Hi Sherry,
I have a question about drying birdhouse gourds. How do I go about drying them to make birdhouses and bowls? Please answer as soon as possible as I already picked them and they are big and beautiful. Also how long do they have to dry?
Gourds should be given water less frequently during the last weeks before harvest (usually early to mid autumn). The time to harvest gourds is when the stems have withered and the flesh has hardened.
Hand them carefully at all times to avoid bruises; cut with a 2 inch stem. Dry off any moisture on the gourd. Wipe with a mild vinegar or bleach solution to reduce spoilage. Place on a rack in a dark well ventilated area. Don't place them so close together that they touch. You can make holes in the bottom with an ice pick to speed drying, or hang them by their stems.
Depending on size, gourds may take a month to 6 months to dry thoroughly. They are dry when the seeds rattle around inside. Be sure to check them often, and scrape off any mold that appears. It might help to have a fan in the room to promote air circulation.
If you are serious about this subject, try contacting the American
Gourd Society, Box 274, Mount Gilead, OH 43338, USA.