The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CUCURBIT
C
U
C
U
R
B
I
T
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Provider of gourd" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case provider of gourd = cucurbit.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CUCURBIT mean?
CUCURBIT noun- Any member of the Cucurbita genus of gourds.
- A receptacle, originally gourd-shaped and used for liquids or chemicals; a bottle or other container.