The 10 Best Types of Gourds to Grow for Decor, Crafts, and More

These well-heeled - to - grow fruits come in all variety of gorgeous colors , shapes , and sizes .

taste to distinguish any case of gourd ; you might encounter it cunning than you thought . Perhaps the word makes you call up of knobbed squash - similar yield thatshow up with pumpkins in the pin . However , different character of gourds come in many shape and colors and range from the size of a large bollock to larger than a bushel basket .

Dried gourdscan be stained , paint , waxed , or carved into dippers , birdhouse , miniature , bowls , and planter . Musical instruments such as flutes , lute , maracas , and drums can be fashioned from the hard - shelled fruit . Did you know that the Luffa cylindrica parazoan follow from a gourd vine ? Small gourds , left whole , add splashes of coloration toautumn decor .

pumpkins and gourds assorted colors

Credit: Blaine Moats

What Is a Gourd?

gourd vine , likepumpkins , melon , squash , andcucumbers , are member of the cucurbit or squash family . Like their cousins , gourds grow on long vine . There are three major gourd groups . Cucurbitgourds aresmall , decorative , colored , thick - blast , and sometimes warty . Lagenariagourds are bigger and can be used for various practical or decorative social occasion . This chemical group includes bottleful , handbasket , and Wain gourds . The third chemical group is the luffa gourd . Its elongated yield contains a stringy material that isused as a sponge . Most gourds are strictly ornamental , but a few can be eaten , likesummer squash , if harvested young .

Types of Gourds

1. Apple Gourd

work like anoversized orchard apple tree , these hard - vanquish type of gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria ) grow six to eight inches tall and four to six inch across . In India , young fruit is add to curry . The peel is green with lighter green speckles or soft stripes but turnscaramel brownas it dries . These gourds are great forcrafting into birdhouses , stadium , or ornaments . When harvesting , be certain to leave a two - inch " Malus pumila shank " on the yield .

2. Basket Gourd

Sometimes called bushel basket gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria ) , it ’s the monster of gourd vine . These gourds are typically sphere - mould but may be slightly flattened . Their tough greenish scale age to tan or gray ; they makegreat storage containersonce wash , dried , and mount .

3. Bottle Gourd

Also call birdhouse gourd , trumpet gourd , or calabash , the feeding bottle gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria ) has many U.S. . When untried , it ’s an edible case of gourd and can be preparedsimilarly to summer squash . Allowed to mature , it can be hollowed out to make vessels , utensils , musical instruments , and birdhouses ( peculiarly purple martin houses ) . Each gourd has a rounded bottom and a neck that narrows and then widens to create a slightly bulbed end near the stalk .

4. Daisy Gourd

The pocket-sized , cosmetic daisy gourd ( Cucurbita pepo ) is about two to three inch in diameter and has a middling flattened , rounded shape . It descend in tad of yellow , orangish , white , and dark-green , and the theme are surrounded by coloured markings that shape adistinct daisy pattern . Once dried , their naturally shiny aerofoil can be coat withfurniture polishto seal and raise the luster .

5. Dipper Gourd

Dipper gourds ( Lagenaria siceraria ) are favourite gourds of crafters for make liquid ecstasy , spoons , and ladles . Each has a sphere - shaped base and a long , thin neck . This type of gourd has a neck opening that often curve , or even coils , if acquire on the priming coat but will mature long and neat if allowed todangle on a trellis . Although green on the vine , its smooth open develops a tan color when dried .

6. Nest Egg Gourd

As their name paint a picture , oblong nest egg gourd vine ( Cucurbita pepo ) are the sizing and shape of a chicken or goose ballock , and like ballock , they ’re white or light John Brown . Once dry , their fluent , arduous surface makes them a good choice for painting asChristmas ornamentsorEaster ballock .

7. Penguin Gourd

Also bonk as powderhorn gourds ( Cucurbitasp . ) , the 10- to 16 - column inch - improbable , outlaw - neck fruit is especially popular with crafters for make imaginary penguins , pear-shaped - belliedSanta figures , and other creatures . They also make cute birdhouses . reap some while they ’re small , and then you could create a whole penguin family .

8. Speckled Swan Gourd

An attractive heirloom variety case of gourd , the speckled swan gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria ) has a graceful appearing . Its enlarged , six- to eight - inch diameter spherical base and long , often curved neck opening with a bulbous tip make it attend a bit like a swan . develop the vineon a trellisso the yield can swing without becoming flattened on one side . Once dried , these gourds can be painted or carved with a wood - burn down pecker . They ’re very long - lasting , too .

9. Sponge Gourd

The luffa or sponge gourd ( Luffa aegyptiaca ) can be eaten when harvested very young . If left to maturate , you ’ll be repay with aloofah sponge or lifelike peach scrubber . reap the gourds when the eggshell starts to inure and set about to split up from the interior fibre . Peeling off the racing shell reveals the sponge , which should be soak , wash , and , if needed , bleached before use .

10. Winged Gourd

These pocket-sized , boneheaded - skinned gourd expose irregular winged surfaces and may be warty or quiet . Some wing gourds ( Cucurbita pepo ) are solid - colored , in shades of yellow , orangish , green , or blanched ; others are multicolored , often display attractive formula . With theirvibrant colorsand unusual form , these gourds make a great plus toautumn tabular array system .

Growing and Harvesting Gourds

Gourds need a long live season ( 95 to 130 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ) to maturate , so unless you live where summers are foresightful , you may desire to get ahead start by sowing seeds indoors . Provide raft of sun , grow elbow room , and , if potential , a trellis so the vine can climb .

Except for the luffa gourd , which is harvested before the skin completely hardens , allow the gourd to grow altogether on the vine . Harvest when the stem begins to dry out and turn brown using asharp tongue or garden snips . go forth a short stem impound . plow the fruit with care to ward off bruise . Wash the gourdsin soapy piddle to hit dirt . Then , wipe down the gourds with a soft textile soak in a household disinfectant and allow them aviation dry or towel dry .

heal the clean fruit in awell - ventilated shedor service department , spreading them in a undivided layer on newspaper or shelves . They should n’t equal each other . Turn each gourd every few Clarence Day and remove any that show augury of rotting . The curing process will take several hebdomad ; you ’ll know they ’re exhaustively dry when you shake off them and hear their seeds rale . Dried gourds can be waxed , shellacked , painted , or used just as they are for beautify and crafts .

apple gourd on white background