What kinds of craft gourds are there?

Gourd can be roughly divided into the following varieties:

(1) gourd

The lower part of the fruit is round, about 25-30 cm in diameter, with short stalks on it, and the skin thickness is 1- 1.5 cm. This kind of gourd is very big, and the cortex is white and tender when tender. For farmers, this is a good vegetable and can be eaten in many ways. When mature, the cortex is solid, sawed in half and used as a "ladle" for scooping water.

(2) waist gourd

Its shape is very lovely, like two spheres stacked together, with a small top and a big bottom, and a slender "bee waist" in the middle. The size of the waist-splitting gourd varies greatly. It is said that the big one is one meter high and the small one is only the size of a pea. Huoji said, "There are still really small gourds as big as peas, called' Jinlicao'. You can plant two at 20 or 30 degrees, which is expensive." The most common waist-splitting gourd is 20-25 cm high and small 10 cm, which is mainly used for viewing.

(3) Flat round gourd

Its shape is round and flat, with a diameter of 7-9 cm. Because it looks like a big persimmon, it is called "persimmon gourd" in Beijing and Tianjin. Shandong and northern Jiangsu are called "oil gourd".

(4) Long-handled gourd

The lower half is round, the size of a flat gourd, and there is a slender handle on it, which is more than a foot long. This kind of gourd can also be eaten when it is tender. When mature, it was mainly used to make gourd sheng in ancient times, and now it is sawn into spoons or scoops.

(5) praise words

Its shape is cylindrical, with different thickness and length, like a big loofah. When tender, the skin is white, tender and juicy, and can be eaten. Mature skin is white in color and not too hard in texture. In addition to eating, it can also be used to make long gourds.