They will. This is why I buy pure seed every year from seed catalogs. I usually like to get what I thought I planted, but once in a while I'll plant the seeds from gourds I grew before just for fun. They don't usually grow true.

yes, they will cross, hardshell to hardshell, and ornmental with ornamental. You may not see the results of the cross until you plant the seeds from your first crop......then, who knows what will grow on your vines. Those seed packets seem to be for the novice that only wants the gourds for fall decorating.

Jan

I had an odd thing happen one year when I was new to this. I had a volunteer "zucchini" vine come up (or so I thought)... I let it go, and happily presented the beautiful thing (just had the one fruit) to my neighbor when ripe. She didn't taste it, and lo and behold, that volunteer looked just like an edible, but had crossed somehow with a GOURD from the previous year! Ruined a whole pot of goulash! ARGH! We still laugh about that one!