Different Gourds You Should Grow, And How To Use Them

Mankind has grown gourds for more than 10,000 years. These strange-looking plants were used to create some of the first food vessels, from bowls to spoons and sponges, to even food storage containers. While modern convenience has made purchasing bowls, sponges, and cutlery easy, it is still fun to grow these peculiar vegetables. But with more than 500 gourd varieties, it can be difficult to decide where to start.

There are hundreds of gourd species, but most gourds fit into one of four categories. There are sponge, snake, ornamental, and bottle gourds. Snake gourds are often consumed in specific types of cuisine. Sponge gourds are great for growing your own loofah and sponges, and ornamental gourds are fantastic for DIY projects. Bottle gourds make vessels like water jugs, bowls, and even musical instruments. 

If you like to garden and also enjoy crafting, then you should consider growing gourds in your garden. Gourds are a little particular, but with a little effort, you can easily grow beautiful gourds. The key is understanding the different types of gourds, how to grow them, and how to use them once you’ve picked them off the vine.

Four Categories Of Gourds You Can Grow In Your Garden

1. Sponge Gourds 

The sponge gourd is a very unique and fast-growing gourd species. It grows thin and long like their relatives, the squash. It loves warm and tropical climates and requires full sun. While these gourds at first are edible, they eventually become very fibrous, and turn into a natural loofah. 

These are great gourds to grow if you want to make some organic DIY beauty products, like sponges, or exfoliating soap bars. If you live in a tropical climate, this is a great first gourd to attempt.

Common Sponge Gourds You Can Grow In Your Garden

• White Long Sponge Gourd
• Green Sponge Gourd
• Chikni Tori Gourd

Snake Gourds

Snake gourds, unlike the rest on this list, are commonly eaten. As the name suggests, these gourds are long and serpentine. While some cultures eat these gourds, you can also allow them to harden. In fact, you can make a didgeridoo (the Australian musical instrument) with a snake gourd.

Snake Gourds You Can Grow In Your Garden

• Chichinda Padwal
• Serpent Gourd
• Snake Gourd

Bottle Gourds

One of the most iconic varieties of gourd is the bottle gourd. This type of gourd has been used as water (and alcohol) vessels for thousands of years. It comes in all sizes and is great for making bowls, lamps, and other practical home objects. You can also make beautiful crafts with them. 

Great Bottle Gourds You Should Grow In Your Garden

• Indonesian Bottle Gourd
• Mexican Bottle Gourd
• Copper Canyon Canteen Gourd

Ornamental Gourds

Lastly, ornamental gourds are an array of unique hard-shelled gourds that are used for all sorts of purposes. These tend to be the best gourds for crafting, sculpture, and design. They are also often the type of gourd used by many indigenous cultures for certain practices. You can make drums and rattles using several types of ornamental gourds. 

Stunning Ornamental Gourds Worth Growing

• Hawaiian Dance Mask Gourd
• Speckled Swan Gourd
• Calabash Gourd
• Cannonball Gourd

Eight Tips To Successfully Grow Gourds In Your Garden

1. Gourds Love Sun

One of the most important things you need to know about gourds is that they love sunlight. You must place a gourd plant in an area that receives as much direct sunlight as possible throughout the year.

Gourds thrive when they get at least eight hours of direct sunlight per day. If you don’t have an area that offers this much sunlight, do your best to find the sunniest spot possible. Gourds can still grow with some partial shade, but for large gourds and high yields, the sunnier the better.

2. Grow Gourds On A Trellis For Symmetry

If you can install a trellis or pergola, your gourds will be happier (and prettier) for it. Gourds creep like other vines; they climb. When you allow your gourds to climb and then hang as they grow, they will become symmetrical in form. Gravity will inspire this plant to stay even on all sides. 

This is ideal for those looking to make utensils and bowls with their gourds. A trellis is also a great way to maximize your garden space when it is limited. It can even help your gourds get the sunlight they need.

3. For Unique Shapes, Grow Gourds On The Ground

If you don’t have a trellis or are interested in growing ornate and truly uniquely shaped gourds, then grow them on the ground. When you allow a gourd to grow on the ground, it may twist and turn until it finds a home. 

The shape may be less spherical, and more abstract. This is great for those who want to paint their gourds, make instruments, or use them to create abstract art. 

4. Give Them Lots Of Space

One thing you will learn very quickly when you grow gourds is they require a lot of space. One plant can easily grow five feet in each direction, and sometimes upwards of 10. If you grow your gourds on a trellis, make sure you allow at least five feet between plants. 

If you decide to grow your gourds on the ground, try to allow at least 10 feet between each plant. This will give them the space they need to grow and breathe. It will also help them maximize sunlight.

5. Allow Them Plenty Of Time To Grow

Gourds take longer than most vegetables to grow. This means it is a good idea to think about planting your gourds in early spring as soon as the final frost has disappeared. A gourd can take upwards of 120 days to fully mature, so the sooner you can get your crop going, the better off you will be.

If you live somewhere with a shorter growing season, start your gourds indoors. This will ensure they have time to fully mature.

6. Feed Them Plenty Of Nutrients

Gourds love food, and they need plenty of it. Make sure you start them off in nutrient-rich soil. Throughout the growing process, make sure you add organic matter like manure, and plenty of compost to replenish the nutrients these hungry plants require.

7. Leave Them On The Vine

One key to a successful gourd crop is to not rush the process. Once you see what looks like a fully-grown gourd, it will be tempting to pick it. You must resist this temptation.

Unlike most vegetables, gourds do not start to decompose after they mature. Instead, this is when they start to hollow out and grow a thick outer shell that makes them special. 

It is often wise to leave them on the vine until the entire vine starts to die out. Gourds take anywhere from 80 to 120 days to fully mature.

8. Consider Hand Pollinating

Gourds are plants that must be pollinated to grow beautiful gourds. The tricky thing is that their flowers bloom at night, and therefore these plants often require nocturnal pollinators. Several beetles, bees, and moths can pollinate them, but they don’t exist everywhere.

If you live somewhere that doesn’t have many pollinators, consider hand pollinating. If you grow several types of gourds, hand pollination is also a good idea, as it greatly reduces the risk of cross-pollination.

Summing Up Gourds You Should Grow And How To Use Them

Gourds are truly a natural marvel. There are very few other plants you can grow that magically turn into solid and durable vessels you can use for all sorts of purposes. While technology makes it easy to forget the historical importance of these plants, it is worth growing them at home as a fun DIY project. 

Remember that all gourds love the sun, and they require plenty of space to grow. If you want your gourd to look symmetrical, grow it on a trellis, and for more ornate shapes, opt to grow them on the ground. Remember to be patient, as these plants can take upwards of 120 days to grow and harden before they are ready to be picked off the vine.

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