Anyone know if you can eat gourds?

[fruitloafmademefat]

DSIL gave the kids some gourd seeds last christmas. I've spent all year trying to kill the buggers off but we still have about 15 plants left and several million fruits on each plant. They are EVERYWHERE.

What can we do with them.... please someone tell me we can make them all into soup.

[Idasonions]

gourden bennet - you have a lot of gourds

What type are they ? Most probable they are edible.

[fruitloafmademefat]

Ha!

They were one of those 'get children to grow things' gifts, small pretty carboard pot with a bit of mud in and a few seeds. No intructions, though as I found out it's pretty hard NOT to grow gourds once you have seeds, and definately no info regarding type. Some are green, like small round marrows, some are yellow and butternut squash shaped, some are cream round balls, and lots are all of the above combined.

We literally have to 'wade' through them, I'm rather in awe. Everything I've read about them says 'ornamental', 'decorative' etc. - to me though they have little point if they can't be eaten.

Have threatened SIL that her christmas presents this year will soley comprise of intertestingly carved gourds.

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Can you dry them out and make them into loofahs?

[CroissantNeuf]

Gourds always remind me of art lessons at school as we had a very unimaginative art teacher who constantly put gourds in still life arrangements for us to draw. I was sick of the sight of them by the time I left school.

Maybe you could donate then to your local schools art dept?

[youmustbeyolking]

Most Gourds are edible. However most of them are also bitter. Those that are not edible will not poison you but just cause excess gas and/or stomach cramps. It is not worth the risk!

Cut them open and let the birds eat the seeds or alternatively dry them in a shed and decorate them next year.

[ashtangini]

I grew them by mistake on the allotment this year. Currently have 15 of the b*ggers sitting on a top bookshelf.

Was planning to cover them in glitter and give as xmas gifts from DS.

Could I do this this year do you think or do we need to wait until next?