" wrote in
oups.com:

We have a robust gourd vine that is putting out a nice sized dipper
gourd. There is one additional smaller gourd starting. Two more
small ones also. In order to encourage really large gourds, would it be
better to trim off the smaller gourds, or does it make any difference
as to how large they'll grow?
Thanks

Disclaimer: I have never tried this.

Someone (father or grandfather, can't remember who) once told me that you
make a lengthwise slit in the vine (and maybe they meant "stem" but I'm
not sure) above the fruit and stuff one end of a piece of cloth through
the slit. Then you get a container of water -- a plastic gallon-sized
milk jug with cap would be good -- and you run the strip of cloth into
the water jug like a wick (I guess you put a hole in the cap and run the
cloth through it) so the fruit has a continual supply of water.

Let me know if it works.

Barring that, try a ton o' horse poo. I have a draft horse and a ton o'
horse poo. Want some?