Dipper Gourd Seeds

Considerations

• Dipper gourd seeds can be purchased from online and print seed catalogs, or you can plant seeds taken directly from dried out dipper gourds. Seeds will rattle around the inside of a dried gourd, signifying the gourd is thoroughly dried. Cut into the gourd as necessary for your crafting needs, and empty out the dipper's seeds.

Identification

• Dipper gourd seeds closely resemble the seeds of other gourd varieties. Seeds are very thin and flat, with a central rib and tip that contains the embryo that will develop into another gourd vine when planting occurs. Dipper gourd seeds have an oval shape, an off-white shade, and measure no wider or longer than 1/2 inch.

Planting Recommendations

• To plant dipper and other gourd varieties, wait until after the final spring frost, or start plants indoors four to six weeks before transplanting after the final frost of spring. Four to six seeds should be planted per hill, 1 inch deep, with hills placed 6 to 8 feet apart. If growing other varieties of gourds, separate crops by 300 to 400 feet to prevent cross-pollination.