Birdhouse Gourd
Lagenaria siceraria
Larger, rounded blossom end with a narrow neck and slightly bulbed stem end. Harvest when the smooth, greenish rind turns white or starts to brown. Dry for crafting into durable bottles, birdhouses, etc. Trellis vines for consistent fruit shape. Avg. weight: 10-12 lb.
Harvest
125d
Days to harvest
Sun
lag-en-AR-ee-uh sy-ker-AR-ee-uh
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
9-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Birdhouse Gourd in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 vine →Zone Map
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Birdhouse Gourd · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: lag-en-AR-ee-uh sy-ker-AR-ee-uh. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 10 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruit (a pepo to 3 feet long) has a smooth, light green skin when young, but matures to yellow or light brown. Mature fruits take a variety of shapes, including rounded, dumbbell-shaped, bottle-shaped or crookneck-shaped. The fruit is fleshy and dry but not split open.
Color: Cream/Tan. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Seeds, leaves, flowers, and young stems are all edible when the fruit is young. As it ages off the vine, the fruit hardens leaving the seeds inside.
History & Origin
Origin: Western Tropical Africa to Ethiopia and Tanzania
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Heat, Humidity
- +Attracts: Twining
- +Wildlife value: Attracts hummingbirds.
- +Edible: Seeds, leaves, flowers, and young stems are all edible when the fruit is young. As it ages off the vine, the fruit hardens leaving the seeds inside.
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Corn
Provides strong vertical support structure for climbing vines
Beans
Fixes nitrogen in soil and creates classic three sisters planting with corn
Marigolds
Repels cucumber beetles and other pests that attack gourd vines
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for squash bugs and cucumber beetles
Radishes
Deters cucumber beetles and vine borers while not competing for space
Catnip
Repels cucumber beetles, ants, and other common gourd pests
Oregano
Repels cucumber beetles and provides general pest deterrent
Sunflowers
Provides natural trellis support and attracts beneficial insects
Keep Apart
Potatoes
May harbor Colorado potato beetles that can damage gourd vines
Aromatic Herbs (Sage/Rosemary)
Strong essential oils can inhibit gourd seed germination and growth
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most cucurbits including gourds
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to most gourd diseases
Common Pests
Squash bugs, cucumber beetles, vine borers
Diseases
Powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, downy mildew