Prepare the soil by adding organic matter prior to planting. Compost works very well. Try to have the area as weed free as possible, since it is hard to deal with weeds amongst the prolific vines. Many people prefer to plant gourds like pumpkins and watermelons, in hills, with several seeds per hill. You would need to thin them back to two or three plants per hill after germination.
Water is essential to good production, especially when it gets so hot and dry.
Mulching is highly encouraged for several reasons. It helps to conserve moisture, plus it will help to keep weeds out and the fruits cleaner. Gourds, like all other members of the cucurbit family, produce separate male and female blossoms, which must be pollinated by insects. They also suffer from the same pest problems as squash and cucumbers the squash vine borer, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and powdery mildew. Monitor for these pest problems, to control them early.