[Cynara]

I saw these bottle gourds in the polytunnel at the Centre for Alternative Technology here in Powys and got really enthused about trying to grow some.
 


Apparently they can be painted and made into nest boxes which I thought would make great Christmas gifts next year.



Does anyone know where you can get the seeds for this particular variety.  :?:

[richyrich7]

Try here " large fruited sorts" maybe your best bet ?

[WG.]

If you do grow them, then the opening on a nesting box needs to be much much smaller.  The one pictured is like a fast food restaurant for anything which eats baby bluetits.  

[richyrich7]

Yep and they don't need a perch either, that's there so the magpies, Jays etc can help themselves  :shock:

[Rob the rake]

Nicky's Nursery do them. Thanks for bringing up the subject, I think I'll have a go too!

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/page6-gourds.htm

[richyrich7]

Must admit to fancing ago too  but not got the room  

[Cynara]

Thanks for that Rob, they are exactly right. I guess I'll go for this size opening or even smaller for the blue tits.

[Selkie]

even if they are painted and dried out, won't they disintegrate in british weather?

[Rob the rake]

The holes for tit boxes should be no more than an inch diameter.

[Rob the rake]

They're indestructible, Rosemary. You could use them as weapons!

[gobs]

Lopotok, most of them, sorry for the lingo, it's the only species of them things that's native to Europe, can't remember Latin for it, anyhow, we traditionally used it for taking wine from barrels, that's what the name is Stealing Pumpkin, with the long neck.

They are really indestructible, once treated.

[WG.]

The holes for tit boxes should be no more than an inch diameter.

And drill holes in the bottom for rainwater to get out

[Rob the rake]

Well, I've ordered mine, so watch this space!

[David.]

What's the secret for drying gourds?

Every time I've tried it they just go rotten.

[Cynara]

Apparently you hang them up in a dry well ventilated place for two or three months. If any mould starts to grow on the skin you wash it with diluted bleach. When they sound hollow they are ready for painting or varnishing.
So which variety did you order in the end Rob? I quite fancy the ones in the top pic, called dippers. I guess they were originally sliced lengthways to make two long handled ladles, same as gobs was describing.