Gourd Seeds,
African Drum

African Drum wants 90 to 140 days to size up its fruit, which in most gardens means starting seed indoors about three weeks before your last frost; only where the season is genuinely long is it worth holding off to direct sow into soil warmed to about 70°F. Either way, sow 1 inch deep, and at 75–90°F seedlings break ground in 3 to 10 days. Transplants go out after frost has passed. Give each plant a full 36 inches — the vines are extraordinarily long and will climb and trail, so be prepared for a garden takeover.

• In longer-season areas, you can sow seeds directly in the garden once soil has warmed to about 70 degrees.
• Growers with a shorter growing season should start seeds indoors three weeks before last frost.
• Ideal germination temperature is 75-90 F.
• Sow seeds 1 inch deep.
• Gourds can have spotty germination; be sure to plant seeds in good soil with plenty of organic matter.
• Be patient; seeds can sometimes take up to three weeks to germinate!

• Set plants out into good, well-drained soil after frost has passed.
• Set plants 24 inches apart; they will climb and trail, so be prepared for a garden takeover!
• Keep plants well-watered.
• Gourds are grown much like squash, and thanks to their tough skin, they are often better at fighting off pests than other cucurbits.
• A thick layer of mulch is absolutely crucial; the vines will be very difficult to keep weeded once they start trailing. Mulch will help to keep weeds down and retain moisture.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Although they are better at fending off pests than other squash relatives, gourds can be susceptible to a virus called cucumber mosaic virus, which is spread by cucumber beetle damage. To avoid the virus, keep cucumber beetles off of your plants.
• Kaolin clay is an organic method for deterring cucumber beetles.
• Beneficials like ladybugs and beneficial nematodes will also help to keep the pests at bay.

• Gourds are easily cross-pollinated, so it is advisable to isolate different seed-saving varieties up to 1⁄2 mile to ensure seed purity.
• A minimum of 15 plants of each variety should be grown to avoid inbreeding issues. Harvest fruit before it has dried out when it is still green in color but has developed a tough skin.
• Scoop seeds to dry; they will remain viable for about 4 years when stored properly in a sealed container in the refrigerator.