«Birdhouse» - Organic Calabash Seeds

Heirloom Calabash «Birdhouse»

Sowing

In shorter growing seasons, start gourd seeds indoors in peat pots 3-4 weeks before the last frost. To speed germination, soak the seeds overnight. Plant the seedlings outdoors in rich soil and full sun after the last spring frost. For direct sowing, wait until the soil warms to 70 degrees F, then plant 5 seeds per hill, 1" deep, with 5' spacing; later, thin to the strongest plant.
 

Growing

Keep the soil evenly moist. When the vines begin to develop, either provide a trellis or lay down mulch to keep the gourds from contact with the soil; too much soil contact can weaken the shell, distort the shape, and cause rotting.
 

Harvesting

Late in the summer, the stem and leaves of the gourd will wither and turn brown; cut off the gourd, leaving about 2" of stem. Wash it with a solution of white vinegar and water to deter mold. Place them in a warm, dry location on a screen so that every side of the gourd has good air circulation. If the gourd begins to rot and shrivel up, throw it away; surface mold is normal. Calabash gourds may take several months to dry, depending on the size. When completely dry, they will be extremely lightweight and the seeds will rattle inside.
 

Seed Saving

After the gourds have completely dried so that the seeds inside rattle, remove the seed by cutting open the gourd or drilling a hole in the shell. Spread out the seeds to dry; when a seed will snap in two, it has dried sufficiently. If the seed only bends but will not break, further drying time is needed. Store the dry seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 8 years.