How to Dry Gourds

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (29 Ratings)

Dried gourds make perfect decorations for your fall table, or you can use them to make birdhouses or decorative dippers and bowls. Gourds have a variety of uses. Here are a few do it yourself tips on how to dry a gourd.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flat Hobby Paintbrushes
  • Paste Wax
  • Gourds
  • Liquid Bleach
  • Varnish
  • Kitchen Strings

Step1
Harvest ripe gourds at the end of the growing season after the stem has turned brown.
Step2
Keep a few inches of the stem attached to the gourd when harvesting.
Step3
Remove excess soil from gourd.
Step4
Attach a rubber band or string to the stem.
Step5
Hang the gourd in a dark, well-ventilated area such as a garage or basement.
Step6
Remove mold as it forms on the skin of the gourd with a 10 percent solution of bleach.
Step7
Tap the gourd with your hand every month or so. When it is dry to the touch and has a hollow sound, it is ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

  • Paint dry gourds with varnish or coat with a layer of paste wax to preserve the finish.
  • Gourds will dry in 2 to 4 months, depending on the amount of heat and ventilation available in the drying area.

Comments

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on 11/22/2007 FROM www.amishgourds.com Drying Gourds..."I live in the northern part of the country and don't have a warm place to put my gourds while they are drying. How will I protect them from freezing?

Don't try! If your gourds are mature, then it won't hurt them at all to freeze. In fact, some say it's even better if they freeze every now and then during drying. All it does is slow down the drying process. Some northern growers are even known to leave them in the field covered in snow. "

momhere said

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on 11/11/2007 My large gourd sloshes must have liquid inside now what?

momhere said

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on 11/11/2007 question my large gourd sloshes it has licuid in it. It has been in a cool dark room can anyone help me? baarm8@aol.com

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on 11/8/2007 I, too, need to know about allowing gourds to FREEZE....
live in w.central minnesota, they WILL freeze in my garage or barn! Is this O.k.??

alkflds said

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on 11/7/2007 If I hang it my gourd out in the garage, will it hurt it to freeze?

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eHow Article:  How to Dry Gourds

eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Category: Home & Garden

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