How to Grow Basket Gourds in Your Backyard and Make Money

Gourds! Everybody loves gourds. People are fascinated by this member of the pumpkin family. They’re not grown for food but for crafting.
Artist can look at a gourd and create all kinds of wonderful things. A gourd can be turned into a replica of any bird or animal alive. Baskets are a favorite thing among the artist. They can draw and paint your life story on the outside of a gourd. They can weave around the top. Only someones lack of imagination can put a limit on what you can do with a gourd. Artist will travel miles and look through hundreds of gourds to find the gourds they need to practice their art.
Someone has to grow these gourds and if you have a backyard with a fence, you have the ideal place to grow gourds. You may not get rich growing gourds but its an easy way to make extra money and it’s growing while you're sleeping.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fence
• seed
• shovel
• chalk
• mulch
• fertilizer

1. Draw a chalk circle approximate 12 inch round every 18 inch around the entire fence. If you have shrubs or plants planted next to the fence , skip this area and put you next circle 18 inches from the last plant. Dig the grass out of the 12 inch circle. Mix mulch and fertilizer with the soil in the circle. This is where you’ll plant the seed. You do not have to till the entire area around fence.

2. 

   Buy basket gourd seed at the local garden center. Put two or three seeds in each 12 inch circle. Cover with ¼ inch of soil. Water the gourd seeds, soaking the entire circle. The seed will sprout in seven to ten days. Once the vine starts growing it will grow very fast. Blooms appear about 7 days after sprouting.

3. When the fruit reaches about 5 inches gently pull the fruit down and set it on the ground. Be careful not the separate the gourd from the vine. This makes the bottom flat so the gourd will set straight. Let the gourd grow until the vine dies. The gourds are usually about 20 inch round but some will grow to 30 inches. After the vine dies pull the gourd from the vine.

4. Place the gourds in a dry area off the ground where they'll have good air circulation. A shelf in the garage is a good place. Let the gourds dry. When it's dry it’ll be brown and the surface will be hard. You can shake it and hear seed rattle inside. The gourds are now ready to sale.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to artist at show let them know you’re growing gourds.
• Ask around find out prices on gourds. So you ask to little for your gourds.
• Put a, GOURDS FOR SALE, sign at the end of your driveway.
• Put an ad in the free neighborhood.
• Word usually spreads fast among the artist.
• You won’t get rich but you should make a nice profit.
• Gourds will grow on the ground but you need a lot of space.
• Don't put gourds in your garden. The vine will cover and shade your plants.
• Once the artist knows you have gourds they'll keep calling wanting more gourds.

Resources

• Ehow Home and Garden Guide

[southerngirl09]

on 11/1/2009 Interesting article on growing gourds in your backyard and selling them. Another great way to make some money. 5*

[informationcs]

on 6/24/2009 Awsome idea! thanks for sharing.

[edieness]

on 6/23/2009 I didn't even know that you could do this. Great article on How to Grow Basket Gourds in Your Backyard and Make Money.

[waters]

on 6/4/2009 Good details for growing gourds.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 6/4/2009 These gourd baskets are amazing. Thanks for the tips on making money and growing them at home. 5*