September 12, 2001
Stillwater Gazette
Betsy Halden

Brightly colored gourds are eye-catchers on harvest tables and in fall displays. A grouping of gourds in a bowl makes an attractive table center piece. When I was teaching in the classroom my young students were interested in the variety of textures, colors, and sizes of the gourds on our science display. One year my husband tried to make a birdhouse out of a large gourd. It didn’t work. We didn’t allow the gourd to cure properly. I wish we had had the following information before we started the project. If you have thought of growing gourds or have successfully grown them this season, here are some tips for harvesting and curing them.

Gourds are a diverse group of plants. The fruit of the small ornamental gourds are often colorful and distinctively shaped. The fruit may be white, cream, yellow, orange, green, or blue. Some are bicolored. The surfaces may be smooth or warty. Fruit shapes include ball, egg, pear, bottle, spoon, and turban. Large gourds, such as the dipper, birdhouse, and bushel, are often fashioned into utensils and birdhouses or used in crafts.

Gourd-growing instructions may tell you to wait until after a light frost to harvest your gourds. This advice is good ONLY if you are growing hard-shelled gourds, the kind used to make bird houses, water dippers, bowls, and utensils. Mature, hard-shelled gourds, Lagenaria species, will tolerate some frost, according to Deb Brown, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulturist.

Most gourds grown in this area are soft-shelled Cucurbita species, American relatives of the tropical lagenarias. These are the gourds we see in supermarkets and local wayside produce stands. Cucurbita gourds will definitely be damaged by frost.

Before gourds can be used, they must be properly harvested and dried. Harvest gourds when the stem attached to the fruit begins to dry and turn brown. The rind or skin is susceptible to bruising or scratching, so handle the gourds carefully. Cut the gourds from the vines with a hand shears. Leave a few inches of the stem attached to the fruit. After harvesting, gently wash the gourds in warm, soapy water to remove any dirt. then wipe the gourds with a soft cloth dampened in a household disinfectant. The disinfectant should destroy decay organisms which could lead to fruit rot. Finally, dry each gourd with a soft cloth.

Dry or cure the gourds by placing them in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location, such as a garage or shed. Place the gourds in a single layer on clean newspapers or shelves. Space them so they don’t touch one another. Turn the gourds frequently and promptly remove any which show signs of decay. large gourds can also be dried by hanging them from beams or rafters. Drying or curing will take several weeks. Approximately one to two weeks will be required for the outer skin to dry and harden. Internal drying will take several additional weeks. The gourds have been adequately dried when the seeds rattle inside.

Once cured, the small ornamental gourds can be used as they are. They can also be waxed, shellacked, or painted. once completely dry, the large gourds can be smoothed and polished with steel wool or fine sandpaper. the smooth, hard surface can then be painted, stained, or waxed.

You can find additional information about gourds in the yard & Garden Brief: Preserving Gourds for Lasting Color. Visit the website at www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/hl36gourds.html to access the information.

The circle butterfly garden and the new herb garden at Carpenter Nature Center are two projects of the Washington county Master Gardeners. My husband and I recently visited Carpenter Nature Center on a beautiful late summer afternoon. It was worth the trip. The setting overlooking the St. Croix River provides a panoramic vista, the walking trails beckon, and the colorful and attractive gardens give interesting and educational information. During the growing season Master Gardeners are available to answer questions on the second Sunday of each month. On September 30, 2001, Carpenter will hold its gala Fall Festival. Call 651.437.4359, Carpenter Nature Center, for more information. Or visit the web site, www.carpenternaturecenter.org for details.

Betsy Halden is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net