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Ships in a Do Not Machine White Envelope – can take up to 10 working days. Purchase $10+ variety of items and we will ship in a padded envelope 3-5 day delivery. Gourd SPECKLED SWAN Large Birdhouse Decorative Non-GMO 15 SeedsFresh, Pure Seed – No FillersPRODUCT DESCRIPTIONSpeckled Swan GourdPlant gourds if for no other reason than because they’re fun! They come in a delightful, wacky array of shapes, colors, and sizes and are sure to bring a smile when you harvest them. Many will grow up fences and trellises, which makes them even more interesting and dramatic. The resemblance to a swan can be quite amazing. A very useful hard-shelled gourd for art and crafts. A long hot summer is best for this gourd because it needs 115 days to mature. Stunning, ornamental you’ll fall in love with! Produces a large-bodied gourd with a slender, arching neck ending in a billed head, perfect for painting as a swan or goose. The origin of gourds has been a subject of debate for decades. Archaeological findings seem to show that Asia first domesticated the gourd for use as a container, though Africa and several island nations such as Polynesia and New Zealand also have an early history of using gourds as fishing floats, bottles, or musical instruments. Recent research shows that North America’s gourds are nearly as old as those of Asia, which seems to suggest that early peoples who settled in the New World brought gourds with them.FEATURES:Botanic name: Lagenaria sicerariaPlant spacing: 5-6 feetColor: Dark green with lighter cream-colored spotsSowing depth: 1 inchSun requirements: Full sunUtilization: Arts and crafts, decorFrost hardy: NoMaturity days: 110-115 daysLife cycle: AnnualCan I start indoors: YesContainer friendly: Not recommendedOther names: Swan Gourd PLANTING INSTRUCTIONSSowing: In shorter growing seasons, start speckled swan gourd seeds indoors in peat pots 3-4 weeks before the last frost. To speed germination, soak the seeds overnight. Plant the seedlings outdoors in rich soil and full sun after the last spring frost. For direct sowing, wait until the soil warms to 70 degrees F, then plant 5 speckled swan gourd seeds per hill, 1″ deep, with 5′ spacing; later, thin to the strongest plant.Growing: Keep the soil evenly moist. When the vines begin to develop, either provide a trellis or lay down mulch to keep the gourds from contact with the soil; too much soil contact can weaken the shell, distort the shape, and cause rotting.Harvesting: Late in the summer, the skin of the gourd should feel extremely hard, too hard to pierce with a fingernail. Leaving the gourds on the vine until the stem and leaves of the gourd begin to wither and turn brown is also a good indication of ripeness. Cut off the gourd, leaving about 2″ of stem. Wash it with a solution of soapy water, then let it cure in a dry place for several weeks in order to preserve it for decorative use. Underripe gourds work well for carving, but will start to rot several weeks after picking.Seed Saving: When the gourds have fully matured, cure them in a warm dry place for 3-4 weeks to allow the swan plant seeds to ripen. Cut them in half to remove the pulp that contains the seeds. Rinse off the pulp, and put the seeds in a container of water; the good seeds will sink to the bottom. Spread the good seeds out on a flat surface to dry for about 2 weeks. When a seed will snap in two, it has dried sufficiently. If the seed only bends but will not break, further drying time is needed. Store the dry speckled swan gourd seeds in a cool, dry place for up to six years.Planting and Harvesting Speckled Swan GourdsSow directly outdoors after all danger of frost in loose, rich soil. Plants need steady water and fertilizer. Glossy green shells speckled with white are pretty as is; for painting, let dry thoroughly and clean off outer skin with sandpaper. If you like the Birdhouse Gourds, then you must grow the Swan gourd! Pick gourds when the vine is dry. Allow the gourd to dry in an airy, warm location. Drying is complete when the seeds rattle inside. Dipper Gourds can grow on a trellis or on the ground.The resemblance to a swan can be quite amazingA very useful hard-shelled gourd for art and craftsA long hot summer is best for this gourd because it needs 115 days to matureDipper Gourds can grow on a trellis or on the groundWE SHIP FAST & FREE! Your orders ship the next business date after payment via US mail. NO TRACKING. You can add TRACKING for $3.50 additional (we are just passing on what the Post Office charges us for tracking. See Shipping details to add this. Orders over $25 are shipped First Class PACKAGE with free Tracking. Free Wildflower Gift Pack on Orders over $10 Free Wildflower Gift Pack with orders over $10 purchased the same day (Gift Pack is at least 500mg – 50 seeds. Pure seed. Assorted. Non-GMO. Two Wildflower Gift Packs with orders over $25 in the same day. CUSTOMER SERVICE Leaving Feedback – eBay guidelines. We will leave feedback for you within 48 hours of payment! Please leave a positive for us! What should I consider before rating a seller’s performance? In general, here’s what you should be thinking about when leaving Feedback for a seller: Did you get what you were expecting, based on the item description? Was the item packaged appropriately (to prevent damage during shipping)? Did the seller ship the item within the timeframe indicated in the listing? (Remember that USPS is experiencing delays due to Covid.) Were the shipping and handling costs reasonable? They are FREE! If you communicated with the seller, were your questions or concerns addressed? Did the seller respond within a reasonable amount of time? Before you consider leaving a negative give the seller a chance to fix the problem. Negative Feedback directly impacts their business. If you don’t get your item within 10 working days message me directly. You do not need to do an Ebay claim – just message. Give me 48 hours to answer please and I will refund or reship. Please read the planting instructions! Some seeds require cold stratification. Some Perennials probably will not bloom until the 2nd year. Your success and happiness is our success and happiness! 30 Day Return Policy If you need to return your item, we have a 30 day return policy <