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Nest Egg Gourds

From Baker's Creek Seed Company:

Japanese Nest Egg Gourd

(C. pepo) Highly popular in the 1800's, the gourds are the size and shape of a hen's egg, and are white in color. They are used as nest eggs; often found growing wild here in the Ozarks.

Does anyone besides me remember these?

Grandma used to grow them.  The dried gourds look exactly like eggs.  Grandma put them in nests to get the hens in the mood for setting.  If we are able to grow some to maturity, I'll probably use them in craft projects.

The seeds were ordered soon after we received this year's catalog.  I sowed them about three weeks ago; they have grown so large that we had to transplant them yesterday.  I am a little uncomfortable about putting them out this early, but they were sending out vines and needed to be planted by the fence where they can 'stretch out'.

Hopefully, there will be some pictures of them here later. . .

Comments

  1. TipperApril 3, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    I just recently found out about these-and now you post about them : )

    ReplyDelete
  2. Faith, Folklore, and FriendsApril 3, 2012 at 12:44 PM

    If they make it, I will be happy to share! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. lil red henApril 3, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    A couple of years ago, my husband found some of these in the hayfield after the grass was cut. He brought them home to me and I was thinking, just this morning, I should plant some of the seeds and see what I get. If they make such a big vine I'll have to find a place for them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Faith, Folklore, and FriendsApril 3, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    I can't remember much about them, except Grandma grew them. I planted mine by a fence for support.

    ReplyDelete

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