Growing, Harvesting & Using Gourds

by Yvonne Quarles

Gourds come in all shapes and sizes. They have become popular craft projects for many. Gourd Societies have popped up everywhere you look. Members are true artists who realize the gourd is a great and versatile media for them. A gourd can be a beautiful piece of art and/or have a very useful purpose.

The hard shell of the gourd makes it great for carving, painting and decorating. Try growing gourds and let your imagination go. You can turn a gourd into an elegant or fanciful piece of art, a container, a musical instrument, a birdhouse or more.

Growing Gourds

Gourds are very easy to grow. First choose the kind of gourd you want to grow. Choose the appropriate shape for whatever your project may be. I have seen gourds larger than bowling balls and some that grow 4 feet long and look like a dipper. Gourds grow on very long vines like watermelons or cucumbers. Let the vines climb on a sturdy trellis or fence so the gourds will be off the ground. Plant them where there is plenty of room as the vines will get very long. Gourd seeds are fairly large and can go into the ground after the last frost date in your area. Plant seeds in full sun. It is best to plant 4-6 seeds in a small hill, with each hill being about 8 feet apart. Always plant seeds about the same depth as the seeds are long. Thin each hill to one good plant. If you want more sideways growth cut the end of the vine off when the vine is about 10 feet long. Doing this will produce more gourds.

Harvesting Gourds

You will know a gourd is ready to pick when the stem dries out. Do not harvest before this happens as the gourd will rot. Place the gourd in a dry place with good ventilation. It takes a few months for a gourd to dry out. The bigger the gourd, the longer the drying time with some up to 9 months. You may see mold forming on the skin, but this is natural and will not hurt the finished project. Shake the gourd and if you hear the seeds rattle then it is finished drying. The gourd will now be light in weight. To clean a gourd, get a wet towel and wrap the gourd. Let in stay on for about 2 days in order to soften the outside skin. The outer skin then comes off easier. Use a dull knife to scrape the outer skin off. All of the mold will come off with the skin. Again, place the gourd in a dry, airy place to dry once more. Be sure it is completely dry before starting your project.

Let Your Imagination Go

The hard shell of the gourd makes it possible to do many things with it. To make a container, first mark off where you want to cut the lid off. Use a craft knife to cut the shell. Scrape and clean the inside of the gourd.

Note: When cleaning your gourds, be sure and save the seeds for next year. Store the seeds in an airtight jar in the refrigerator or you can put them in an envelope and store in a cool, dry place. Be sure to label and date.

Carving, burning, staining, painting, etching, dyeing and more can be done to turn you gourd into a great piece of art. Smaller gourds can be Christmas ornaments or even maracas. The kids love these. For the maracas leave the seeds in the gourd for the rattling noise. Add anything you want to the shell of the gourd to add to its appearance. Try using feathers, beads, leather, seeds or whatever you would like in order to make your gourd into your unique piece of work. Almost any kind of paint can be used when painting a gourd. Kids like to use markers, which work great. Seal your project with a spray sealer.

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Yvonne Quarles © Copyright

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Visit her site and read more of her articles at: Inspiller's Attic.  

A website is dedicated to providing a resource for interested individuals to rediscover traditional earth-based living, getting back to basics and just enjoying the simple things in life.

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