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Bristol, ME (stunner906@roadrunner.com)

So I got these 2 long obscene looking gourds. They aren't that long but they were alot of fun. Now comes the issue. Since they are done and the plant is about done, how in the world do you dry these things for ornamental purposes without them rotting. I guess it would be nice to know how to get the seed out also. Anyone with experience that can clue me in, I would be most appreciative.

9/25/2004 7:56:40 AM

Western Pa.

Just keep them dry. (A boiler or furnace room may do nicely.) If mice or chipmunks can get to them they may knaw them open for seeds. The gourds will blacken,peel, get a little moldy, but this is normal. The dried gourd looks a lot nicer with a fresh coat of paint. Seeds can be extracted and dried for 3 weeks, the same as pumpkins.

9/25/2004 8:53:55 AM

Walkerton Ont

I found that if i store my long gourds in my fruit celler where its not to cold not to warm or even in the workshop, they turn out to be very viable. I had a very successful germination rate with the seeds. I did get some mold on the gourd but like kilrpumpkins said its normal. When the gourd went from green to a yellowish collour, the seeds were ready to come out. Another way of telling is when u tap the gourd and it seems hollow, and when u shake the gourd u should here some seeds rattleing as well

9/25/2004 12:44:25 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I put my gourds in the rafters of the shed an wipe them periodicily with a bleach solution.

9/25/2004 5:00:22 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

ok i dont understand how do you get the seeds out of a dry gourd..when the skin is hard , drill a hole in the bottom?

9/25/2004 6:57:29 PM

Western Pa.

I bust up my gourds when they're green to dig out the seeds. The ones I've dried still have seeds in them.

9/25/2004 7:27:14 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I tried harvesting seeds from a green one...whew, lotta work! I think I'll try letting them dry some. How long do they usually take to dry out? Got some that look like fungo bats, and some that look like Conan the Barbarian war clubs!
Will freezing temps hurt the seed viability? Thanks for the info, Duff

9/25/2004 8:04:58 PM

Walkerton Ont

i crack the shell billy k , and usually there are just laying there or in there dried up sack

9/26/2004 1:31:24 AM

mcminnville oregon

HOT TIP! It almost cost two fingers before i got wise???? buy a hole saw! 1" 1.5" 3/8 arbor they come with a pilot. after the first hole clean it out , collect seed. then allow to dry.

9/26/2004 2:19:07 AM

mcminnville oregon

HOT TIP! It almost cost two fingers before i got wise???? buy a hole saw! 1" 1.5" 3/8 arbor they come with a pilot. after the first hole clean it out , collect seed. then allow to dry.

9/26/2004 2:19:09 AM