From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Petersburg, Mi

What is the best way to push growth in Bushel Gourds?

8/18/2016 10:32:48 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I would say pruning them. I have one evasive plant that has escaped the fenced area and it taking over the neighborhood

8/19/2016 7:54:53 AM

sevierville, Tn

yea, and they don't die till frost !

8/20/2016 1:08:01 PM

Petersburg, Mi

Can definitely do that. They are playing the escape game here too

8/21/2016 7:48:48 AM

Forest Hill,md.

Was curious if the 270 and or the 279.5 were pulled early for a weigh off event,or if they reached full growth potential.And if they reached full potential,what date did they make it to?

9/15/2016 10:43:21 PM

sevierville, Tn

The 270 went full term, picked at DAP 74 which was done and actually crack the shell a little. Can't go that long if you want to save the gourd for drying ! Not sure how old Doug's 279 was.

9/16/2016 6:32:09 AM

Forest Hill,md.

Thanks,This one still rolling along and the stem that enters into gourd still mostly green,although it is starting to get some tan color on it and the fruit it self.Plant is covering 50x50 area and its tough managing the leaf critters on that size of an area.never measured but know it must be well over 200 lb, as unlike its melon buddies,i cannot even budge it or slide it.Luckily grew on a piece of plywood already on ground before it got too big to move.DAP at 70 days now.

9/16/2016 7:11:59 PM

Bowdon, GA

Chris when do you pick for drying? I never could get a giant pear to dry. If they did they busted open.

9/16/2016 11:42:50 PM

sevierville, Tn

Jake, i would pick about DAP 60 or before they got any major cracks.

9/17/2016 5:10:54 AM

Webster Groves, MO

The 279.5 was picked the night before the weigh off. The date was Oct. 2. This was a really mature fruit. Brown markings all over the fruit, but no cracks. I think it would have dried out fine if given 5-6 months.But it was harvested for the seeds. I have yet to figure out what is the best maturity for drying out. I used to let them age on the vine till the first frost (Mid Nov. here) and have good success. But last years crop (all above 175+ pounds) stayed on the vine till mid Nov. and slowly dried out till May of this year. All 5 were down to about 5-10 lbs weight then they rotted. It was heartbreaking. None of them had any blemishes or cracks when they were harvested. Thinking Big I hope your monster goes heavy! Try using the Watermelon chart for an estimate. Best of luck Doug

9/19/2016 8:52:27 PM

Webster Groves, MO

Hopefully, Harry Hurley (H3) will chime in on harvesting bushel gourds since he grew them professionally.

9/19/2016 9:00:08 PM

Fuquay Varina, NC

Sorry guys, I have not been on this site since early June 2016. It was so hot & dry here in NC (and with the aftermass of Shingles I just had to slack up and loss interest in keep abreast. Even with my garden.)So I am not ignoring Dig n Doug comment from 9/19/2016. I just seen it. So, let me give a few thoughts that might be helpful. 1) if the gourd is going to rot you can't stop it. 2) When I dry these big things I dry them upside down. This way all the weight is on the thick side of the gourd. Drying right side up is putting too much weight on the thin side. DnD, sorry you lost the 5 gourds.

1/10/2017 10:07:10 PM

Webster Groves, MO

Harry,

Great to hear from you! Hope you are doing better in regards to the Shingles. Great tip on drying the gourds.
In the future, I will dry them upside down.

1/14/2017 1:01:16 PM

Fuquay Varina, NC

I will be sending out seeds to Mark Clementz on Monday. As most of you know I didn't do much with them this past year and ended up with 135 lbs. Only had two gourd plants. Since I didn't cull any except a few early on I ended up with about twelve gourds per plant. About half of them won't make it. So considering..I shouldn't complain with 135.
To my note above...right side up, too much weigh and too much moisture on thin side. You guys don't seem to want to get over 300 lbs, so I guess I will have to do it..lol

1/28/2017 8:29:26 PM