What You Need To Know To Dry Gourds
Ornamental gourds make for fun craft projects. While the most common use is birdhouses, gourds can be turned into many things. They can be painted to look like ghosts for Halloween, or be part of a unique Thanksgiving centerpiece. Before you can do any craft with them, however, they need to be properly dried.
If you’ve grown the gourds in your garden, wait until early fall time to pick them. This ensures that they are ripe and have already started to dry in the garden. Cut the stem cleanly with a sharp knife. Make sure to leave about two inches of stem for esthetic value. Wash the goard with soap and water, and dry.
With a sharp knife or small drill, carefully make a hole in the top close to the stem. Insert a wire and hang your gourd in a cool, dry place with plenty of airflow. Outside will do nicely, but remember to bring it into the garage when the weather changes and rain or snow is possible. Gourds can take anywhere from four to six weeks to fully dry. You will know the gourd is dry when it is very light, and upon shaking it, you can hear the seeds rattle around inside.
Even under the best of drying conditions, dangerous mold spores can grow inside the gourd. It is best to always use caution when cutting or drilling into the dried gourd. Wearing a paper respiratory mask will ensure that you don’t breath in any mold spores. Gourds are fun and offer a variety of crafting options. They aren’t an immediate craft project, but they are well worth the wait.