Variety field guide
What to expect from Apple Small Gourd Seeds
Apple Small brings an orchard-like shape to the gourd patch, producing small, rounded fruits for autumn arrangements and handmade decorations.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Apple Small brings an orchard-like shape to the gourd patch, producing small, rounded fruits for autumn arrangements and handmade decorations. The fresh gourds are dark green, and their compact size makes them useful in wreaths, baskets and painted projects. Vigorous vines appreciate a strong trellis, which keeps the developing fruit cleaner and easier to find. Let the shells ripen fully before harvest, then cure them patiently with plenty of moving air for the best keeping quality.
Small apple shapes for a harvest of creative possibilities.
Growing facts
- Botanical name: Cucurbita pepo
- Maturity or display: 100-120 days to mature gourds; curing takes longer
- Mature size: Small apple-shaped fruit; vines spread about 6-10 ft
- Spacing: 24 in between plants; rows 72 in
About the variety
Apple Small is an ornamental gourd selected for its apple-like form. Like other decorative Cucurbita pepo gourds, its value lies in the mature fruit's shape and shell, which extend the garden's harvest into seasonal displays and craftwork.
Starting seed
Sow 1 in. deep after frost in warm soil; sprouts in 7-14 days at 75-90 F. Space 24 in.; rows 72 in. Give full sun, regular water and room to vine or a strong trellis.
Care through the season
Provide fertile, well-drained soil and water deeply during dry spells. Install supports before vines become large. Mulch to limit weeds and fruit contact with wet soil. Remove protective row covers when flowers open so pollinators can reach them.
Harvest and use
Harvest when stems brown and shells harden, leaving a short stem. Cure in a dry, airy place; discard soft fruit. Ornamental only. Isolate other C. pepo for seed.
Saving seed
Gourds cross with other varieties of the same species. Isolate flowering Cucurbita pepo varieties or use controlled hand pollination to preserve the form. Keep fully mature fruit from several healthy plants, extract the mature seed, and dry it thoroughly before cool, dry storage.
Common problems
Watch seedlings for cucumber beetles and inspect vines for aphids and leaf diseases. Water at soil level and maintain airflow. Poor fruit set may reflect cool weather or inadequate pollination. Discard any gourds that soften or rot during curing.
Frequently asked questions
When should I harvest?
Harvest when stems brown and shells harden, leaving a short stem. Cure in a dry, airy place; discard soft fruit. Ornamental only. Isolate other C. pepo for seed.
Can I save seed?
Gourds cross with other varieties of the same species. Isolate flowering Cucurbita pepo varieties or use controlled hand pollination to preserve the form. Keep fully mature fruit from several healthy plants, extract the mature seed, and dry it thoroughly before cool, dry storage.
How much space is needed?
24 in between plants; rows 72 in. Provide fertile, well-drained soil and water deeply during dry spells. Install supports before vines become large. Mulch to limit weeds and fruit contact with wet soil. Remove protective row covers when flowers open so pollinators can reach them.





