sphinxeyes
gardener
Suburbia, small garden in side yard, containers on larger back deck. Hot humid summers.
Posts: 154
|
Post by sphinxeyes on Dec 22, 2008 2:03:21 GMT -5
I recently got the new Baker Creek heirloom seed catalog and in it if offers seeds from two types of edible gourds, Thai Bottle Gourd and Serpente Di Silcilia. I didn't know that you could eat gourds, but these are descriped as being able to be used like zucchini. I love zucchini bread (but I don't have the room to grow zucchini...unless it can be grown in containers, and if it can I'd love some details on the how-to's!), so I'm wondering if you could make gourd bread and it would turn out similarly. The people that used to live next door grew gourds up against the fence we shared, so I know that they should do well. Does anyone have experience with edible gourds or could provide some insight into the taste quality?
|
|
|
|
Post by flowerpower on Dec 22, 2008 4:05:51 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Dec 22, 2008 4:12:58 GMT -5
Marrow is just the brit word for zuke. England is an island after all...   |
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Dec 22, 2008 5:51:53 GMT -5
I grow a few serpente di Sicilia every year, and the fruits actually reach full size over here, which isn't very easy for most gourds (they have to ripen off during wintertime though). If you pick them small enough, you have a pleasant vegetable, comparable to the already mentioned zucchini. They're not very productive though, but maybe they'll do better in a warmer climate. The plants become quite big, usually up to 2,5 metres (probably double in warmer spots), and they are very happy when they get a good deal of compost or even manure, most cucurbitaceae like that.
I prepare them the way zucchini is prepared.I do like zucchini more, because of the productivity and some zucchini varieties are better than the most common one, especially the light-green 'cousa' types are tastier. Another good substitute for a very warm climate could be sicana odorifera, this is however somewhat sweeter, and can well be eaten like a sweet cucumber.
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Dec 22, 2008 13:17:59 GMT -5
Which species is the Sicilia gourd?
|
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Dec 22, 2008 14:22:25 GMT -5
Sometimes it's listed wrong under trichosanthes cuc., it's definitely a lagenaria siceraria...
|
|
|
|
Post by raymondo on Jan 5, 2009 6:48:17 GMT -5
In a warm humid climate Lagenaria tends to be rampant. A side fence in such a climate would be covered in no time. Not sure though that NJ would be considered to have such a climate. It's closest point to the equator is around 39°N latitude, which means I think that it would not get that big due to a shorter season. Just a guess.
|
|
