Is this a gourd?

These seeds were given to my mom. I think they're some sort of gourd or squash.

I planted the seeds and this is what I got.
The leaves have a soft fuzz. There is a distinctive scent/odor when you rub on the leaves.

Is it a loofa gourd or is it an opo squash?

Very interesting! You might have to just let it grow to figure it out or post on the plant identification forum.

Maybe it's opo? Found this pic of opo squash, with leaves, on the internet.

I have no idea what an opo squash seed looks like but based on your picture of the seeds I think they are from a gourd of some kind. Just do a quick search for bottle gourd seeds (or just gourd seeds) and you'll see the resemblance.

This message was edited Jul 12, 2010 2:14 AM

No gourds yet...just huge leaves and thick vines. Can anyone identify it yet?

Update: The "whatevertheyare" are growing and doing well. They have thick vines and curling tendrils just like squash vines. I've trained them to go up a trellis but I'm not sure if the trellis will be strong enough to hold the three vines. Notice how huge the leaves are. The leaves are soft and fuzzy with a distinctive scent.

Dorkasaurus: I think they're some sort of gourd, too. Perhaps a loofah of some kind.

The leaves smell very similar to the skin of the smooth loofahs that I buy from the Asian market. I Googled info and pics of loofahs and they have yellow flowers. Mine have white flowers.

BTW, what are those little bugs on the flower? Are they good or bad bugs?

Here's another pic of a flower.

After much searching on the internet I think I've figured out what the mystery gourd is!

Drum roll please........

It's a Cucuzzi gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)...I think.

http://www.tulipsinthewoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/img_2238.jpg

What do y'all think? Looks like the same plant, right?

White flower means a Lagenaria siceraria, could be any of the bottle gourd group which includes the Cucuzzi.

I ffarmerdill is right it has to be harvested young. They are Italian Squash and they come all shapes. they can be eaten as veggie and will post recipes as soon as there is a true identification. Please update. They grow wild!! I used to plant them but no room in my small garden. Belle

All bottle gourds are edible young. Very popular in India and southeast Asia. In north America, They are mostly used as craft gourds. Companies that specialize in Asian vegetables will carry sevaral varieties intended as edibles. Evergreen and Kitazawa http://www.kitazawaseed.com/seeds_bottle_gourd.html are good examples. There is the possibility that it is one of the craft types like birdhouse, dipper, calabash etrc. These also are edible but not as good quality as those developed strictly as edibles.
Ther are 132 varieties of Lagenaria siceraria listed in plantfiles. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=gourd&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=lagenaria&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=siceraria&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

I grew Cucuzzi last year, great fun! However, I wasn't impressed with the taste when sampling a couple of the young ones and decided to let them grow into craft gourds.

Quyen, I hope you get to witness cucuzzi in your garden but if you end up with bottle gourd or one of the many others you will still enjoy growing them.

Shoe

gourds are tasteless and like I said previously there are recipes that are good for these ttpe of veggies. I can post some if there is interests when we find out what kind they are. belle

I'd semi-agree, Bellieg, meaning "some" gourds are tasteless. Some are very bland but lend themselves to carrying flavors of other dish ingredients. Cucuzzi definitely has a flavor I'd say akin to a "green chlorophyll" taste, fairly strong. On the other hand, Trombocino (considered an edible gourd in Europe but more often referred to as a squash in the U.S and considered as a "gourd" in name only but really is more closely related to a butternut) has a wonderful flavor both when young as well as when used as a winter squash.

I'd love to see your recipes, bellieg! I hope you'll share as time goes by. Thanks for offering.

Happy Gardening!
Shoe

shoe,
I just noticed your picture. This is the type that Asians as well as Italian ea. I will share recipes tonight or tomorrow. they have to be young otherwise thaey are full of seeds and also hard to peel. Later. belle

Thank you for the links, Farmerdill. It took me a while to find gourds with white flowers on the internet.

Wow, Shoe, that is one LONG gourd. My trellis is only about 6 feet high...and not all that big. I will probably have to put in more support later.

I hope mine will turn out to be the edible kind cuz I won't know what to do with ornamental gourds. Gourds go well with shrimp or pork, either in a stir-fry or in a soup.

Looking forward to your recipes, Belle.

I had not heard of non edible gourd. When a gourd becomes ornamental or for crafts it is because it got too old. I do not know if I am clear. When these gourds of any kind are young they are edible. I might be wrong and if someone googles if there are non edible gourds please tell me. i am back early because I could not get out of the drive way. DH has 2 cars and blocked my car with his BMW and I could not even ease 6 inches. I was all dressed up to go out but could not move my car. I was furious and he said he did not do it purposely!! That is a lie!! LOL!!!

Quyen,
Are you Asian descent? If you are then you must have recipes for gourd. I am Asian descent and I do have tested recipes. I will wait what kind of fruit you have before the recipes. Tune in next time. Belle

All the Lagenaria siceraria are edible. As with everything else some are better than others. If you are going to eat Cucuzzi, pick them at about 6-10 inches max. The Opo is a Philippine variety and is much thicker than Cucuzzi also grown strictly as an edible.
As Shoe noted, gourd is a very general term. While Lagenaria siceraria is rarely called any but gourd, C. pepo squash (small ornamental gourds), Luffa cylindrica and Luffa acutangular (sponge gourds), Momordica charantia (bitter gourds), Benincasa hispida ( wax gourd) are usually listed as gourds but commonly called anything from vine okra to cucumbers to melons. I have not heard the Trombocino ( a C. moschata squash) called a gourd, but it makes as much sense as any of the other common names.

Luffa when harvested young is delicious with right ingredients. The bitter gourd are also deliciou. too many recipes for all those gourd.

Thank you for the clarification Farmerdill. Belle

The female flowers finally made their appearance. I have about 6 of these little babies, so far. They are so cute!

Belle: yes, I'm Asian.

This message was edited Sep 5, 2010 12:04 PM

Congrats, Quyen! I bet you are dancing a jig now!

Will be looking forward to your harvest pics.

Shoe

Yep. I had a huge grin on my face when I saw those little fruits. I can't wait to see how fast they grow.

They are upo squash. Belle

It is a true gourd Belle, not a squash. It does appear to be an Opo, but it is hard to be definitive because there are several bottle gourds with that general appearance. Suppose to be harvested between 10 and 15 inches. http://www.kitazawaseed.com/seed_297-36.html

quyen,
Is this a community garden plot? If so you did a good job with the trellis. Do not forget to harvest while they are young . they taste better.

farmerdill,
I meant gourd and thank you. belle

I guess they're some kind of bottle gourds, most likely opo. Phooey! I was so hoping that they'd be the cucuzzi just so I can let a few grow to be taller than me.

Belle: Thanks. Yes, I started planting in April at this community garden. We have too many shade trees around our house. Looks like I'll have to extend the trellis to accommodate the vigorous vines. I also have some Fortex beans climbing up the twine.

Cucuzzi is just a skinny version of bottle gourd. They are eaten at 6-10 inches. I don't know how big a mature Opo gets but it is most likely competitive. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73599/ In the craft field compare to snake gourds(Lagenaria siceraria not Trichosanthes cucumerina) and club gourds. http://www.flickr.com/photos/13237694@N00/3980535040/ http://www.amishgourds.com/site/1278922/page/471964

Farmerdill:
They're only the size of my thumb right now.
I would like to let a few grow out to see how big they can get. Will this stop production of new fruits, like the snap beans?

Yes, a plant can only bring so many fruits to maturity. I would suggest that you follow Shoe's example. Try some of the young ones to see if if you like them. If not, then you let the rest grow and have a supply of club gourds. If you like them, just leave one or two fruits to grow to maturity.

Update: I've reinforced the trellis. It looks kind of funny but is much stronger now. The vines are still growing and thriving but the buds and shoots are being attacked by small caterpillars. They're small and light brown in color. May have to spray or dust them with something.

The gourds are growing fast. This picture was taken on 9/11.

Same gourd today! I decided to pick it since it's about 8 inches long. It weighed in at 3 pounds. Will cook it tomorrow with shrimp.

That sounds good!!! I do cook it with shrimp sometimes. it is good with gingered chicken too.Belle

How was your gourd after it was cooked?. Had you ever added some oriental vermicelli?

It was very sweet and young. I used it in a soup with fresh shrimp. I think I could have left it on the vine for a couple of more days. I've already picked my second one. They grow so fast!

We usually cook the vermicelli with the angled gourds rather than the bottle gourds. We do have a stir-fry dish where the bottle gourd is cooked with scrambled eggs and green scallions. Delicious!

On the down side, there are these tiny light brown caterpillars that have been eating the flower buds and the outside of the gourds, big and small. They are about 1/2 inch long and I really want to get rid of them but don't know what to use. :-(

Try diluted dish washing soap spay. I would be scared to use other sprays. Fresh veggies are delicious!!! I have few recipes for them. Belle

Quyen, use Bt for those worms. It is the safest you can use for worm/caterpillar and has no effect on warm-blooded animals or beneficial bugs. A dust form is available called Dipel, a liquid form (which I prefer) is called Thuricide.

Enjoy those gourds! Sounds pretty yummy to me!

Shoe