Curing Gourds

Preparing Gourds for Craft Work

Hi, I am curing birdhouse gourds.

I have not cut them from the vine yet but we are getting to the cold season and have had a couple frosts and rains and it will be getting much colder and wetter/snowier.

I have yet to read where these gourds that cure outside are curing.

What I mean is, is this only done in warm climates or can I leave my gourds on all winter, wiping as necessary etc... through frost and snow? Until they are fully dry next spring/summer?

Or, being in a cold northern climate, do I have no choice but to cut and bring indoors?

Thank you,

Lysa

It sounds like you already read my article on Birdhouse Gourds, so I'll try not to repeat myself.

Mature healthy gourds can be left outside to cure even through freezes and thaws. In fact the dramatic changes in temperature help to loosen the pulp from the shell.

However it is best to remove them from the vine before the ground gets covered with ice and snow because the most important environmental element for gourd curing is good air circulation.

Many gourd farmers in cold climates cure their cut gourds outside on pallets or on wire shelving in an unheated shed. When you cut the gourds away from the vines, leave a good length of vine to help wick moisture from the interior of the gourds.

I don't recommend you bring your cut gourds inside to a basement or garage. Many find the odor of curing gourds quite offensive.

You may hear many different ideas - some good, some not - for curing gourds.

Poke holes to speed the drying. Don't do it; the holes are an invitation to microorganisms that cause gourd rot.

Cut off the top and fill with water or salt water. This is an old traditional method that works but, in my opinion, is not worth the effort. Plus it removes part of the gourd which you may want to use in your art.

There are three basic tried and true methods for curing gourds whether left on the vine (in temperate climates) or raised from the ground (in colder climes).

1. Let them dry naturally and allow the mold that develops to grow and create patterns on the shell. Gourds cured this way will be the deepest in color.

2. Wipe the curing gourds once or twice a week with a 10% bleach solution to remove mold. The result will be a gourd with paler more uniform color.

3. Method three is quite a bit of work but may be worth the effort for a few select gourds. It yields the palest most uniform shell color. When the outer skin begins to change from green to creamy white and soften, it is also releasing from the shell making it easy to remove manually. This speeds the curing process as well, but makes the gourd more susceptible to molds and fungi.

To scrape off the soft skin, scrape it off gently with a table knife. Make sure these "naked" gourds have good ventilation and wipe them with 10% bleach solution at least every other day.

P.S. Note the difference between gourd rot and gourd mold. Rot is bad; mold is good if you like the dark color and variegated patterns it creates.

P.P.S. Thanks to the gourd artists of the Avant-Gourd gallery near Guadalajara, Mexico for their input to this article.