 Harvesting
Leave the gourds on the vine until a light frost or the stems turn
brown. If you need to pick a gourd before the frost, the gourd should be
very firm to the touch. Cut the gourd with an inch or more of stem. Wash
the gourds in soapy water. Dilute household bleach may be added to the
water if desired, and may help delay mold formation. A light coat of non-glossy
floor wax gives the gourds a natural glow.
Drying
Dry the gourd fruits naturally by placing in an area with good air
circulation. Bringing the gourds indoors may help them dry faster, but
gourds can be dried outdoors even in cold areas, however repeated freezing
and thawing will affect the viability of seeds. When the seeds rattle,
the gourd is dry and ready for crafting. How long it takes a gourd to dry
depends on the drying environment -- the warmer and the better the
circulation, the faster the water will evaporate from the gourd. Most moderate-sized
hard-shell gourds will be dry by Christmas. Larger or particularly thick
shelled gourds may not dry for several more months. Light may help
to retard formation of mold, but the mold on the outside of gourds is a
natural part of the drying process; as long as the gourd remain firm to
the touch, do not discard it. Turning the gourds and wiping off the mold
on a weekly basis may help the gourds dry sooner. While the natural
method of drying in time consuming, it is still the best recommendation
for drying gourds.
Crafting Clean the skin and mold off the dried gourd by
soaking in water for a few minutes and use a stiff brush. Sand paper or
highly abrasive materials may make tiny scratches on the gourd surface
which will show when stained. Any finish that is used on wood can be used
to finish a gourd. If you wish to carve, chip, burn, cut, or drill
the gourd, The American Gourd Society has several books available or attend
a class offered during the gourd shows. |
