About 100 to 180 days are required to mature most varieties. Spacing and Trellising Because different varieties vary widely in the size of fruit and vine, their spacing and trellising requirements vary also. The small ornamental types such as bicolor pear can be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart provided they are trellised vertically 6 to 8 ft. Larger types, such as dipper and water bottle, require wider spacing and a very substantial trellis to hold the weight of the fruit. Gourds may also be grown on an arbor consisting of posts and several overhead crosspieces.
Gourd fruit hangs underneath the vines.
It's a good idea not to make the arbor more than 3 to 4 ft wide. Rates of 100 to 150 lb each, of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium per acre, are adequate initially. Side-dressings with 20 to 30 lb per acre of nitrogen every 2 to 3 weeks also keeps the plants vigorously growing. By late summer, nutrients and water can be reduced. This will permit plants to slow their growth and fruits to harden off.