Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Ornamental Gourd Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to ornamental gourds
The advanced Instacart app is easy to use and convenient, even for beginners, and it's easy to get your favorite ornamental gourds or ornamental gourd products delivered to your home. You can also get your order by the curb at a store near you. When you make your ornamental gourd selections through Instacart, an Instacart shopper will bring your fresh produce to your home or office on the same day!
About ornamental gourds
Gourds include several species of plants, and they're related to cucumbers, squash, melons, and zucchini. They're native to Africa, and humans have brought them all over the world. Gourds are types of berries called pepos, and they can have hard or soft skins. They grow on large vines that stay near the ground.
Some species of ornamental gourds are edible, and others are used exclusively for decorations, tools, and other items. In China, people tie molds around young ornamental gourds. That way, they assume the shape of the mold as they grow, and they can form into boxes or other containers. In Asia, Africa, and Latin America, people from many different cultures make musical instruments from ornamental gourds as well. They can become parts of flutes, drums, or stringed instruments.
How to pick out ornamental gourds
The best fresh ornamental gourds feel heavy and look symmetrical. They come in many shapes and sizes, and the bottoms are often flat with a slightly discolored spot where the ornamental gourd rested on the ground. The gourd should feel hard when you squeeze it. When they ripen, the stem shrivels, and they eventually detach from the vine. However, ornamental gourds are best when harvested before they ripen, soon after reaching their full size. That way, the stem stays on, and they'll be less likely to start rotting during drying. The skins will look better as well.
If you're looking for dried gourds, listen for a hollow sound when you tap them. You may also be able to hear seeds moving around inside the ornamental gourds when you shake them. Avoid ornamental gourds that feel soft, smell strong, or have mold or mildew.
Types of ornamental gourds
Many different varieties of ornamental gourds are available. Bottle gourds have thin necks and thicker bottoms. They're beige or light brown, and many people use them as bottles. Dipper gourds are similar, but they have especially long necks. You can cut them in half and use them as dippers or spoons. Some people train the necks to be curved for a better handle or grow in a spiral shape. Luffas or sponge gourds resemble cucumbers, and the fibers under the outer shell can become a great sponge.
Apple gourds are about 6 to 8 inches tall and 4 inches wide, and they look like giant apples with watermelon skins. They become yellowish-brown when dried, and many people cut them in half and use them as bowls.
Daisy gourds are around 3 inches wide and 2 inches tall, and they come in a variety of green, orange, and yellow shades. They're lumpier than apple gourds, and when you look at them from above, the patterns of colors around the stems look like daisies or other flowers. Turban squash, also called Turk's turban, looks like a smaller pumpkin melted on top of a larger one. They can be orange, red, green, or white.
Ornamental Gourd Near Me
Buy your favorite Ornamental Gourd online with Instacart. Order Ornamental Gourd from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about ornamental gourds
To dry ornamental gourds, rinse them off in warm water and dry them thoroughly. Then, wipe them down with bleach or disinfectant to get rid of any organisms that could lead to decay. Store them in a dry, warm place, like your garage or storage shed, on clean newspapers or a similar surface for several weeks. Check on your ornamental gourds regularly, and turn them every few days. Discard any that start to decay. Make sure there's lots of room for air to circulate around each gourd. After several weeks, the skin will dry and harden until you have trouble pressing a fingernail into it.
Many ornamental gourds look great by themselves, but you can make them even more attractive with some fun crafts while spending time with friends or family members. Cut the top off an ornamental gourd and fill it with melted wax to make a unique candle. You can paint the outside, leave it alone, or glue on gems, beads, or other decorations. You can even create a raised design by painting with a glue gun and then covering the gourd with one or two coats of paint in another color.
You can select a variety of ornamental gourds through Instacart. Submit your next gourd order via your smartphone to get your gourds in as little as 2 hours!