Oh my gourd vine - ness ! It ’s loose to see why people go so crazy for ornamental gourd .

Nothing say fall quite like harvesting a beautiful bumper crop of these chunky - jolty cosmetic veggies from the garden . Coming in all manner of shades and shapes , gourd vine are perfect for supply a touch of autumnal color in the backyard beds , or to table mise en scene and holiday palm .

leisurely to grow , these members of theCucurbitaceae familyare trail vines that can compensate quite a large area and provide an abundant , colorful harvest time . They ’re stark for develop with kids for a playfulness and educational horticulture experience .

A close up picture of a large variety of different ornamental gourds and edible squash in different colors, textures, shapes, and sizes in bright sunlight.

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Many nurseryman grow them purely as a ornamental harvest . But they are not just a kickshaw for the eye . Many varieties can also leave toothsome and nutritious goodness for your family line all wintertime long .

So , read on to learn about the best varieties ofornamental gourd vine to growin your backyard for a harvest this fall .

A vertical picture of a metal bucket on its side with a variety of different ornamental gourds cascading out of it. The fruits are all different colors, shapes, and textures. In the background is a lawn and a wooden upright post. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

Best Gourd Varieties to Grow In Your Backyard

loosely speaking , there are two main types ofgourd or decorativesquash . The tough - racing shell varieties from theLagenariagenus – often known as calabash tree or bottle gourd – are ideal for craft into containers or birdhouse .

TheCurcubitagenusis the one you ’re belike more familiar with , which includes edible squash andpumpkinsas well as the ornamental miscellanea .

have ’s take a look at some of the more interesting and unusual gourd that will be ready to harvest from your fall garden :

A vertical picture of a metal bucket on its side with a variety of different ornamental gourds cascading out of it. The fruits are all different colors, shapes, and textures. In the background is a lawn and a wooden upright post. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

1. Apple (L. siceraria)

If you manage to somehow combine a pumpkin and an orchard apple tree , this is what you would get .

‘ orchard apple tree ’

A salient mysterious green color speckle with lighter maculation , these genuinely look like vast apple .

A close up picture of dark and light green striped decorative squash hanging from the vine, surrounded by large green leaves with blue sky in the background.

‘ Apple ’ calabash is not an edible variety . This cultivar is idealistic for humanities and crafts if you ’re look for a rounded stadium form to work on with . Keep in judgment that they will sour from green to a yellowish - brown color when dried .

A vigorous grower , spreading to 95 - 140 inch , ‘ orchard apple tree ’ matures in 120 daylight . It expect full sunlight to produce fruit 6 - 8 in gamey by 4 inches across .

Seeds in packets of 25 of this heirloom cultivar areavailable at Burpee .

A close up of the ‘Apple’ cultivar of Lagenaria siceraria, with dark green speckled skin, in the shape of an apple. The background is autumnal leaves and small flowers in soft focus.

2. Daisy (C. pepo)

This beautiful open - pollinated variety produce gourds which , when catch from above , have a unequalled bloom pattern on the theme remnant of the fruit .

‘ Daisy ’

Colorful and high - yielding , ‘ Daisy ’ produces fruits in various shade of greenish , orange , and scandalmongering .

A close up of various different colored ‘Daisy’ gourds. They are small, almost star-shaped with different color combinations.

These gorgeous piffling gourds produce to 3 inches by 2 inches in size of it , on farsighted trail vines that can be trained up a trellis or over an pergola . They grow in 91 - 98 years .

you could find ‘ Daisy ’ in packets of 30 seeds , available at Burpee .

3. Extra Long Handle Dipper (L. siceraria)

This heirloom ornamental is an unusual and uncommon variety which , as the name implies , has a long curved “ hold ” and a bulbous end .

Extra Long Handle Dipper

If you leave the vine to trail on the ground , they will produce elegant curved handles . you’re able to also train them up a trellis so the hold grow direct downwards .

A close up square image of extra long handle dipper gourds set on the ground in the garden.

especially useful for making attractive fall and winter decorations , this uneatable cultivar produces fruits 2 - 3 infantry in sizing . It mature in 110 - 130 days and flourish in full Lord’s Day .

you’re able to regain packets containing 40 germ for this unusual varietyat True Leaf Market .

4. Mixed Varieties (L. sicerariaandC. pepo)

If you ca n’t decide which variety is right for you , why not adjudicate a ejaculate mix ?

This seed mix is a potluck of spectacular turgid gourd , producing a cornucopia of grand human body , sizes , and colors sure to brighten up your patch in the gloaming .

L. sicerariaLarge Mix

A close up of a variety of small fruits from different cultivars of Lagenaria siceraria. In different colors, they are arranged on a wicker basket with a hessian surface in the background.

With straggle vine , this cultivar needs blank space to spread out , so planting rows 2 - 3 feet aside is recommended .

With a variety of smooth or coarse texture , this seed mixture has awesome potential for use in creative humanities and crafts projects .

This variety is ready to harvest in 120 day , and isavailable at True Leaf Market .

A close up of a large ornamental gourd of the ‘Speckled Swan’ variety. With a large bulbous base, the swan-like neck curves up and to the left. The color is dark green speckled with lighter green flecks, on a straw covered surface with red flowers in the background.

center - espial and playfulness , these gourds make perfect twilight and winter decorations that child and adults alike ca n’t help oneself but fall in love with .

L. sicerariaSmall shuffle

Mature in 120 day , this seed mixing produces a variety of colourful yellow , orange , green , blank , and multi - dark fruits that come in a multitude of shapes , textures , and sizes – include both smooth and warted salmagundi .

A close up of ‘Tennessee Spinning’ ornamental gourds. These small fruits are green with white stripes and has a bulbous base and a small neck at the top.

you could buy this seed mixfrom Eden Brothers .

C. pepoSeed Mix

Additionally , a compounding of large and smallC. pepogourd seeds isavailable from straight Leaf Market .

A close up of an orange and green ‘Turk’s Turban’ gourd, pictured on a rustic wooden background.

5. Speckled Swan (L. siceraria)

This strange undefended pollinate cultivar is grassy fleeceable with creamy ashen speck . The big fruit grow up to 8 in in diameter , unremarkably with a flat groundwork . It gets its name from the sweeping 12 to 16 - inch neck opening that curves elegantly downwardly .

‘ stippled Swan ’

Used for guile and ornamentation , the flesh is not eatable . Unlike some of the other mixed bag , this one retains its color when dried . Maturing in 115 - 125 day , ‘ stippled Swan ’ enjoy full sunlight .

Packets of 30 seed areavailable at Burpee . you may also find seedsavailable at Botanical Interests .

6. Tennessee Spinning (C. pepo)

This ornamental strip green variety attend like a misshapen watermelon , and is perfect for crafts or even jewelry .

‘ Tennessee Spinning ’

Sometimes called ‘ Tennessee Dancing Gourd , ’ this heirloom cultivar originated in Hickman County , Tennessee .

age in 90 - 100 day , this variety necessitate full sun to boom and produce the small 2 to 3 - in fruit .

you’re able to incur seedsavailable at True Leaf Marketin a potpourri of packet size .

7. Turk’s Turban (C. maxima)

This heirloom mixture is sure as shooting unequalled . Made up of two half , the bottom one-half is normally a solid coloring material , whereas the “ hat ” or “ turban ” is beige with streaks of crimson orange and greenish .

‘ Turk ’s Turban ’

It was first cultivated in the 1820s , and is as popular for its looks as it is for its appreciation . Doing double - duty as an ornamental and an edible , this variety can be used in all your favorite squash formula , including broil , steaming or , my personal favorite , in soups .

This prominent variety can get to up to 7 pounds in entire system of weights , and it ’s suitable for cosmetic utilisation when dried .

‘ Turk ’s Turban ’ matures in 95 days and seeds areavailable from Eden Brothers .

Get specific tips for growing ‘ Turk ’s Turban ’ here .

Which Gorgeous Gourd Is For You?

With such strikingly beautiful varieties to prefer from , you ’re certain to find the perfect gourd for your garden .

Check out these guides for more inspiration :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right field RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Product photos via Burpee , Eden Brothers , and on-key Leaf Market . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With additional written material and editing by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu .

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Natasha Foote