How to Dry a Pumpkin Gourd

Gourds can be used for decoration, containers, ladles or birdhouses.

Gourds are fruits that grow from a flower on a vine. The best way to dry them is simply to leave them on the vine until they dry naturally. Weather, such as rain and snow, won't hinder the natural drying process, and there is no need to place anything under the gourds to protect the gourds as they dry on the vine. If you buy them once they've been cut from the vine, however, you will need to implement other methods of drying the gourds.

Instructions

1. Cut the gourd from the vine, along with at least two inches of the stem. The porous stem is where much of the gourd's moisture will be lost. Don't twist the gourd from the vine, as this will damage the stem. If the gourd has already been removed from the vine when you make your purchase, look for one with a couple of inches of stem still attached.

2. Mix one or two cups of bleach in five gallons of water and give your gourd a bath. This will not only remove dirt from your gourd, but can also prevent harmful mold and infection from setting up during the drying process.

3. Place the gourd in a cool place that doesn't get a lot of traffic and has good airflow. Avoid basements and cellars that are attached to your home. Basements don't provide adequate ventilation for drying and curing gourds, and cellars that are attached to your home will allow the offensive odor of the drying gourds to seep into the rest of your house. You may set your gourd outside to dry, if you choose to. If you have more than one gourd, don't allow them to touch each other.

4. Check the status of the gourd once every week by picking up the gourd and shaking it. It will take several weeks to dry, but once the drying process is complete, the gourd will have lost much of its weight and the seeds within will rattle when you shake it.

5. Dispose of any gourds that begin to feel spongy or develop soft dents. These are decomposing, and there is nothing you can do to stop or reverse the process of decomposition. A little mold will likely grow on the gourd, even if you give them a bleach solution bath. This mold won't harm the gourd, and it's not necessary to wipe it away. It will dry along with the gourd.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be discouraged if some of your gourds rot. This is inevitable, no matter what you do, but some of them will complete the process successfully.

• Avoid quick-dry processes, such as scraping the back of a gourd to release moisture faster. The gourds dried with these processes won't last long because an authentic curing process hasn't taken place.

References

• Amish Gourds: Drying Gourds: Tips and Information
• American Gourd Society: What Are Gourds?