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April, 2008


GOURDS - LAGENARIA & CURCURBIT GOURD SEEDS,
DEVIL'S CLAWS AND LUFFA / LOOFA SPONGE
from Wuv'n Acres©



Click on image for a larger view of photo

This excellent vintage photo of Gourd Artist Levi Batte
provided courtesy and permission of his daughter; Jan Craven
as specified on the photograph displayed.
It is not to be copied without express permission by Ms. Craven.


Several children from the First United Methodist Church in Alaska have a ball with our gourds
during vacation bible school. Thank you for these wonderful photos, Clarice!




Male and female goUrd blossoms on a Lagenaria (hard shell) gourd plant

Click here to see an image of gourd foliage leaves)


Move your mouse cursor over each picture to identify the gourd

APPLE GOURD BUSHEL GOURD SNAKE GOURD CROWN GOURD MARANKA GOURD CORSICAN GOURD LUFFA SPONGE GOURD ORNAMENTAL GOURDS TURK'S TURBAN EGG GOURD MEXICAN CHIP BOWL BY ARTIST LADY GOURDIVA; IVA SLATER
BOTTLE GOURD - REGULAR BOTTLE GOURD - MINIATURE DIPPER GOURD KETTLE GOURD BASKETBALL GOURD BIRDHOUSE GOURD COYOTE GOURD ZUCCA GOURD SWAN GOURD AUTUMN WINGS GOURD BEAUTIFUL GOURD BASKET BY LADYGOURDIVA; IVA SLATER

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GOURD SEEDS - HARDSHELLED TO PAINT & CARVE

PLEASE NOTE: Gourd seed packages contain 20+ seeds unless otherwise specified beside each item
Each package of seeds is $2.50 unless otherwise stated. .


GOURD - MIXED FUN PACK Lagenaria, Curcurbita and Luffa 20+ seeds - $2.50. If you live in a short season area, or perhaps you are just looking for foliage to cover a structure, trellis, etc. and you don't care what the fruit look like, this is the package for you! A fun mix of whatever we dump into the batch. Big, little, ornamental, hardshelled, you never know what you may grow with this one. Lots of bloopers included for those who love those oddball shapes.


APPLE GOURD - LARGE Lagenaria 20+ seeds - $2.50. Unique and very charming shape! While form may vary with weight and height, the fruits grown are simply wonderful! Artist Lady Gourdiva; Iva Slater of New Mexico shares what she's done with two of our apple gourds in the photo. Perfect for someone who enjoys apple decor or just a bit of whimsy! Approximately 90-100 days to maturity. Full sun.


BOTTLE GOURD Lagenaria 20 + seeds - $2.50. Another wonderful gourd if you are hoping for lush vines! Beautiful fruit is often made into birdhouses after it has dried and cured thoroughly. Easy to grow in full sun with well drained soil. Prefers to grown on a trellis but will grow on the ground. Trellising your gourds helps to keep your fruit well formed and free of the troubles caused when growing on wet, soggy ground. You'll love this one!


BOTTLE - MINIATURE / SNOWMAN Lagenaria 20+ seeds - $2.50. An adorable hardshelled gourd typically 3-4" tall which make a wonderful little snowman, especially for Christmas ornaments you wish to paint. Easy to grow in a small space. They do quite well on a trellis or even in a tomato cage. Approx. 90 days to maturity.


BUSHEL or BASKET GOURD - LARGE Lagenaria 10 + seeds - $2.50. Photo #2 - Gourd basket created by New Mexico Artist Lady GourdIva; Iva Slater. Click here for another wonderful item by Lady GourdIva; Iva Slater.
Depending on soil, temperature and moisture conditions, this could be the largest gourd you can grow! Very large typically round shape is in high demand in the crafting and carving world! Requires a long growing season of at least 120 days and will need sufficient time to cure properly before opening / carving, etc. Needs space to grow and full sun, well drained soil. A state fair winner every time! May need to file or clip shoulders from seed due to hard seed coating, which often inhibits germination.


CHICKEN EGG 20+ seeds - $2.50. Very easy to grow. Provides much fun for everyone! Trellis or grow in a tomato cage to keep fruits off the ground. Very well formed egg shaped gourds dry with a thinner shell than the Lagenaria type of gourds, but can very much be carved, painted or crafted when cured. Excellent choice for making Christmas ornaments or adding faux eggs to a floral or craft display. Approximately 90 days in full sun with well drained soil and regular water. A must try gourd!


LARGE EGG - WILD 20+ seeds - $2.50. A larger, harder shelled gourd of good size. If you need large eggs, this is the variety you want! Very easy to grow. Provides much fun for everyone! Trellis or grow in a tomato cage to keep fruits off the ground. Very well formed egg shaped gourds dry with a thicker than our Chicken Egg Gourds, and can very much be carved, painted or crafted when cured. Excellent choice for making Christmas ornaments or adding faux eggs to a floral or craft display. Approximately 90 days in full sun with well drained soil and regular water. A must try gourd!


CUCUZZI / CUZZI / NEW GUINEA BEAN / SNAKE 20+ seeds - $2.50. Though most any gourd is edible when young, the Cuzzi makes an especially good choice for eating due to it's similarity in shape to zukes or cucumbers. I prefer to allow mine to grow and would much rather eat zukes, such a shame to waste what could become a truly unique gourd in just 90-110 days + cure time. Makes fun snake-like gourd shapes which grow quite well hanging from a trellis. Grown on the ground, they tend to curl up. Can be manipulated while growing with pantyhose or strings. Full sun annual requiring space to grow and well drained soil. Sandy soil is a plus!


DIPPER - STANDARD Lagenaria 20+ seeds - $2.50. Used for ages as dippers and scoopers, you can grow these with ease in your own yard! Full sun and well drained soil, a bit of fertilizer if you don't mind, and your trellis could be covered with lush heart-shaped leaves next summer! As if the vines and beautiful flowers weren't enough, then come the many fruit which dry like hard wood and can be carved! While any gourd makes a good birdhouse, many gardeners use dipper gourds to add whimsy and charm to their green acres. So easy, so much fun. Great for kids!


MARANKA or FRENCH DOLPHIN / MONKEY Lagenaria 20+ seeds - $2.50. This is, to my knowledge, the most interesting gourd in existence! Deeply veined and ribbed, it is often called the Monkey gourd because of it's supposed resemblance to a monkey's rib cage skeleton. Amazing deeply sculptured gourd is quite a conversation piece. At a gourd show several years ago I was able to view in person the work of an artist who cut the handles from the gourd and sliced the Maranka in half lengthwise, then adding a hinge to create a garlic keeper. Most delightful addition to the garden with well drained soil and full sun. Your neighbors most likely won't have this one!


SWAN or GOOSE or DUCK Lagenaria 20+ seeds - $2.50. These adorable gourds perform best when allowed to grow on the ground. The long necks curve around the main bulb of the gourd, much resembling a nesting duck or goose, or even swan if you will. When grown on a trellis, the necks will stretch out and end up looking like a dipper gourd, so you see...the result is entirely up to you. Have fun with this gourd in well drained soil in full sun. 90-110 days to harvest, a few more months until fully cured before you can paint, carve or craft them. Enjoy!


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GOURD SEEDS - SOFTSHELLED FOR FALL DISPLAYS
Please note that although these are listed as soft shelled, the Angel Wings, Crown of Thorns, some of the Ornamentals, and the Spoon gourd will dry firm and can be crafted as well.

AUTUMN or ANGEL WINGS 20+ seeds - $2.50.


APPLE / SMALL ORNAMENTAL Curcurbita pepo20+ seeds - $2.50. Small apple shaped gourd. Very cute!


CROWN OF THORNS 20+ seeds - $2.50.


HEDGEHOG GOURD Cucumis dipcaseus 20+ seeds - $2.50. Ornamental cutie! Looks like a big castor bean pod with spines and all!


ORNAMENTAL MIX 20+ seeds - $2.50. Each fall season, many people find themselves purchasing ornamental gourds for their fall displays, under the impression that they cannot grow their own. Not true at all! Ornamental gourds are very forgiving of lack of attention once the fruit has set on the vine. If you can remember to water the seedling and plant it in full sun, you will be rewarded with many gourds in vibrant colors!

While the ornamental gourds are typically the Curcurbita, (meaning softer shelled gourds) they will often dry firm enough to paint and carve. These gourds were sprayed with a gold paint and left to dry. Aren't they pretty?

Picture these on a wreath for your door in the fall! They will last many years. You will have enough to share with friends and family! In this mixture you may receive seeds from all of the gourds you see above, including some not photographed: Crown of Thorns, Orange, Warty, Bi-color Pear, Coyote / Buffalo, Spoon, Striped Pear, Egg, Angel Wings, etc.

Please note that I have not successfully dried some of the gourds without shrinkage & collapse. The small green striped gourd laying down in the first photo is often referred to as a Spinning or Dancing gourd. Though it can dry, it is a very thin shell and may collapse during drying.


ORANGE 20+ seeds - $2.50.


SNAKE - TRICO Trichosanthes cucumerina anguina 10+ seeds - $2.50. Please note this is not the hardshelled snake gourd, but rather a very unique gourd we are pleased to have back in stock again. After a two year absence from our website thanks to deer, it's back! The Republic of Maldives even offers a postage stamp featuring a Tricosanthes! The flowers on this vine are, in my opinion, equally as interesting as the inside of this wonderful juicy fruit! Full of pulpy seeds, you'll love this one!


SPOON 20+ seeds - $2.50. These gourds are basically a tiny dipper gourd, excellent for Christmas ornaments, rattles, etc. They are a softer shell than most, but still firm enough to craft and paint. Very easy to grow. Reaches full maturity at approximately 90 days. Requires full sun and well drained soil. Performs well on a trellis or in a tomato cage. Fun for fall displays. At this time, our supply is from another source, so they will be treated. No to worry, just don't eat them.


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GOURD RELATED ITEMS

DEVIL'S CLAW - WHITE SEEDED Proboscidea parviflora 2.50 - 20+ seeds for White Seeded Devil's Claw - Unicorn Plant / Devil's Claw - White Seeded.


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LUFFA / LUFFAH / LOOFA / LOOFAH BATH SPONGE and JOB'S / JOBE'S ROSARY BEADS or TEARS

LUFFA - CYLINDRICA
20+ seeds - 2.50. Also known by the synonym of Luffa aegyptiaca.
A smooth luffa typically used for sponges,
though it does not actually absorb much water as a typical kitchen sponge would.



LUFFA - ACUTANGULA
20+ seeds - 2.50. Also known as Angled Luffa, Ribbed Sponge Gourd or Chinese Okra.
While either variety of luffa can be grown for luffa or for eating, this is the better choice if you wish
to eat them, as they are more tender when young.




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