You Grow Girl™

Seedling Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 11

I planted my gourds late this year (first time gourder) and as a result I have several late bloomers.

I will leave them on their vines as late as possible but I know they won't grow to be big daddy gourds.

So I am curious can I still dry these teenager gourds? OR will they just rot?

anyone?

Morgan

Posted: 15-09-06 14:36

I guess it would depend on how old the gourds are. The ones that are usually dried are mature and the innards have been used to produce the full grown seeds so the water content inside the gourd is low.

You can but try.

Posted: 15-09-06 17:11

I dried some pretty small gourds last year. I found that the ones that were in absolutly dry conditions did best. If there was the least bit of moisture, they rotted.

Posted: 23-09-06 13:05

Sort of a related question-- can you shellac fresh gourds to preserve them? I thought I heard of this being done somewhere, but I'm not sure. I like decorating with gourds I pick up at farmer's market, but it would be nice to be able to preserve them in some way so I can use them year after year.