You will need to watch out for spotted squash beetles and vine borers. These small gourds come in an assortment of colors including orange, yellow, green, and white as well as many different shapes. Some are striped and some bi-color. Small ornamental gourds are beautiful fall decorations but can be dried and painted to become almost anything. Because of their small size, they make nifty Christmas tree ornaments.
Giant gourds are the kings of the gourd family.
They can become as large as bushel baskets and need lots of water and room to run. Birdhouse, dipper, swan, bushel, penguin, and caveman's club are just a few of the many named types that are sold by seed companies. These giants bloom late in the day into evening. You should not have a problem growing them as long as you allow lots of room for the vines to spread and keep them well watered. Because of their large size, it takes them much longer to dry fully after harvesting.