[savbo]

Hi all

In the pumpkin patch I put in a plant I'd grown from some seeds from Lidl, just labelled 'gourds'. the fruits are shaped like butternnut squashes but stripey green. Will these be edible or are they just for decoration?

M

[Swing Swang]

What did it say on the packet?

[Swing Swang]

A google search using 'are ornamental gourds edible' gave the following 'first hit':

http://www.specialtyproduce.com/index.php?item=992

"Ornamental gourds are not edible as they have very little flesh and are grown mainly for show. The flesh they do contain is rather tasteless and may even be bitter. "

SS

[savbo]

Looking at a recent squashes post I think these must be the butternut squashes and the oval beige things I thought were butternuts are the gourds!

There is a label in there somewhere but I cant find it under all the foliage!

[paintedlady]

the fruits are shaped like butternnut squashes but stripey green.

while perusing the Suttons seeds website the other day (seed sale I think), I remember seeing stripey green butternut seeds for sale ... do your "gourds" look like these in this link?
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Vegetable+Seeds/Squash+F1+Butternut+Barbara+Seeds+178842.htm

[savbo]

mmm they look nice.... no, mine look just like the grener ones in the barrow in this thread:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=63782.0

[MoreWhisky]

A google search using 'are ornamental gourds edible' gave the following 'first hit':

http://www.specialtyproduce.com/index.php?item=992

"Ornamental gourds are not edible as they have very little flesh and are grown mainly for show. The flesh they do contain is rather tasteless and may even be bitter. "

SS

I do like the look of these ornamental gourds, how long do they keep looking good ? anybody know.

[paintedlady]

I do like the look of these ornamental gourds, how long do they keep looking good ? anybody know.

I imagine a well cured gourd skin (variety depending) should become almost woody and keep for years.  Think of those tribal musical instruments ... 

[MoreWhisky]

Looks like im gona have to make room for some , i reallly really like the idea of growing some 

[Yorkie]

I do believe that once completely dry they can be varnished.

[savbo]

thanks everyone for your comments - and we've just returned from Mallorca where we saw an amazing display of ornamental gourds, couldn't resist buying three smaller ones, and the lady who sold them says they last for years...

M

[DD.]

Ornamental gourds were one of the first things I grew when I were a lad.

You had to dry them by cutting the top off and scooping out the inside. When they were fully dry, they were varnished, as Yorkie stated.

[JayG]

Would this thread have been better entitled "Gourd preserve us?" 

[DD.]

Lidl did we know that it would head in that direction.

[JayG]

Lidl did we know that it would head in that direction.

I like that (more than I am prepared to own up to!)