We've saved seed a few times with varied results. I can tell you that unless you grew your gourds isolated from other varieties, you probably will have some wonderful mixed results from your saved seed.

Jan

When a plant is open pollinated (by bees) there is no way to be sure the seeds will grow the same kind fruit they came from.
Sometimes they will though.

Can someone describe or illustarate hybrids of hard-shelled (white flowered) gourds? I am fully aware that the seeds from one ornamental gourd can grow a wide variety of different gourds, but is the same true about the hard-shelled gourds? I only know of about half a dozen or so shapes for the hard-shelled gourds, compared to hundreds of different shapes and color combinations for the ornamental gourds. Since the hard-shelled gourds are "all" green it is not like they can have different coloring or anything. Although, with that being said I did buy some maranka gourd seeds and I only grew one vine but to my dissappointment they just grew dipper gourds without the ridges.

I have heard about two elderly gents who have grown gourds for years. They only save the seeds from the largest and thickest. Their father and grandfather did the same. They are the one kind of gourds they ever grew and they are beauts!

There are MANY kinds and shapes of gourds to grow and I am including a link to a chart so you can see for yourselves.

Enjoy
Rita in Michigan

Here is a link that might be useful: Hardshell Gourd Chart