Monday, March 9, 2009

A sad story about gourds


"What?" you say..."A sad story about gourds? That can't be possible. Nothing about gourds could be sad. You simply cannot tell a sad story about gourds."

So, if you truly believe this, I'm here to prove you wrong. I know this sad story exists, because I've lived it. It has taken me a while to be able to tell it, but this is my story.

I am a wannabe birdhouse gourd grower. Ever since I'd seen those sweet birdhouse gourds highlighted on two of my favorite blogs, Children in the Corn and Sunny Side Up, I'd been anxious to grow them myself and turn them into something lovely for the birds.

With great anticipation last spring, I planted three birdhouse gourd plants. They were, without question, the healthiest, most thriving thing in my garden! I'd never seen a vine take over the way these things did. They grew bigger, stronger and hardier than anything else, growing beyond the trellis I had staked them to, twining into my garden fencing...:

and up into my apple tree:

They competed with my green and lemon cucumbers for space:

and sunshine:

At the height of the season, I had approximately 35 gourds growing, developing, and talking to me as I walked by. Visitors to the farm would question, and occasionally joke, asking me what I was could possibly do with ALL those decorative gourds. "Make birdhouses", I'd say quite simply.

Of course, the bigger my gourds got, the more excited I became. Querying on "birdhouse gourd", I found the most delightful things people had done with theirs.

There was the "simple pear look" that I wanted to try:

And the "disguised as a sunflower" birdhouse was quite clever:

For those birds in my garden able to read, here's a great way to welcome them:

And if I were of Dutch heritage, of course, I could totally work that into my decorating theme:

But - and here comes the sad part - I learned something about gourd vines. They, apparently, don't like to be trimmed or cut back. When the vines in my garden grew too heavy for my fencing and up too far into the trees surrounding my garden, I cut them back. The gourds still developing on the remaining vines shriveled and wilted. At the end of the growing season, this is what I wound up with:

Yes, that's right, one, single lovely gourd and two ridiculous mini versions.

"Ok," I thought. "So I only will get one gourd this year. That's ok. It will make a funny story." Then the December ice and snow hit. For some crazy reason, I had left the gourds outside under our covered porch, thinking this was a good place to dry them. Had it remained dry, they probably would have been ok. But the moisture was too much for them and by the time I realized what I had done, it was too late.

I brought the big guy in and tried to apply first aid. Sadly, the rot quickly set in:

It started to sag and collapse practically before my eyes. So much for my dreams of creative birdhouse gourd decoration.

2008 Birdhouse Gourd Tally: 0
Now, isn't that sad?

Yet, despite the tears, an optimist I remain and I will try to grow them again this year. What I'd really like to make is this:

It's a birdhouse gourd TEE PEE! I think this looks like fun. It's very similar to the bean tee pee that Sarah and her kiddles made last season over at It Blows Here.

Wish me luck.

29 comments:

  1. Despite the sad story (I almost shed a tear) you've inspired me. I want to grow some of those now!

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  2. Did the one big gourd start to get moldy after it was dry and hard, or while it was still soft and green? If it molded after it was dry, you can just sandpaper the mold off. I guess you did say it shriveled up, so it must have been still soft.

    You did better than I did the first time I planted gourds. At least yours grew and multiplied. And now you have experience in what not to do, so next time you will be successful!

    Yes, a sad story, but with a silver lining. You always learn from your experiences.

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  3. That TEE PEE looks like the perfect solution. Good luck for 2009 birdhouse gourds! You can do it!

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  4. I learned so much today! I'm stuck with one word: wow! I wonder if gourds care to grow in Africa? :-D

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  5. Awwww...poor danni. Take heart dear friend, I bet you'll be awarded with bushel baskets of gourds this year. And that teepee is an excellent idea! :)

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  6. You're not alone Danni - my son William has tried growing them in the past - and well, with not so much luck.

    We're trying again this year, too. Here's hoping for great success for our collective efforts!

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  7. Sad story! I might try the teepee this year myself!

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  8. Oh, that IS sad. To have all that patient waiting come to naught. I LOVE birdhouses, so I'm looking forward to seeing the next batch of gourds transformed into lovely little homes for your feathered friends. I think the teepee is definitely the way to go, this year.

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  9. I plan to grow some of these this year and you've taught me some important things. I'll plant them far from everything else.

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  10. Now how can such a sad story turn out so darn funny? You crack me up lady.

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  11. That is a sad story! I grew them successfully a couple years ago. I made birdhouses out of a few of them, and the rest sit in the garage waiting to be turned into something useful.

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  12. Yes, sad, sad... please go to this website: www.pagourdsociety.org and page down to "Vine to Design" fact sheet to read... there is also an entire tutorial on gourd growing there. Good luck, helen

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  13. And dont forget that great article that I sent you last year on gourd jewelry. I can totally see you in a gourd necklace. Thats not too ornate, right?

    Cant you just see G in that teepee? We could have some great picnics in there.

    Hmmmm...my word verification was oldesh.

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  14. Gourds don't require anything special. They thrive on neglect but they need a long, hot growing period.

    Keep trying and google "growing gourds" for more info.
    Please don't be discouraged. If all else fails BUY a dried gourd and make a birdhouse. It's fun!

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  15. I think I just barley lucked out with my first attempt Danni...after this learning experience I bet you'll have a wonderful crop this year. It's got to be hard to get it just right for drying in a damp part of the country. I'm looking forward to Tee Pee time.

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  16. Hey Danni! I am going to have gourds on my growing list now. Those pictures of the ummmm, good ones, are beautiful.
    I know you'll have better luck this time.
    and guess what? Annie just now(about an hour ago) gave birth to 3 yes, three! babies. A brown one, a white one, and a black one. All boys. Mama and babies are doing fine right now.
    Yes, I know. I am such a bragging grandgoatma. lol..
    Have a great day.
    Pam

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  17. Hey Danni! I am going to have gourds on my growing list now. Those pictures of the ummmm, good ones, are beautiful.
    I know you'll have better luck this time.
    and guess what? Annie just now(about an hour ago) gave birth to 3 yes, three! babies. A brown one, a white one, and a black one. All boys. Mama and babies are doing fine right now.
    Yes, I know. I am such a bragging grandgoatma. lol..
    Have a great day.
    Pam

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  18. the tee pee rocks! Looks like a wicked place for hide and seek!

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  19. Hmmm, ya know I have a few of those around here somewhere. My boys planted them with my Mom one year and somehow they came to my house to live, unfinished!

    Marcee, at least it didn't say Sagesse!

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  20. I also am going to try growing gourds this year. If they "thrive on neglect" as someone said, I should have TONS to share.

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  21. Wow! So many seeds--and so many wonderful things to grow. We're still under several feet of snow here. Spring would feel like it was a million miles away, were it not for the seed catalogs.

    PS- LOVE the gourds. Can't wait to see how they turn out.

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  22. Oh Danni I am crying. Tears of laughter. I'm sorry but this reminds me of growing gourds a couple years ago. I too trimmed back that wild crazy growth and ended up with little teeny shriveled gourds. I am so glad to see there is yet another Oregonian who is gourdless like I was.

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  23. Oh my gosh, you're right, that is the SADDEST gourd story ever. I wanted to cry for you. I am so sorry. Good for you for trying again this year. You can do it. Sounds like you almost had an amazing harvest. My first time growing I only got 9 BH gourds out of all that crazy vining, and lots of starting babies.

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  24. I'm not sure why that happened to your Gourds. I have grown Gourds of every kind for the past 7 years. Sometimes when a Gourd vine is producing to many male flowers and no female flowers you are supposed to cut the vine to encourage a vine that will produce females. Is it possible you over watered your gourds? To much water will cause there growth to stunt, existing Gourds will shrivel, and the vines will stop producing all together. The Nest Egg Gourds and Bushel Gourds will split open if they get to much water. I love your trellis. I have always encouraged them to grow up the sides of the house but that trellis looks much more practical.

    You may also want to try hand pollinating your Gourds. I will save the male flowers in a plastic bag in the fridge just in case I have a day with female flowers in bloom and no male flowers (it happens).

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  25. I came upon your sad story and was wondering? It's been over a year...how did this year's crop turn out? My story is a funny one...each year my husband has been asking for me to grow some gourds...i wish someone would've warned me! I planted a few and was so excited to see them growing...so my husband plant more! And I did...luckily we have 3 acres...they have taken up at least 1/2 an acre, along with the pumpkins. I have pumpkins in July! In South Texas, where usually we are fighting to keep everything alive, we have had an abundance of rain...so...guess I will have to brush up on my painting skills to make all those birdhouses! I'll be busy for a while

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  26. I loved your story. I have 23 plants growing and this is my first experiment with Birdhouse Gourds. I will not trim them--ever. Thankyou for that.
    But, another year has gone by. Did you have a good season and did you finally get some gourds to paint?

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  27. Hi Amy & Just,
    Thanks for your inquiries into my 2010 birdhouse gourd crop. Now, please don't be disappointed in me, but I actually didn't plant any this year. This growing season has been unbelievably odd - we had the coolest, wettest, muddiest spring on record which made it virtually impossible, not to mention highly unpleasant, to plant much of anything. Then we went on vacation in May, which just delayed me further. I stuck with my edible, old stand-bys this year: basil, beans, broccoli, garlic, potatoes, shelling peas, tomatoes... I didn't even get my beloved sunflowers in the ground this year! Next year, though, I'm definitely going to give the gourds another shot, I swear!!

    I would LOVE to see what you two wind up doing with all those big, beautiful gourds you're going to have...

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  28. So now at 2012, how did your gourd Tepee go? Would love to have a follow up.

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  29. I heard you cannot put gourds with cucumbers or any squash or melon. They cross pollinate and make soft gourds and nasty melons and squash.

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