How to Dry Ornamental Gourds

Different types of gourds

With the vast decorative possibilities that ornamental gourds offer, they are one of the easiest and most versatile materials for crafting projects for all seasons. By combining some readily available art supplies, with your own personal brand of creativity, you can create some hand-crafted masterpieces ranging from flower pots to serving bowls, bird houses to luminaries to table centerpieces. Read on to learn how to cure and dry ornamental gourds for use in making your crafts.

Things You'll Need

• Mature ornamental gourd
• Soap and water
• Towel
• Rubbing alcohol
• Steel wool or sandpaper (optional)
• Paint and shellac (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut or break the gourds from their vine once they have matured and turned a tan brown. Leave 3 to 4 inches of stem on each gourd.

2. Clean the surface of the gourd with soap and water, and dry it off with a towel. Apply a light coat of rubbing alcohol to help speed up the drying process. Set the gourd out to dry for a week, in a warm, dry well-ventilated spot, and in indirect sunlight.

3. Place the gourds in a single layer in a dark, well-ventilated area for six months. There should be room left in between the gourds to help the air flow around them.

4. Turn the gourds every other week to prevent uneven drying or any rotting. If a gourd develops any moldy spots, remember that this is just a natural part of the drying process.

5. Shake each gourd after the six month period, to determine whether or not it is dry. If you hear the seeds rattle inside, then it is dry and ready for use. If not, let it dry a little longer.

6. Wash the completely dried gourd surface once again with soapy water, and dry it with a towel. Once dry, you can now use it to create your masterpiece.

7. Polish or smooth out the outer shell of the gourd, if you like, using steel wool or sandpaper. If you want to paint it, allow 24 hours between each coat of paint. Cover the painted surface with shellac. If you choose to leave the surface natural, apply two coats of shellac to protect from the elements, once again allowing 24 hours between each coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to harvest your gourd before the first frost sets in to prevent the chance of frost damage. Discard any bruised or spoiled gourds from your batch of gourds.

• Keep in mind that the larger gourd, the longer the drying period required. Shaking the drying gourd as instructed in Step #5 will help you determine if it is ready.

• If there is a moldy spot on the dried gourd, you can wipe it off using a small amount of bleach.

• Do not cut short the drying process because this renders the gourd unusable for your craft purposes