Monday, September 14, 2020

GOOFY GOURDS

 


We gardeners grow vegetables to eat fresh, to preserve for winter and pretty much to consume the fruits of our labor. However, once in a while we like to grow something just for fun.

This is where gourds fit the bill. They are fun, goofy and make great craft projects. I never thought about giving these a try until my friend Susie gave me a gourd plant she had started. Yep, you read that right, one gourd plant. I planted it along the chain link fence and, holy cow, by midsummer it has twined and vined all through the fence and goofy-looking whimsical gourds are hanging haphazardly on the fence. There are nine gourds, all from just one plant…how fun!

Members of the Cucurbit family which also includes cucumbers, melons and squash, gourds are one of the oldest cultivated plants used for decorative objects. These include storage containers and utensils, cups, bottles, vases, scoops, ladles, fishnet floats, whistles, rattles and many other crafts. However, the most popular use for them is for birdhouses.

Some more unusual uses include adding shells and pieces of metal to dried gourds to create musical instruments. Gourd material can be wood-burned, carved, painted or stained. Smaller pieces are made into jewelry. The fibers can even be pounded out and turned into handmade paper sheets.

There are about 700 different varieties of gourds. These different species of vines all have coiled, climbing tendrils that bear some of the most unusual fruits in the world. Botanically, they are classified as fruits because they contain the seeds like melons or grapes. When talking about them in culinary terms, they are thought of as vegetables since they are often prepared as such.

A few varieties are edible when their fruit is very young. A bottle gourd is a hard-shell gourd whose flesh is edible. Often green, it resembles a flat cucumber or eggplant. Longer and thinner versions of the bottle gourd is called the cucuzzi or “Italian edible” gourd. It has a mild, zucchini-like flavor.

Consuming gourds should be done with caution though, especially if you are not sure exactly what you have. Native Americans and some Mexican tribes have been using the stinking gourd for at least 9000 years as some food stuffs, medicine, cosmetics, detergents and insecticides. However, it is poisonous to humans if ingested.

Although gourds are grown in all the states, Michigan, New York and California produce the most. A staple fixture of autumn as centerpieces and other decorations, they are relatively easy to grow. They like full sun and rich drained soil that has been fertilized with rich organic matter. Most varieties require around 100 days of growing season and are ready to be harvested in mid-October.

There are three main varieties grown in Midwest gardens. These include:

*Cucurbita which has orange blossoms open during the day and multicolored fruit. These are ideal for growing on fences and trellises. Harvest fruit before frost and store in a dark, dry space. Drying usually takes about a week.

*Legenaria has white blossoms that open at night with green colored fruit that have thick, hard shells when dried. These are generally used for crafts and surface mold is common.

*Luffa species have yellow flowers that are open during the day. They produce zucchini-like fruits that have softer outer shells and tough, fibrous interiors. Harvest them when they are lightweight and the seeds rattle.

They are best grown where they can climb fences, trellises and arbors and their fruits hang rather than lay on the ground. This helps to develop straight necks and avoid rot. If some of the fruits are growing on the ground, it helps to put cardboard under them to prevent discoloration.


Gourds come in all shapes and range in size from a couple inches long and weighing only a few ounces to huge ones. The largest to date was a bushel gourd harvested in 2018 in Tennessee and weighed in at 384 pounds.

The biggest complaint with gourds is that they rot. The secret to preventing rot is in the harvest. Waiting until they are mature is the key. When the vines begin to turn brown where they meet the ground, it is time to harvest by cutting the vine two to three inches from the fruit.

Gourds aren’t as tough as they look. Mature ones with hard shells can withstand a light frost but a hard freeze will turn them to mush. They bruise easily and, once bruised, the bruises soften and rot.

After harvesting them, wash with soapy water, hand dry and then wipe with rubbing alcohol.  Place them outside away from direct sunlight in a well-ventilated area for about a week. They can be placed in burlap bags and hung outside on sunny days and brought in at night. When using this drying method, don’t forget to turn them to prevent “gourd bed sores.”

After the outside is dry, they need to be “cured” for about six months by moving them to a dry, dark area. Store them on screens or other vented surfaces in a single layer and making sure they are not touching. They may also be hung with twine or wire. If not hung, be sure and turn them every couple of weeks to ensure even drying and to prevent spoiling. Check every few days, discarding any that show signs of rot. They are ready to use when they feel lightweight and hard to the touch and you can hear seeds rattle inside.

Gourds can be dried indoors as well. However, they usually develop mold when dried in this manner and, even after the mold is scraped off, mold patterns are visible on the skin. Some crafters like this look. Those that are dried outdoors are much cleaner than those brought inside. When it comes to gourds, sunlight and patience are the keys to good drying.

For those that develop mold, soak in a mild solution of bleach water for about 20 minutes, turning so that all sides are coated. Then use a scraper, rough sponge or rags to get all the skin off and rinse before drying.



For birdhouses, drill a hole at least 1 3/8 in diameter and allow bleach water to get inside. Then, scrape out any seeds and debris that you can. Drill a small hole on either side of the neck to run a wire through for hanging and three or four small holes in the bottom for drainage.

Note, if the gourd is not intended for use as a birdhouse, it is not recommended to drill a hole in it for drainage. This only invites rot and disease.

After gourds are dried, they can be finished in a number of ways. Clear polyurethane can be sprayed on as a protectant. Stains are good finishers and also lets the grain show through. Of course, they can also be painted and you can get as artistic as you want with this medium, painting all sortsof scenes on them.

Once dried, gourds’ outer shell is similar to wood that can be smoothed, finished and will last a long time. For something a little out of the ordinary, they are fun to grow and make great craft pieces. For a little twist, I love my “goofy” gourds!



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