4) SG R; (2) TH C; (2) TV C; (2) TV R; (2) natural gourds R
2022 - 12 gourds - 11 nests - 54 eggs - 30 fledged (raccoon attack mid-season)
- Single pole 6 over 6; (4) SG R; (4) TV C; (2) TV R; (2) old Heath one piece R
2021 - 10 gourds - 4 nests - 18 eggs - 15 fledged
- Single pole 6 over 4; (4) SG R; (2) TV C; (4) TV R
2020 - (6) SG R gourds - first year; no nests but did see investigators
2018 - Hurricane Michael tore down many trees to open up habitat - set up array Feb 2020
Neil,
I kept seeds from four good sized gourds that I bought north of Dothan, AL two years ago. Had 90% germination with the seeds I planted the last two years, but no gourds as big as the ones the seeds came out of. If you know what you're doing better than me, you might get larger gourds than I did. You are welcome to as many seeds as you want if I can find them...is 50 or 100 enough? Just tell me where to mail them. I'll let you know if I can't find them in a day or two.
Here's a pic of the gourds outfitted for use. Biggest is 8.25" diameter and the other two are 7.5". Biggest I grew is about 6.5", but I didn't give the vines much attention or fertilizer, and I haven't outfitted any gourds I grew since they aren't larger. I might have put the rain deflectors too close to the holes. The access ports are recycled from the tops of 34 0z. mixed nuts plastic jars from Sam's Club. Two were hung on my colony rack. My martins last year used one of them for an early season refuge but didn't stay with it. Moved into an adjacent plastic gourd to finish and rear their young. Two (with wire hangers) were hung up about 75' from my gourd rack on an antenna tower the the martins roost on, along with two Troyer verticals. I saw martins investigate but not nest in the plastic gourds and house sparrows used one of the natural gourds. The supplemental rack of four was in case I filled all the rest of the colony, which I didn't do. Unfortunately, I couldn't access the supplemental rack for maintenance and never could get a good shot at the house sparrows.
I kept seeds from four good sized gourds that I bought north of Dothan, AL two years ago. Had 90% germination with the seeds I planted the last two years, but no gourds as big as the ones the seeds came out of. If you know what you're doing better than me, you might get larger gourds than I did. You are welcome to as many seeds as you want if I can find them...is 50 or 100 enough? Just tell me where to mail them. I'll let you know if I can't find them in a day or two.
Here's a pic of the gourds outfitted for use. Biggest is 8.25" diameter and the other two are 7.5". Biggest I grew is about 6.5", but I didn't give the vines much attention or fertilizer, and I haven't outfitted any gourds I grew since they aren't larger. I might have put the rain deflectors too close to the holes. The access ports are recycled from the tops of 34 0z. mixed nuts plastic jars from Sam's Club. Two were hung on my colony rack. My martins last year used one of them for an early season refuge but didn't stay with it. Moved into an adjacent plastic gourd to finish and rear their young. Two (with wire hangers) were hung up about 75' from my gourd rack on an antenna tower the the martins roost on, along with two Troyer verticals. I saw martins investigate but not nest in the plastic gourds and house sparrows used one of the natural gourds. The supplemental rack of four was in case I filled all the rest of the colony, which I didn't do. Unfortunately, I couldn't access the supplemental rack for maintenance and never could get a good shot at the house sparrows.
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