Apple Gourd
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - (Lagenaria siceraria) Large hard-shelled gourd shaped like an apple. Mottled green skin dries to brown; very long shelf life. Gourds are 6-8" tall and 4-6" across. Best used for crafting and birdhouses. 100-120 days.
Characteristics:
Hard-shelled gourds resemble apples
Mottled green skin dries to brown
Gourds grow to 6-8 inches by 4 inches across
Best used for crafting and birdhouses
100-120 days
Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Autumn Wings Gourd
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - A great mixture of winged brightly colored gourds. One of the most diverse ornamentals that we offer. Easy to grow and durable. 100-120 days., (Cucurbita pepo)
Characteristics:
90-100 days
Diverse ornamental mix of brightly colored gourds
Gourds have ridges or wings
Easy to grow
Durable
Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Birdhouse Gourd Seeds
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - Birdhouse Gourds are (L. siceraria) light-green fruits with rounded necks and bowls that grow 14" tall and 12" in diameter. Dried gourds make excellent birdhouses. Vigorous 15-35' vines. 95-110 days.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to 14 inches by 12 inches
Vines grow 15-35 feet
Make excellent birdhouses
95-110 days
25 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 6 weeks before transplanting out in shorter season areas.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability
Bradshaw's Birdhouse Gourd Seeds, Heirloom, Organic
$3.25
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Bradshaw'sBirdhouse Gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) For over 50 years, Dr. David Bradshaw has been selecting the strongest and best-shaped gourds for Purple Martin (Progne subis subis) birdhouses. This species, the largest American swallow, suffered a population crash in the 20th Century due to the spread of European Starlings, and the birds now rely on humans for nesting houses. It is thought that without our assistance, Purple Martins would be in danger of extinction. Monitor your birdhouses to prevent take-over by aggressive, non-native birds. Purple Martins eat mosquitoes and many other insect pests. The sprawling plants produce up to 12 gourds each. Check out our Purple Martin Condominiums guide by David Bradshaw. (Click for PDF.) Small 2g packet has about 22 seeds.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to 14 inches by 12 inches
Vines grow 15-35 feet
Make excellent birdhouses
95 days
25 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 6 weeks before transplanting out in shorter season areas.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability
Chinese Miniature Gourd (Edible Squash), Organic, Jack Be Little Pumpkin
$3.25
$3.75
We have this available from other Seed companies so please do check Jack Be Little and other options will come up.
The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. pepo) (aka Jack Be Little, Munchkin) From Ohio SSE member Ken Stoller. Small 3" fruits weigh 4-5 ounces. A type of acorn squash that is delicious roasted as miniature squash or used as long-lasting holiday decorations. 100 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Acorn squash type gourd resembles small pumpkins
Fruits grow to 3 inches
Fruits weigh 4-5 ounces
100 days
Instructions:
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Cucuzzi Culinary Gourd, Heirloom, Organic
$3.25
$3.75
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Cucuzzi, Zuchetta, Guinea Beans, Italian heirloom, grown by Jefferson at Monticello. Pale green fruits up to 36 in. long, for best tenderness harvest at 6-12 in. Fruits milder than luffa. Bug-resistant plants are a great zucchini substitute. Normally very vigorous, but had a shorter season during 2013’s cold, wet summer. Big sprawling vines up to 20 feet long, best planted on the edge of the garden; at Monticello they’re grown up a sturdy 10-ft. tall wooden arbor. Pkt (3 g, 20 seeds), (Lagenaria siceraria) 60 days.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to 36 inches
Vines grow 20 feet
Short Sweaons
60 days
20 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 6 weeks before transplanting out in shorter season areas.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability
Dinosaur Gourd
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. pepo) This beautifully diverse ornamental gourd mixture contains equal portions of nine Cucurbita pepo varieties of different size, shape, and color: Cou-Tors Hâtive, Orange Warted, Ten Commandments, Nest Egg, Flat Striped, Striped Pear, Orange Ball, Spinning Gourd, and Warted Mixture. Ideal for use in creative fall decorations and grown in many school gardens, this mix is also a great moneymaker for market stands. 90-100 days.
Characteristics:
Diverse ornamental mix
Used for fall decorations
Great for market growers and roadside stands
90-100 days
Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Gourd Mixture
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - This beautifully diverse ornamental gourd mixture contains equal portions of nine Cucurbita pepo varieties of different size, shape, and color: Cou-Tors Hâtive, Orange Warted, Ten Commandments, Nest Egg, Flat Striped, Striped Pear, Orange Ball, Spinning Gourd, and Warted Mixture. Ideal for use in creative fall decorations and grown in many school gardens, this mix is also a great moneymaker for market stands.
Characteristics:
90-100 days
Conventional
Diverse ornamental mix
Used for fall decorations
Great for market growers and roadside stands
Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Luffa - or Loofah, Gourds
$2.99
$3.35
We have upgraded to an Organic Seed from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange for the same price. This is a top seller for us and we heard how important organic was and jumped at the chance when we saw it offered.
Loofahs are members of the gourd family, originally from China. These handsome trailing vines can be grown on a fence or trellis or allowed to ramble at garden edges. Growing loofahs look like wrinkly big cucumbers. At season's end, when dry and mature, the rinds are simply peeled, revealing their sponge-like fibrous interior. Loofahs make marvelous skin scrubbers for stimulating circulation and improving skin tone in the bath or shower. Home-grown Loofahs make wonderful holiday gifts!
Characteristics:
Organic
Good skin scrubbers
110 days
3 grams or ~20 seeds
Instructions -
Several weeks before last spring frost, sow seeds 1 in. deep in individual pots of seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source. When seedlings are well established and nights stay above 55°F (13°C), acclimate to the outdoors. Transplant at sunny garden edges to ramble, or 12 inches apart along a sturdy fence or trellis to climb and form a lush canopy.
Plant In: April - June
Full Sun
Plant 12 inches apart
Plant 1" Deep
7-10 days to germinate
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
Spinning Gourd, Heirloom
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange -
(
(C. pepo) (aka Dancing) Sent to SSE by member Junior Gordon whose seeds were from his brother in Hickman County, Tennessee. Years ago children would carry these gourds in their pockets to play with at school where they would spin them on their desks. Hard-shelled when dried, great ornamental. 90-100 days.
Characteristics:
Used for fall decorations
Great for market growers and roadside stands
90-100 days
25 Seeds per pack
Instructions:
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Ten Commandments Gourd
$3.25
$3.75
Not available for 2024. But the seed is in the Gourd Mixture from Seedsavers.
The Seed Savers Exchange ( C. pepo) (aka Crown of Thorns) Softball-sized gourds have ten fingers that point towards the blossom end. A select mixture of bright striped, mottled, multicolored decorative gourds. Excellent for fall displays. 95 days.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to the size of a softball
Fruits have striped, mottled, and multicolored skins
95 days
Instructions:
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
Direct Seed: 1" Deep
Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
Thin: To 3-4 Plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability