Gourds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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