If you grow both kinds of gourds on the same trellis, there's definitely a chance of cross pollination. But that will only affect the seeds inside the gourds, not the actual gourds that will be produced this year. If you don't want to grow the hybrid gourds, just toss the seeds out from this year's crop and buy new seeds next year. Of course, I think it's fun to plant the crossed seeds, sometimes you get really interesting gourds out of it.

If you want to plant both kinds, you can also prevent cross-pollination by hand pollinating. You just go out every evening, pick a male flower, hold it upside-down over a female, and tap the pollin off of the male onto the female. Make sure you get it on the center (I think it's called a stigma). Then I fold the flower back up and tape it shut so bugs can't pollinate it further.

If you decide to only grow one type this year, you can store the seeds for the other kind in your refrigerator. I've been told they will last for several years that way.

Good luck growing!

Thanks ... I read on one site some guy wrote that he grows different kinds of gourds at least 20 to 30 feet apart so they don't cross polinate. I think I'll just grow the Chinese for now and next year while I'm painting them, I'll grow the canteen.

Actually, if you want to prevent cross-pollination, you have to plant them 3 miles apart. I guess the insects that pollinate gourds won't fly that far, so cross-pollination won't occur.