How to Grow Bottle Gourd from Seeds

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Bottle gourds, also known as calabash or birdhouse gourds, are an easy annual plant to keep in your garden. While you eat or decorate with other gourds, these plants are unique since you can dry them out and turn them into hard containers. If you want to try your hand at growing these gourds, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading for a full breakdown of taking care of bottle gourds right up until they’re ready to harvest.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Prepping Your Planting Area

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  1. Bottle gourds thrive in warm and bright spots since it helps them develop large leaves and vines. Find a place in your yard that gets sunlight for most of the day to keep your gourds healthy. [1]
    • Shady areas prevent water from evaporating, which could cool down the soil or cause your gourds to rot.
  2. Since gourds can easily get waterlogged in dense soil, check if it drains well too. Dig a hole that’s 1 ft (30 cm) deep and 1 ft (30 cm) wide and fill it with water. After it drains, fill it again and wait 1 hour. If the level goes down between 1–6 inches (2.5–15.2 cm), then the soil is perfect for gourds.
    • Adding compost helps improve drainage on clayey or dense soils. [2]
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  3. Bottle gourds prefer a relatively neutral soil, so run a soil test to see if it’s within a good range. [3] If the pH is too high, add peat moss or aluminum sulfate. To raise the pH, add some limestone into the soil.
  4. You can buy compost or manure from your local garden center. Spread a 2 in (5.1 cm) layer of the compost over your soil and use a rake or hoe to mix it in. [4]
    • This helps add nutrients to the soil as well as prevents weeds and insects from getting to your plants as easily.
  5. Use your hoe to build up the soil in your planting area. Make sure the mound is at least 6 inches (15 cm) above the rest of the soil and about 12 inches (30 cm) wide to help the roots establish better. [5]
    • If you’re planting multiple gourds, space your mounds about 9 feet (2.7 m) apart so the vines have room to spread out. [6]
  6. near the mounds if you want to train the vines to climb. Trellises help keep your vines under control and they help your bottle gourd dry out at the end of the growing season. Use a wooden or PVC trellis with your bottle gourds since it needs to support the weight of the fruits when they reach full size. Make sure one of the posts is next to the mound so you can easily tie the vines to it. [7]
    • You don’t need to use a trellis if you don’t want to. Just spread a 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) layer of mulch around the base of the mound to protect the gourds since they’ll be on the ground. [8]
    • Trellises also free up some space around your gourds since the ground isn’t covered with the vines.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Germinating Bottle Gourd Seeds

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  1. Since the seedlings are sensitive to freezing temperatures, late spring is the best for your bottle gourds. Check the last expected frost date in your area so you can get an estimate of how long you need to wait.
    • You can always start your gourd seeds in peat pots or seed trays up to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring. Just be sure to keep them in an area that’s at least 60 °F (16 °C) and has consistent sunlight throughout the day. [9]
  2. Since gourd seeds have a tough outer shell, they’re more likely to germinate if you expose their insides. Use your clippers to cut off the pointed tip of each shell so it exposes the seed inside. [10]
  3. Fill a small bowl with cold water and drop your seeds in. After a day, take them out and plant them immediately. This helps soften the seed’s outer shell so it’s more likely to sprout. [11]
    • Leaving seeds in water for more than 24 hours can cause them to rot.
  4. Plant 4 seeds per mound with about 3 inches (7.6 cm) between them so you’re more likely to have a healthy plant come in. Use your finger to push the pointed ends of each seed down into the soil. Cover the top of the seed with soil and pat it down firmly. [12]
    • Avoid laying the seed flat on its side since it’s more likely to rot before it germinates.
  5. Use a watering can and cool water to lightly moisten the soil. Stick your finger into the soil and see if it feels wet about 1 inch (2.5 cm) down. If it’s still dry, add a little bit more water before checking again. Be sure to water your seeds again with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water each week. [13]
    • Set up a rain meter by your gourds so you can easily see how much water they’ve gotten.
    • Install a drip irrigation system if you don’t want to worry about watering since it will keep the soil moist without using too much water.
  6. Bottle gourds usually start germinating and forming leaves within 1–2 weeks after planting them. As soon as you see 2 sets of large leaves growing on 2 of the stems, cut back the weaker growths so your plants get enough water and nutrients from the soil. [14]
    • If one of your gourd vines is overtaking all the others, remove the other 3 completely.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Caring for Your Bottle Gourds

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  1. Weeds compete with your gourds for water and resources, so they could prevent the vines from growing. Check your garden at least once a week to see if any new weeds have come in. Put on a pair of gardening gloves and pull the weeds and roots out from the soil. [15]
    • Try to catch weeds when they’re small since they’re easier to remove and won’t disturb your gourd’s roots.
  2. A 10-10-10 fertilizer adds equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to your soil to help plants grow. You can either use a liquid or granular fertilizer for your gourds. Follow the directions on the packaging and dress the sides of the mounds with the fertilizer. Immediately water the soil so the fertilizer soaks in and gets absorbed by the roots. [16]
    • Too much nitrogen in the soil could cause leafy growth on your vines, but prevent fruit from coming in.
  3. Measure the length of the vines throughout the growing season to see if they’re to size. Use a pair of pruning shears to take 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) off of the end of the vine to keep it from growing further. This helps the vines lower on the stem grow and form flowers. [17]
    • You should also trim off any vines that look broken or damaged.
  4. While bees and moths will naturally pollinate your plants, they may not do the best job with bottle gourds. Wait until the early evening when the flowers open. Look for the white male flowers on long stalks and pluck one or two off the vine. Turn the flower inside-out to expose the pollen and use a small paintbrush to transfer the pollen inside the female flowers on the shorter vines. [18]
    • If bottle gourds aren’t pollinated, they won’t form any fruits.
    • The female and male flowers look similar, but the female flowers have a small fruit at the base of the petals. [19]
  5. Both of these pests attack the vines and roots of your gourds, which could kill the entire plant. Thoroughly cover the leaves of your gourd with an insecticidal spray so the pests die out and stay away from your plants. [20]
    • Common signs of pests include holes and spots on leaves as well as yellow stems.
    • Insecticides can kill beneficial insects like bees, so wait until the late afternoon or evening when they’re dormant to apply them.
  6. If you notice blotchy spots or a powdery substance on the leaves, you may be dealing with a fungus. Use your pruning shears to cut off any damaged or infected parts of the plant first. Then, apply a liquid fungicide onto all of the leaves to prevent it from spreading to the rest of your plant. [21]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Harvesting Your Bottle Gourds

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  1. It usually takes around 90–120 days for bottle gourds to reach their full size. Even when the vine starts to wither and die off, leave the gourd attached. When your gourd has a light tan or white color, then it’s ready to pick. [22]
    • Bottle gourds can survive a few light frosts, but pick them before a hard freeze.
    • You can harvest bottle gourds when they still have tender green skin if you want to boil and eat them.
  2. Find a spot on the vine 6 inches (15 cm) up from the stem of the gourd. If the gourd is hanging from a trellis, support the gourd’s weight before cutting the vine. Otherwise, just snip the vine and collect the fruits. [23]
    • Hold onto the base of the gourd instead of the stem to keep it from breaking off.
  3. Wet a cloth with some white distilled vinegar and wipe the outside of the gourd. This helps kill any mold or bacteria that are still on the surface and gets rid of any dirt. Use a separate soft cloth to dry the gourd off when you’re finished. [24]
    • If you can’t get all of the dirt off, scrub the gourd with warm soapy water before drying it off.
  4. Find a spot that’s outside or away from people just in case the gourd forms mold. Tie the gourd onto a support and let it hang up to dry. After a few months, check the gourd to see if it feels lightweight and if the seeds rattle around inside to know if it’s ready. [25]
    • If your gourd forms mold on the surface, just wash it off with vinegar or soapy water again.
    • You can use dried gourds as birdhouses, bowls, or bottles.
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      Tips

      • You can start your bottle gourds in a pot or container if you want, but you’ll eventually need to plant them outside so the vines can grow. [26]
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      • Bottle gourds are edible. However, they may have a bitter flavor. [27]
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      Warnings

      • If you have any diseased gourd vines in your garden, remove them immediately to prevent bacteria from spreading to other plants. [28]
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      Things You’ll Need

      Prepping Your Planting Area

      • Shovel or hoe
      • Soil test kit
      • Compost or manure

      Germinating Bottle Gourd Seeds

      • Nail clippers
      • Watering can
      • Pruning shears

      Caring for Your Bottle Gourds

      • Watering can or drip irrigation
      • Gardening gloves
      • 10-10-10 fertilizer
      • Pruning shears
      • Paintbrush
      • Insecticidal spray
      • Fungicidal spray

      Harvesting Your Bottle Gourds

      • Pruning shears

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      References

      1. ↑ https://extension.unh.edu/resource/how-grow-birdhouse-gourds-lagenaria-siceraria
      2. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/soil-health-drainage-and-improving-soil
      3. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/gourd/infos
      4. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/files/139130.pdf
      5. ↑ https://gardenerspath.com/plants/annuals/grow-birdhouse-gourds/
      6. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MV069
      7. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1180&title=Commercial%20Production%20and%20Management%20of%20Pumpkins%20and%20Gourds
      8. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MV069
      9. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/gourd/infos
      1. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/files/139130.pdf
      2. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/files/139130.pdf
      3. ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/bottle-gourds.html
      4. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/gourd/infos
      5. ↑ https://gardenerspath.com/plants/annuals/grow-birdhouse-gourds/
      6. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1180&title=Commercial%20Production%20and%20Management%20of%20Pumpkins%20and%20Gourds
      7. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/files/139130.pdf
      8. ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/bottle-gourds.html
      9. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/files/139130.pdf
      10. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MV069
      11. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1180&title=Commercial%20Production%20and%20Management%20of%20Pumpkins%20and%20Gourds
      12. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1180&title=Commercial%20Production%20and%20Management%20of%20Pumpkins%20and%20Gourds
      13. ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/bottle-gourds.html
      14. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/uc_master_gardeners/files/139130.pdf
      15. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1180&title=Commercial%20Production%20and%20Management%20of%20Pumpkins%20and%20Gourds
      16. ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/bottle-gourds.html
      17. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/gourd/infos
      18. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MV069
      19. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/diseases/downy-mildew-cucurbits

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