Types of Gourds Basic Types of Gourds Hardshells are the gourds of history, used as containers, tools and musical instruments from the dawn of history. Their hard, durable shells gave them many uses. They were homegrown household china, crystal and Tupperware from when we lived in caves.
Ornamentals have thinner shells.
They are the small, brightly colored gourds that appear on roadside stands and on supermarket produce counters in the fall. Luffa , the sponge gourd, is our bathtub friend. Many people think they are undersea animals, but these vegetable sponges grow on yellow-flowered vines. Growing is easy. What puzzles most new growers is how to dry, or cure, their crops.