Seed to House – Growing Bird House Gourds

Bird House Gourds, Lagenaria siceraria, a type of tropical squash native to northern Africa, have been on my radar for a few years and finally I decided to bite the bullet and grow them last season. Using my large cattle fence arbor, which  usually supports cucs, cherry tomatoes, and beans, I knew I would have to dedicate the entire trellis to these voracious vines. Once they get going, they will gobble up space with abandon.

Before planting, I knew that the vines plus gourds would become very heavy, so ensured my cattle fence was well supported with extra metal stakes.

Since Bird House Gourds take 120-180 days to mature, I started them in pots in my greenhouse in late March, setting them out in early May, when the weather is reliably warm. I knew that any touch of cold would set the seedlings back, if not kill them. You can also sow the seeds directly in the ground, but I wanted a head start and maximize my growing window, as the gourds take such a long time to mature.

Requiring full sun with well-drained fertile soil, the vines grew so fast, I was out there every day, tucking stray vines into the trellis. If you aren’t careful, the vines will take off over the ground and eat up your garden! Regularly trimming back excessive vine growth back also helped to contain them. The average production of gourds per vine is 2 to 6 gourds, which can vary according to growth conditions and I had at least 4 vines rapidly covering the trellis. The more favorable the conditions, regular rainfall and lots of fertilizer and sunshine, the greater the amount of gourds produced. If you want larger gourds, you can pinch off excess baby gourds.

Harvesting

I found that harvesting at the right time was tricky. Look for a dried out stem and a hard shell before cutting them off the vine. Try inserting your fingernail into the skin and if it can penetrate, it is still too immature. Some information on the internet says to keep them on the vine until the first freeze and then remove them. But I found if I left them on the vine too long, they fell off and rotted.

Cleaning

Once harvested in September, I washed them really well and let them dry in the sun for a couple of days. Then I placed them in a cool dark place for several months to fully dry. Setting the gourds off the floor to allow air circulation helped the gourds to dry completely. You will know when they are dry, when you lift one and it feels much lighter, and can hear the seeds rattle around inside. 

Transforming to a Bird House

The gourds as they dry get moldy which is normal. You can clean the mold off by scrubbing with a dilute solution of bleach and water. After drying, I sanded the gourds which further removes any residue of mold and smooths the surface for painting. Of course you can use the gourds au naturel, but they will last longer painted and protected with varnish.

Using a hole saw, I cut a hole for the desired size bird which allows you to reach inside with your fingers and remove the seeds and save them for next year. I found that a 1.5″ diameter hole fits many birds requirements and was sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom. Final holes for a hanger were drilled on the handle where I threaded twine to hang. Then the fun part starts!

Starting with a base coat, I painted with an acrylic paint or stain and added two top coats as the houses are exposed to the weather. Finishing off with a clear gloss varnish keeps the gourds protected even more. Several coats of varnish will ensure your gourd will last several seasons or more.

I hung the gourds in the early spring/late winter from 5′ to 12′ tall into nearby trees as that was the recommended height for most bird species, to keep out predators like cats and squirrels. For great information on situating your nesting gourds, I always use the excellent Cornell website.