Gourds and Melons Forum

Dear Dave....I really wish we could have our Gourds and Melons Forum reactivated....I know that a lot of us really enjoyed that forum and wish you would see your way clear to bringing it back. (Psst...I'll send you some more seeds!)

Thanks for reading this and considering it. Jo

That sounds good to me too. (Pssst... what kind of seeds?) lol



Viv

I understand that this forum lagged in the inter months before, but I think we can inject it with more activity during that time with discussions about what to do with dried gourds, how to dry them. etc. I've never been a gourd person, but am going to try some, would like more info.

As someone who will be growing gourds for the first time, I would love to be able to see what information already exists... especially if it includes information on crafts as well as propagation!

I was so immersed in working on my first veggie garden last year that I didn't even realize there *WAS* a Gourds and Melons Forum. What a difference a year makes. :)

Donna

I am newer member who would LOVE a gourd forum! I have tons of different seeds, grow al kinds of gourds and craft with all of them. Have you seen the bumpy gourds made into hedgehog birdhouses??? Bottle gourds as basset hounds? Tiny spinner gourds as tree ornaments? Think of the advice on drying... think of the RR with crafts? Think of the seeds we could exchange... I'd be in gourd heaven!

Please Dave.....give us the Gourd/Melon Forum. I want to grow some BIG melons! uh I mean I want to LEARN to grow big melons!

Thanks

Seems to be this should be on the list of "seasonal forums"... LOL

Adding my 2 cents worth here. I don't grow gourds but do like to read about them. And some summer----who knows----might try growing them too.
In Nicaragua I saw some luffa (sp?) gourds growing on a 12 ft. chain link fence. The pic is not so good but I will put it here.
farizona

How cool! Thanks for the photo.

Frances...How neat!! I wish the Javalina's hadn't bit into mine!! Jo

Darius...why should it be seasonal?...we don't get into drying the gourds until fall...then there is all the fun decorating them and posting great pictures...just as bassetmom says.....I don't think gourds fit into ANY forum we have right now...maybe veggies...but they are seldom eaten...in the USA anyhow...maybe Crafts...as they are beautifu when finished....Oh well...I hope Dave and Terry agree with us! Jo

I'm willing to support bringing back this forum if it means I can count on each person requesting this forum to actively participate in PlantFiles this summer and fall, adding entries, images and comments for the gourds and melons you're growing.

I'm not trying to single out the gourd-growers, but I am concerned that out of all those who have expressed an interest bringing back this forum, nobody has created any gourd entries, or even submitted an image, comment, or ZIP code to the current Lagenaria siceraria entries in PlantFiles: http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?search_type%5Bcommon%5D=contains&searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&search_type%5Bfamily%5D=contains&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&search_type%5Bgenus%5D=contains&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=lagenaria&search_type%5Bspecies%5D=contains&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&search_type%5Bcultivar%5D=contains&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&search_type%5Bhybridizer%5D=contains&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&Search=Search

In fairness, I will say that the other vegetable forums suffer from the same problem - but not to this degree of "disconnectedness". And you can ask the vegetable forum regulars - they'll reassure you I nag at them, too ;o)

If you'll take just a few extra minutes to post your images and growing notes to PlantFiles as you post stuff to the forum, your efforts will provide more accessible information and assistance to everyone, year-round.

Have gourd seeds, will be taking photos throughout my first efforts this year! :)

Terry, I will be happy to do so! I have baby plants I can snap now, dried gourds, etc. , all of which I can add, along with my zip, etc. !!

Terry, that is a great idea. Threaten to shut down the forums if the regulars won't spend some time upgrading the plant files. Even I get a little annoyed when pictures are posted in the forums, but never in plantfiles.

Terry, I just went to PlantFiles and added my zip to all the gourds I've grown successfully. I will go back and add comments and pics as well. It is a very reasonable request!

I would read the Gourd Forum. I promise to try to take better photos from now on and put them into the plantfiles. I always thought only certain people could upload into Plantfiles section so never even tried.

Farmerdill, I think you're on to me ;o)

OH Terry...I really appreciate this...there are only 2 forums which I feel like I can contribute something too...that is the Rocks and Mineral and the Gourd & Melons...(just grow gourd but love melons!!)

Now, I have a hard time with the PF...I know nothing of latin names...but...I will try....

Three cheers for Terry!! Hip Hip Hooray!! (that's only one...so come on with the other 3 folks!) LOL

Thank you again!!

Jo

Hey Terry...I have been very busy in the PF...I posted 3 or 4 pictures and clicked on my zip code a few times...I'll be a UBER before you know it!

Now....bring on the gourd forum!! Jo

I'll take daily pictures of my head and people can comment, it's the weirdest shaped gourd on the planet.

Dr Don....is it as large as this one??? No...I didn't grow this one...Farizona saw a man growing them near her and we commissioned her to buy most of his harvest...(DD & I)...Jo

Jo,
That's a perfect size for the purple martins..(birdhouses)

Here are some photos of gourd seeds, job's tears and luffa that I've started for this year. Ooops, job's haven't sprouted yet so no photo for them. I would like to track & add photos. I'm forwarding the EXLD sprouted seeds to irisluvr0252 to grow. I'll she if she is interested, too!

First photo is my luffa sprouts -->

Here are the EXLHD seeds for irisluvr0252 -->

Oh, and another of the luffa oper???? that I've started too for this year. They are slower to germinate and this is not a great photo. Really I just want you to know I'm planning on growing the big & small luffas along with the jobs tears for myself.

Gourd...that is one big gourd...fills that chair...and that is an adult chair!!! Lots of Martins could fit in it. I like the Birdhouse gourds for Martin houses...except we have no Martins here...

Morph....you have been a busy lasy!! I only have some Snake Gourds trying to start!

I do have some dried ones stored in the shed...so I can do some crafts when I get bored. Jo

Jo, I think you should just mail that gourd to me..lol. I had to take a second look here. We have two just a tad smaller than that one for the birds, lots of babies fit into those.

Gourd...I think you should come and get it!! LOL jo

oh please start this forum up because I have a bunch of seeds that were given to me by roadrunner and don't know exactly how to start and grow the.
Sami

OH Morph! My babies are so beautiful! Thanks! Yes, I would be interested in the forum for the gourds and melons. I will do what I can to post pics and info to keep it going!

Deb

Actually Terry, melons are not a good fit with gourds. Maybe some other type of plant used for crafts would be better.

Farmerdill...we already have Gourds and Melons...and it worked fine...what forum would be best for melons? What other plants go well for crafts and gourds? Jo

If you read the vegetable forum, you will find the melons there, and it is not overcrowded. Gourds and melons are grown for different purposes, except of course for the edible gourds which are more akin to squash than melons. The combination of gourds and melons makes less sense than example gourds and strawflowers because both are used in dried arrangements. There is little in common between gourds and melons except that they are both grow on vines. I really have no good ideas as to what would enhance the gourd forum. As a melon grower I am more comfortable in the Vegetable forum although I did try to make a few comments in the g & m forum last year.

I know...and I also know that you grow lots of melons...yummy...I don't care if Melons are with the gourds or not...I would just like to be able to have Gourds in a forum!! LOL Jo

Gourds and Pumpkins. A high percentage of pumpkins are grown for onamental purposes. Advocates of each would have something in common and would probably strenghten the forum. You could get into arrangements, painting, carving and who knows what all.

Well, my interest would be in growing gourds IF I could grow the durn things. Squash borers ALWAYS get them. Sigh.

I'd love to grow my own gourds for my GourdCrafting, but my participation would have to be on the curing, cleaning and craft end.

Darius...that is just lovely....and I know a lady here that sells raw gourds...well...they are dried....I have been invited to join their Gorud Society that meets once a month...maybe I can learn a lot ...I know I can!! I'll check on her prices, but I know she is cheaper than Wertz Gourd Farm here in AZ.

I cleaned a gourd today...and it was the easiest to clean I have ever done...I wish they were all that easy. Jo

You must have just cleaned the outside, LOL. I clean the inside and save the pulp (sans seeds) to use in making paper. It has no long fibers so you have to add cotton lintel but it molds into nice vessels.

Darius...I saw a neat thing at a Gourd Festival here in AZ...I'll bet you could make one.

It was a bent wire....and fit in a hand drill....it cleaned out the inside in nothing flat!! He was selling them for about $25.00 I think. Jo