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Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

Now that I actually have a couple of long gourds growing, I was expecting a very firm hard shell. But they are very soft and pliable more like a cucumber then a gourd. Will they harden up like a gourd? Do they keep for any lenght of time once they are picked?

9/8/2002 9:36:41 AM

Knopp, Germany

Brian, hope you don't mind if I ask a similar question on the message chain...I have grown bottle gourds for the first time.....what do i have to do so that they harden and i can make them into a birdhouse, etc....thanks,owen

9/8/2002 9:45:16 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Im not sure about the long gourds, but the bottle neck gourds will get hard. Before you get frost owen, cut the gourds off the vine and hang them in a cool dry place. They will dry out over the winter. You can leave them on the ground or hanging if you like, although you will loose a lot of them. Wipe them with a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution to prevent mold and mildew. Don't attempt to make a hole in them before they are dry.

9/8/2002 11:35:30 AM

Knopp, Germany

thanks Rainydays....owen

9/8/2002 12:26:04 PM