How to Dry Gourds

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.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

1. Harvest ripe gourds at the end of the growing season after the stem has turned brown.

2. Keep a few inches of the stem attached to the gourd when harvesting.

3. Remove excess soil from gourd.

4. Attach a rubber band or string to the stem.

5. Hang the gourd in a dark, well-ventilated area such as a garage or basement.

6. Remove mold as it forms on the skin of the gourd with a 10 percent solution of bleach.

7. 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.

[beljon]

on 2/5/2009 I have grown and dried [and have on hand now] 100s of gourds in Colorado and I have always left them out in the cold to dry. I cover them in a bed of hay and leave them until the weather warms. Then I uncover, turn, toss the spoiled to the compost, and spray with bleach solution.

[dcharrison70]

on 1/15/2009 What I sugest is, putting a small hole in the bottom of it and let the liquid drain out and continue with the drying process. DC

[dcharrison70]

on 1/15/2009 What I would do is, put a small hole at the bottom and let it drain out and then continue the drying process. DC

[catlady516]

on 12/7/2008 I live in Florida and purchased my gourds at a fruit stand. They don't have any stems to hang them from. Plus a cold, dry place is kind of hard to find. They are really very pretty and I'd love to keep them, Help!!!!!

[mom1951]

on 8/24/2008 last year my husband had a gourd..soaked it in bleach when it was dried. Cut a hole in it and cleaned it out beside the workshop. Lo and behold this year the bleached seeds sprouted with the Florida summer rains. Now the vine is dying and he cut off the 20 or so gourds. He is hanging them outside in the sun to dry. In Florida is this the best way to dry them?