Dipper Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)
1
Purchased (Rohrer Seeds)
Life Cycle
Annual
Category
Pack Date
Other (Gourd)
2021
Requirements
Plant seed outdoors in rich soil after all danger of frost is past. Cover seed 1/2" with fine soil, pressed firmly. Vines are easy to grow and are commonly used on arbors, fences, and trellises
Seed spacing 3" (thin to 12"), 6-8' between rows. 10-14 days to germinate. 16-18 weeks to reach maturity.
Seed Saving
The seeds saved should be extracted from a fresh season gourd for best germination rate. This can be done approximately a month after the mature gourd is harvested. Simply cut the gourd open and remove the seeds from the pulp by washing them in as many changes of water as necessary.
Spread the cleaned seeds on shallow trays or screens to dry. Stir them frequently to keep them from sticking together. When they are dry enough for storage, they will break in two with a 'snap'. Once they are 'snapped' and broken open, the germ inside should be fairly tight against the shell.
The gourd can be allowed to dry, and this allows you to cut the shell so it can be used for craft purposes. In this case, the seeds still need to be cleaned by separating from the pulp and each other. You may want to wear a mask as well as rubber gloves as the dry pulp can also be irritating. Germination rate may be lower than extracting seeds from a fresh gourd.
-Information from the INDIANA GOURD SOCIETY, INC
Additional Info
"These beautiful gourds are a wonderful addition to fall decorations. Easy to use in crafts: simply wash the surface, dry thoroughly, and then paint, wax, shellac, or varnish."