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Gourds
New Faces on an Old Friend --
Most of us have given little thought to this humble plant.
They are not sold at the super centers we frequent. In the
days before plastic, however, a light durable container that
would reproduce itself every year was a major asset.
Gourds have been used by man since before most agricul-
ture, perhaps even before human speech. Archeological
finds place gourd seeds in association with human settle-
ments some 9000 years ago. Pottery may even be an
attempt to imitate the gourd. To us, its just a cute craft
item, but to many societies it is still the essential container.
They are not sold at the super centers we frequent. In the
days before plastic, however, a light durable container that
would reproduce itself every year was a major asset.
Gourds have been used by man since before most agricul-
ture, perhaps even before human speech. Archeological
finds place gourd seeds in association with human settle-
ments some 9000 years ago. Pottery may even be an
attempt to imitate the gourd. To us, its just a cute craft
item, but to many societies it is still the essential container.
Gourds are easy to grow. Plant seeds in the early spring. They
do not transplant well. A fertile well drained but moist soil in
full sun is perfect. Allow them LOTS of room. In midsummer
the growth rate can be startling, up to three feet per day, in all
directions. In many areas gourd vines are used primarily as
shade producing covers for arbors. The fruit can be quite heavy
and very abundant, so make sure the supports are up to the chal-
lenge. Gourds can climb trees, and they can also break pretty
substantial limbs. If you also raise cantaloupes, pumpkins or
other members of the same family, don't plan on saving your
seeds. Cross-pollination can take place and produce undesirable
offspring. After first frost, when the huge vines become messy,
carefully remove the gourds and place them in a dry well venti-
lated place. Again - allow them LOTs of room - they smell like
a tomcat during the drying process. More good news, they need
to dry for about a year. The lovely green color changes to sort
of a moldy black and gradually the mold dies. When the gourds
are light, dry and hard they are ready for crafting.
do not transplant well. A fertile well drained but moist soil in
full sun is perfect. Allow them LOTS of room. In midsummer
the growth rate can be startling, up to three feet per day, in all
directions. In many areas gourd vines are used primarily as
shade producing covers for arbors. The fruit can be quite heavy
and very abundant, so make sure the supports are up to the chal-
lenge. Gourds can climb trees, and they can also break pretty
substantial limbs. If you also raise cantaloupes, pumpkins or
other members of the same family, don't plan on saving your
seeds. Cross-pollination can take place and produce undesirable
offspring. After first frost, when the huge vines become messy,
carefully remove the gourds and place them in a dry well venti-
lated place. Again - allow them LOTs of room - they smell like
a tomcat during the drying process. More good news, they need
to dry for about a year. The lovely green color changes to sort
of a moldy black and gradually the mold dies. When the gourds
are light, dry and hard they are ready for crafting.
The first step in crafting gourds is
cleaning them. Wrap them in wet
cloth and allow them to soak. The
longer the soak the easier the job of
scrubbing will be. The softened
mold can be removed with a scrub-
bing pad and the gourds will be a
beautiful warm brown tone. The
crafting depends on the artist and
the use. It can be as simple as cut-
ting a hole for a bird entrance, or as
complicated as an intricately
carved, burned and stained design,
set with semi precious stones. A
few basics. Gourds are a very hard
cellulose, sort of a non-aligned
wood, with a thin hard layer over a
slightly softer one. Treat them like
thin wooden bowls.
cleaning them. Wrap them in wet
cloth and allow them to soak. The
longer the soak the easier the job of
scrubbing will be. The softened
mold can be removed with a scrub-
bing pad and the gourds will be a
beautiful warm brown tone. The
crafting depends on the artist and
the use. It can be as simple as cut-
ting a hole for a bird entrance, or as
complicated as an intricately
carved, burned and stained design,
set with semi precious stones. A
few basics. Gourds are a very hard
cellulose, sort of a non-aligned
wood, with a thin hard layer over a
slightly softer one. Treat them like
thin wooden bowls.
Many people wood burn designs
into the surface and then stain the
gourds with leather dyes. The earth
colors are stable but the greens and
blues fade with time. Gourds des-
tined for food use should only be
treated with appropriate finishes.
into the surface and then stain the
gourds with leather dyes. The earth
colors are stable but the greens and
blues fade with time. Gourds des-
tined for food use should only be
treated with appropriate finishes.
Gourds can be hard to cut. I use a small saw in an E-xacto
knife holder. Once the gourd is opened the interior cleaning
awaits. The interior cellulose has a pearlescent finish and can
be left intact in some gourds. Most often the interior needs to
be scraped out. A spoon works well, but a wire brush on a
cordless drill is faster. In either case a big part of the job is
holding the slippery gourd while you work. The interior can
be lined with fabric, painted, sealed, or waxed with beeswax.
knife holder. Once the gourd is opened the interior cleaning
awaits. The interior cellulose has a pearlescent finish and can
be left intact in some gourds. Most often the interior needs to
be scraped out. A spoon works well, but a wire brush on a
cordless drill is faster. In either case a big part of the job is
holding the slippery gourd while you work. The interior can
be lined with fabric, painted, sealed, or waxed with beeswax.
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