Most "gourds" are not considered edible tho some seed collections do contain some "squash" seeds. And those labeled "ornamental" are definitely not edible. Turks Turban is one exception that I know of but there may be others. I sure wouldn't recommend eating it without first ID it.

There are many gourd sites with pics - linked one below - that might help you ID it. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Ornamental Gourds

Hmmm. Mine don't look like any of those! They seem to mature into what looks like an orange-y spaghetti squash.

Must have crossed with some other type of squash in my garden, eh?

I did read on a couple of sites that some of them, if eaten really young (like a week after flowering), could be tasty. Are they toxic in any way, or will the only potential harm be to my taste buds if I experiment??

Would the seeds be edible if cooked like pumpkin seeds?

What would one do with a massive amount of ornamental gourds that are bright orangey-yellow and shaped like spaghetti squash? I'm assuming they would probably have too thin of a rind to carve like a pumpkin.

Any creative ideas? This sucker's taking up a whole lotta real estate (not to mention the time scouring it every other day for SVB eggs/entry points) and I'd like to at least get some use out of the fruit :-).

:-) Mel

Why not post over on the Gourd Forum? They can likely identify it and maybe even have some suggestions for use. I know many grow gourds simply for their ornamental nature and many artists paint them to use as functional decorations. I grow Bird House gourds and around here, in the fall, they bring good money. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Gourd Forum

Thanks Dave -- I went there first, but got no replies after several days, so thought I'd try here!

:-D

Mel

First: Does it have yellow or white blossoms. Many of the ornamental gourds are actually C. pepo (Squash)yellow blossoms. Large gourds are usually Lagenaria siceraria white blossoms. None of these are toxic. The ornamental versions may not be very good quality but they won't kill you. All the C. pepo types will cross with each other, so it is likely that you have some type of cross if the blossom is yellow The Lagenaria siceraria will not cross with squash.

Farmerdilla, the blooms are yellow. In fact, it's growing next to my pumpkin and it's hard to tell which is which! (Except, of course, for the fact that the gourd is insanely productive, and the pumpkin, well, not so much yet -- only two baby fruits so far.)

:-) Mel

this is the gourd forum. That other "Gourd Forum" is a complete ghost town, so stay in here. Youll get more replys...

Or Maybe not..........

Here's another weird thing about this vine. Most of the very young squash is light green and oblong. But there are a few others that are small, completely round like a pumpkin, and bright orange (the same colors as the oblong fruits once they get big and mature)! It *is* only one vine -- I checked.

Strange. Why would a vine put out different shapes of fruits??

Would the seeds at least be edible if they were cooked, like pumpkin seeds?

Trying to justify keeping this monster in my garden . . .

:-) Mel

served with nick nacks they are prob tasty
have fun

strange. why would someone want to eat ornaments?

sorry i just can't help myself sometimes

We where told you could eat a swan gourd. So...we fried it up like a zucchini, and it was very good. We are still alive, and are thinking about sharing them with our friends. Has anyone ever ate a swan gourd and lived to tell about it.

you did - right?

Update!

We cooked up a small one of the gourds -- probably a week after pollination -- and it was quite tasty. And we're still here to tell the tale ;-).

Most of the vine has been cut off and disposed of due to SVB :-(, but a small bit of it remains growing with a few small developing fruits. Hope it lives long enough for us to harvest them -- we only need about a week!

:-) Mel