"Growing Gourds - Novelty Gardening!"
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Make sure the pots are well drained. The young roots won't be happy with their feet in water.   Growing gourds - Planting Out:When the plants have 4 true leaves ( not counting the first two leaves ) they will be ready to plant out in the garden. Don't plant out if there is any possibility of a frost. Keep your plants well watered and protected from the cold and plant out when the weather is warmer. Choose a sunny position. Soil should be dug and all weeds removed. Add well rotted compost or manure and dig well into the prepared patch. Using a trowel, dig holes for your plants, leaving the right amount of space between them. Check on your seed packets for measurements, but generally about half to one metre apart will be okay. ( Growing gourds in your garden does take up a considerable amount of space ) If you are using disposable pots, plant the whole thing in the prepared soil. These pot-makers will help you make your own, saving money - and the planet! Growing gourds the easy way :-) Otherwise, soak the pot and carefully remove the plants one at a time. Handle the plant as little as possible, and quickly place in your prepared hole. Fill hole in with freshly dug soil and firm down with your hands. Water well. Then repeat with the others. Try not to let the light get to the roots of your plants too much. Use a cloche to protect the young plants if you need to.
Watch for slugs....and remove! Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Other than that, the gourds should be getting on with growing themselves! When the fruits start appearing, make sure they are not in contact with wet soil. Tip: When watering the larger plants, direct the water at the roots and not all over the patch. This will keep the soil dry in places for your gourds to develop. Also by watering in this way, you will discourage weeds between the plants. Smooth stones can be placed under the gourds as they get bigger if necessary. Growing gourds - Harvesting:When gourds are the right size ( check the seed packet ), cut stalk carefully, and dry in the sun for a day. Some smaller gourds can be picked easily by twisting the stalk slightly. If it breaks easily, the fruit has stopped growing and is ready to harvest. Keep picking the gourds as they are ready and the others will gain more energy from the plant. Leave the last growing gourds on the plants until the foliage has completely died back or the weather gets too atrocious to support any more growth! Growing gourds in your garden can really be a family project. Make containers and bird houses, bowls and musical instruments from these magnificent plants! Keep a few gourds just for the seeds - to plant next year! Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Kids Gardening Page Back To Flower And Garden Tips Homepage Click Here To Subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growinggourds.html |
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