Can you guess what this is?
How about now?
Whatever it is, it's got pretty blossoms...
If you guessed, "The chicken pen covered with one giant gourd plant," then you are absolutely right.
Anna of Chickens in the Basement sent me a present this spring of 4 different types of gourd seeds from her own gourds. She had marked them all carefully. I started them in peat pots, and after a couple of weeks, figured they were duds and quit watering them - whereupon they promptly sprouted little bitty gourd plants. By that point I had let them get mixed up. I planted several in the yard and gave a few away. Only one of my plants really took off.
And as you can see, take off it did. This thing is a monster. There's a baby apple tree in the first photo, and every day we go out there and hack the gourd off the apple tree where it has grabbed on and started climbing. There are all kinds of hollyhocks in there somewhere but you can't even see them anymore, they are so engulfed. They usually fall over from their own weight, but not this year. The gourd grabbed onto them and is holding them upright.
I don't know which kind of gourd this is but I am going to have a lifetime supply of gourds, the way things are going. This thing is out of control. :) It's sure pretty!
4 comments:
This is one awesome gourd plant Maria!!! I can't wait to see pictures when it bears fruit. Too cool!
Just think though, Maria, how nice for your chickens to have all that lovely shade on a hot summer day. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in the winter. You must take pics then too.
What are you going to do with the gourds anyway? Are you going to make some crafty project out of them, like soup bowls or vases something?
WOW! I can't believe how huge that is! I planted mine near the cemetery fence and only have a few straggly vines. We haven't had a lot of water this summer and apparently, the ghosts didn't get up in the middle of the night to tend my plants! Can't wait to hear which kind of gourd you have. You should have teeny tiny ones when the flowers fall off.
Enjoy!
Anna
Now that`s a gourd factory!!
Post a Comment