I was hopping to plant Luffa and birdhouse gourds. However, I don't have any idea what I am doing. My seed packages or my many books aren't helping me much. I have never even seen them growing! Aren't they both vines? How strong do the supports need to be? Do they draw any pests? Is there anything that I should knew before growing them?
Help????
Elizabeth
Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.
My daughter got inspired last year to try crafting gourds and I am growing ten kinds for her this year. They grow much like vining squash. They do take longer to germinate and some bottom heat helps. I grew the giant bottle gourds last year up a fence and they sort of self-supported the large fruits, but slings help too. If you can keep the larger ones up off the ground, you get a nicer, more uniform gourd. We have no pests here that bother them (except deer), but some folks complain of squash vine borers. Not sure if you have those in your area. Good luck...they are fun to grow. Di
Just for fun, plant them! Then watch and see if they need support and add it as needed. I think you want it to be warm and sunny. You might try planting the seed in a plantable peat pot and starting them on top of a dog bed warmer. I got one for my geriatric dog a few years ago. It does not get very warm, is totally waterproof and enclosed in a rigid plastic case so setting pots on top would not hurt it. You might want to put a water tray under the pots though. Then when the plants are up and showing their first real leaves plant them outside in a warm sunny location where you can add a tomatoe cage or some other support if you need to, so you have something to tie the sling supports to for getting the gourds off the ground. I have heard you can use old nylon stockings as slings. Eileen
growing birdhouse & luffa gourds Q's
Posted - Apr 28 2006 : 06:32:49 AM
