Ozark Wild Gourd Seeds

The Ozark wild gourd represents a wild form of annual gourd that grows in the southwestern and midwestern U.S. Unlike many other wild pumpkins that have been unselected over time, the seeds and flesh are poisonous for humans to eat. The incredible bitter compounds prevents even the most adventurous tasters from even laying their tongue on a cut portion as it takes quite a few minutes to return to normal. It happens to be one of the few indigenous North American Curcubits and for the most part has not been selected for anything. Some individuals think they might be able to breed a non-bitter version of it for edible uses for humans similar to the crooked neck yellow summer squash that people eat. The seeds are quite rich in oil and it is thought a high yielding one could also create an edible oil too. But for now with all its bitter compounds, it has out of sight for agricultural uses. For me, the flowers and vigorous growth were enough to keep me growing it. The foliage is also quite free of disease too. 

Sometimes called the Ozark melon, it can grow in the most adverse dry conditions and provides a source of seeds for small mammals if they break into the dry gourds in the late fall. The seeds are dispersed once the hull is cracked. My seeds originally came from a wild population found in Missouri. There it self seeds to some extent and requires a rather open field situation to thrive. The seeds are also incredibly bitter and poisonous for humans to consume. The foliage appears to have some resistance to browsing and if browsed quickly grows back. The foliage has a strong smell. In some ways, similar to the buffalo gourd I use to grow.  These plants were grown at a time when no other gourds were grown at my farm, however it is easily hybridized from other pumpkins and squash from quite a distance. Basically I selected it for the yellow and roundish shaped gourds. 

In 2023 the crop was lost due to browsing by groundhogs. The groundhogs appeared to take a liking to them. I will try again but enclosed them in 2024. I am not positive but it appears the white tail deer do not like them at all as they walked by one planting many times. The foliage does have an odd smell so maybe that works for them but not the groundhogs. 

Germination: Treat like squash and plant 1/2 inch deep after danger of frost. Plant spacing 4 ft. apart with 2-3 plants in each hole. Vines are competitive enough to grow over existing vegetation. Has been immune to many squash and pumpkin diseases and has very clean foliage.  Gourds can be left on the ground to reseed. Once the gourds dry during winter, the seeds will pop out once broken and self sow.