Giant Harvest Gourds
Lunch Lady
EXCLUSIVE - These are wild! Lunch Lady produces absolutely huge warted, oblong gourds that easily reach 18 to 22 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches in diameter at the base. The vigorous climbing vines bear multiple wonderful gourds that color up bright orange, red-gold and with an occasional stunning dark green or bicolor.
Amazingly, these strong vines support their heavy fruits happily, decorating any garden trellis or fence! Lunch Lady gourds are unique, fun and make truly awesome seasonal decorations.
BEST TO START SEEDS INDOORS
Several weeks before last spring frost date, sow 2 seeds each, 1 in. deep, in individual pots of potting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source. When nights stay above 50°F (10°C), thin to one seedling per pot and gradually acclimate to outdoors. Transplant at along a sturdy fence or trellis to climb effortlessly and form a lush canopy or allow vines to ramble at garden edges.
START DIRECTLY OUTDOORS
Sow seeds directly outdoors only if you have a long growing season. Sow only after night temperatures stay solidly above 50°F. (10°C). In full sun, sow seeds 1 inch deep and 4 inches apart along a garden fence or sturdy trellis or along garden edges. Thin seedlings to final spacing 8 inches apart.
GROWING NOTES
Unique Lunch Lady gourds need full sun, rich soil and warm temperatures. For earliest and best yields, hand-pollinate gourds: pick a blooming male flower and dust pollen onto fresh female flowers (the ones with small fruits at the base).
Repeat as new flowers appear. Pollinated fruits start growing larger within several days. Gourds are mature when rinds are tough and the tendril next to the stem turns brown. Harvest with several inches of stem. Dry in a well-ventilated place.
Note: the flesh of Lunch Lady ornamental gourds has a bitter gene and is not edible.
Cold Winters |
Mild Winters |
Sun/Shade |
Sow Seeds |
Days to Germinate |
Days to Harvest |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May – June
|
April – May
|
Full sun
|
8 inches apart |
8 – 10 days
|
110 days
|
Cold Winters |
Mild Winters |
Sun/Shade |
Sow Seeds |
Days to Germinate |
Days to Harvest |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May – June
|
April – May
|
Full sun
|
8 inches apart |
8 – 10 days
|
110 days
|
Cold Winters
May – June
|
Mild Winters
April – May
|
Sun/Shade
Full sun
|
Sow Seeds 8 inches apart |
Days to Germinate
8 – 10 days
|
Days to Harvest
110 days
|