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Apple Large gourds are ornamental and craft-friendly cultivars of Lagenaria that produce distinctly apple-shaped fruits weighing 4 to 7.5 pounds. Each gourd grows roughly 7 inches tall and 6 to 8 inches wide, with shape that responds subtly to growing conditions. Ready to harvest around 100 to 109 days after planting, these annual vines thrive in full sun and reward patient gardeners with beautiful, storable specimens perfect for decorating fall displays or crafting into functional vessels.
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Moderate
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The apple-like silhouette makes these gourds instantly recognizable and charming, a far cry from the gangly bottle gourds many gardeners expect. They're surprisingly substantial at 4 to 7.5 pounds each, yet compact enough to display on shelves or hang from kitchen beams. The fruit shape varies subtly based on your growing conditions, meaning each season produces gourds with their own personality. Unlike purely ornamental varieties, these bridge form and function, serving equally well as decorative pieces or canvas for creative crafting.
Apple Large gourds serve primarily as decorative pieces and craft materials. Their compact, distinctive shape makes them excellent for dried-flower arrangements, fall displays, and harvest decorations. Crafters use them as bases for hand-painted designs, gourd art, and functional vessels such as birdhouses, planters, or drinking vessels once hollowed and cured.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds directly outdoors in full sun for summer growth once soil has warmed sufficiently to support germination.
Apple Large gourds are ready for harvest approximately 100 to 109 days after planting, typically around 110 days according to catalog sources. Wait until the skin hardens completely and resists pressure from a fingernail before cutting from the vine. At maturity, the gourd develops a hard rind suitable for long-term storage and use in crafts or decoration.
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