Anoniw wrote:
I live in Pensacola, Fl. what's the best time to plant Gourds, and how should I care for them?
Gourds (Cucurbita species) are very closely related to cucumbers, squash and melons. They have a growing season of anywhere from 120-180 days, so you will want to get them started as early as possible. Sow your seeds outdoors when all frost danger has passed. Plant the seeds in full sun, about 10 to 12 inches apart where you want them to grow (they do not transplant well). The seeds will germinate more quickly if you soak them in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting. Gourd vines will trail along the ground if no support such as a fence or trellis is supplied, but the fruit will often be misshapen and less perfect. It is strongly recommended therefore that the gourds be grown on a strong arbor consisting of posts and several overhead crosspieces. The fruit will then hang down below the lattice. Gourds and most other vining plants are heavy feeders, so add a considerable amount of manure and compost to the soil prior to planting. When your gourds are well established, additional fertilizer is probably not necessary, but you may want to occasionally feed with a water soluble low-nitrogen fertilizer like 5-10-5. Avoid high
nitrogen fertilizers because they will encourage leafy growth and actually delay fruit maturity. When the vine has reached about 10 feet long, you might want to snip the end to promote lateral side growth, and consequently, more fruit. The male flowers appear on the main stem, while the fruit producing female flowers will emerge from the side stems......
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