Great Info Tips

I always wondered how people dried gourds to use as decoration or noise makers.

I learned you need to pick the gourds when the stems have dried and begin to turn brown. This is also when the plants leaves begin to die off. This needs to be done before the first frost. Make sure you are picking only mature fruits. Wash the fruit with a mild soap and dry it off with a towel. Toss out any bruised, diseased, or damaged fruit. Now we start the drying process. Place the gourds on slotted trays or chicken wire fencing (you can get the fencing at the local hardware store). Don’t let any gourds touch each other. You will need a warm, dry, well ventilated area to dry the gourds. This process can take up to 6 months depending on the type of gourds you are drying. The outer skin will harden in about 1 to 2 weeks, but the insides take at least an additional month to dry out. Poke a small hole in the blossom end of the gourd so the insides will dry faster. You will need to turn the gourds now and then, checking for any soft spots or uneven drying. Gourds are cured when you can hear the seeds rattle while shaking the gourd. You can then varnish or paint the gourds if you wish. Have fun!