Bushel Gourd

Bushel Gourds grow giant and round like basketballs! These deep green, mottled, kettle-shaped gourds are as big as a "bushel", growing anywhere from 25-100 pounds, or up to 20-inches in diameter! They have been used throughout history as beautiful baskets, storage containers, kitchen tools, bowls and cooking vessels, musical instruments, vases, and a wide variety of crafts. These ancient African gourds are a subspecies of the Bottle Gourd, Lagenaria siceria, and are considered one of the earliest domesticated plants, dating back as early as 13,000 BC!  Bushel Gourds grow 15-30-foot vines and left to cure. Once cured, they become hard-shelled and tan, and can be carved, drilled, pyro-engraved, cut, and painted like a wood canvas! Use to make unique crafts and decorations, like hand-painted bowls, flower pots, lanterns, birdhouses, canteens, instruments, lamps, and any creation to your imagination!

Also Known As: African Basket Gourd, Basketball Gourd, Bushel Basket Gourd, Corsican Round Gourd, Hard Shelled Gourd, Green Gourd, Utility Gourd, Storage Gourd, Kettle  Gourd, Drinking Gourd, Lagenaria Gourd, Calabash Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Ornamental Gourd, Ornamental Pumpkin.

Plant Name:	Gourd, Bushel
Latin Name:	Lagenaria siceraria
Days to Germinate:	7-14
Days to Harvest:	140
Plant Height:	2 - 3 Feet
Spread:	12 - 16 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 Gourds 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:

Harvest gourds when they reach full size, and 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 using clippers, 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. Disinfect gourds by gently washing in mild detergent and rinsing thoroughly, or wiping with household disinfectant or rubbing alcohol. Allow gourds to dry and cure for at least 7 days. When fully dried, coat gourds in paste wax or dip in shellac and hang by the stems to preserve.