What Is a Gourd?
Gourds, also known as squash and pumpkin, are a type of bumpy, sometimes warty, hard-shell fruit grown on a vine. Gourds belong to the Cucurbitaceae family (called cucurbits for short), which also includes watermelon and cucumbers, and some species are edible. Gourds are one of the oldest cultivated plants and served as utilitarian objects such as utensils, water bottles, storage containers, and dippers in prehistoric times and ancient Egypt. Today, gourds feature in soup and pie recipes, and ornamental gourds can be Halloween decor.
How to Dry Gourds in 7 Steps
Drying gourds involves drying the inside and outside of a gourd. Different types of gourds have varying dry times: Cucurbita gourds will cure in a few weeks, and Lagenaria gourds will take upwards of six months to fully cure.
1. Wash the gourd in warm soapy water. Let the gourd air dry and remove any trace of moisture and bacteria with rubbing alcohol or distilled vinegar.
2. Dry the outside of the gourd. Place the gourd in a well-ventilated area so the veneer can dry out. Exposure to moisture may cause the gourd to rot. The drying process will take about a week, and the colors on the rind will change slightly.
3. Dry out the inside of the gourd. Next, you need to cure the gourd, or dry its interior, which can take up to six months. Move the gourd to a dark, dry place such as a garage or a basement. Put the gourd in an area that gets plenty of airflow in all directions. You can hang the gourd or place it on a surface, such as a drying rack or pallet. If drying multiple gourds, make sure the gourds do not touch.
4. Turn the gourd every few weeks. If you are drying a gourd on a surface, rotate it every couple of weeks so that it dries evenly. If a gourd starts to decay or become soft, discard it.
5. Assess the curing process. A fully cured gourd has hard outer skin. The seeds will rattle on the inside when shaken, and the gourd will feel light.
6. Clean the cured gourd. Wipe down the gourd with a mix of a bleach solution of one parts bleach to nine parts water to remove any surface mold.
7. Paint or decorate the cured gourd. When the drying process is complete, you can paint the gourd and turn it into a decorative fall display, a DIY birdhouse, or even a ladle.