Birdhouse Bottle Gourd

Birdhouse Gourd is a charming variety of Lagenaria siceraria gourd that is grown for its hard-shelled fruit, growing up to 9 inches in diameter and 11 inches tall. They either be harvested young to be consumed as a vegetable, or harvested mature to be dried and used to make utensils, drinking gourds, musical instruments, ornamental crafts, birdhouses, kitchen tools, lamps, jewelry, and other useful items. These gourds are considered one of the earliest domesticated plants, dating back as early as 13,000 BC! Watch these impressive light-green gourds dangle on sturdy, long 15-30-foot vines with white flowers then leave them to cure. Once cured, they become hard-shelled and beige, and can be carved, drilled, pyro-engraved, cut, and painted like a wood canvas. Birdhouse Gourd's large, inviting size and distinctive shape attracts various birds, including wrens, chickadees, swallows, and bluebirds! Whether you're an avid crafter or a nature-lover, Birdhouse Gourd offers a unique and rewarding experience.

Also Known As: Bird House Gourd, Large Ornamental Gourd, Buddha Squash, Martinhouse Gourd, Nest Egg Gourd, Canteen Gourd, Decorative Gourd, Hard-Shelled Gourd, Asian Bottle Gourd, Green Gourd, Swan Gourd, Lagenaria Gourd, Calabash Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Crafting Gourd, Ornamental Gourd, Ornamental Pumpkin, White-Flowered Gourd, Long Melon, Birdhouse Gourd, New Guinea Bean, Tasmania Bean.

Plant Name:	Bottle Gourd, Birdhouse
Latin Name:	Lagenaria siceraria
Days to Germinate:	7-14
Days to Harvest:	120
Plant Height:	10 - 15 Feet
Spread:	6 - 10 Feet
Growth Habit:	Vining
USDA Zones:	2-11
Lifespan:	Annual
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 4 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

Planting:

Gourds grows best in warm weather.

Starting Indoors: For an earlier harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when the soil temperature is above 65F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish.

Directly Sowing: If directly sowing Birdhouse Gourd outdoors, plant in mid-late spring when the soil warms to at least 70F. Fall planting is not typically recommended but is possible in climates with mild winters (USDA Zones 9-11), or if growing indoors >70F and using supplemental grow lights.

To plant, make holes 1 inch deep and spaced 4 feet apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish.

Planting Depth:	1 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	4 feet
Between-Row Spacing:	3 feet (trellis) or 8 feet (sprawl)

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once to twice a week. If there is no rainfall, water 3-4 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. Mulching around plants can help retain moisture.

Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 2-3 weeks after germination, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of a complete fertilizer around each hole, or 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Optionally, continue fertilizing every 3-4 weeks as plants grow, especially after flowering begins. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

Birdhouse Gourd is ready when the rind is tan and completely dried and hardened. The leaves and stem are withered and faded brown at this stage and gourds can be left outdoors in the winter. To harvest gourds for crafting, leave gourds on the vine to cure after they reach full maturty for at least 1 month. Gourds can dried indoors as well. Cut gourd from the vine, leaving a 1-3-inch stem, and place in a well-ventilated space, turning gourds occasionally as they dry. The indoor drying process may take about 4 months. Gourds are fully dried when they are light in weight and the seeds can be heard rattling inside when the gourd is shaken.