Organic Powder Pear Gourd - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds

The Pear Gourd is not an edible squash, but a decorative gourd. This pear-shaped gourd has a swollen body usually measuring 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8in) in diameter, topped with a conical neck tapering towards the peduncle. The fruits are light green when immature and gradually turn a chamois colour with numerous rust-brown spots. The old containers for gunpowder used to have a shape very similar to that of our gourd. This variety produces 2 to 5 fruits per plant. Sow from March to June to harvest from July to November.

The Bottle Gourd is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is a distant cousin of the squashes, pumpkins, and gourds that we are familiar with. Often called a gourd or bottle gourd, it is cultivated both as a vegetable plant and because once dried, its fruit becomes a tool with a plethora of functionalities. Bottle gourds are found in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It is an annual plant that can either creep or climb thanks to its tendrils. Its leaves are widely pubescent and produce a characteristic smell.  In spring, after a flowering of large white flowers, it produces round fruits, with a neck resembling a bottle or even amphorae. Some varieties can be consumed very young, similar to zucchinis. However, some are toxic and therefore not edible. On the other hand, when harvested later, all can become kitchen utensils, musical instruments like the Kora - African harp - or the Berimbao accompanying the Capoeira fighters in Brazil, lanterns etc. This is only possible when the fruit has completely dried and the flesh has disappeared. This plant, already mentioned by Pliny the Elder as a container for liquids, was also recommended in the Capitulary of Villis as a plant to grow for the same reasons. This Cucurbitaceae is also used to dress up trellises and pergolas.

Harvest: Bottle gourds are fruits that need a lot of sun to thrive, like any plant native to tropical regions. For consumption like a zucchini, the fruit should be harvested immature with a slightly tender skin. The taste of bottle gourds is not very pronounced, but it is an experience worth trying if they are edible. To make utensils, you have to wait until the peduncle has completely dried. Harvesting should be done as late as possible.

Storage: If they are harvested for consumption, the skin should still be tender, and the fruits will only keep for a few days in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. Once completely dry, bottle gourds can be stored indefinitely. They can be engraved, painted, pierced, etc. It's up to you to use your imagination to make them into the object that suits you. When dry, they become very fragile. Handle them with care.

Gardener's tip: Bottle gourds should stay on the plant for as long as possible, but bad weather can also cause them to rot. You can then dry them indoors by hanging them. They are generally vigorous plants with very decorative fruits and flowers. Provide them with a trellis so they can climb, sprawl, and let their fruits hang like lanterns. Bottle gourds do not like humidity. Make sure to give them only the necessary amount of water during the summer.