Gourds: What Are They Good For?

Humans have harvested gourds since time immemorial. They are believed to be one of the first domesticated crops, used by Neolithic peoples for everything from ceremonial objects to containers to prosthetics. Gourds have been carved, painted, etched, hollowed out and molded for millennia. That's all well and good, but what are they used for today, you ask?

Gourds today are used for much the same things as they were in antiquity. In the southeastern United States gourds are predominantly made into birdhouses. These creations can be utilitarian or whimsical, plain or elaborately decorated. Gourd decorating is also a recognized art form, and can be just as beautiful as any sculpture or painted canvas. In South America they are still used for bowls, cups, serving dishes, and to drink yerba mate from. Gourds are also made into musical instruments including, drums, shakers, guitars and more.

Regardless of what craft you want to pursue, there are several basic steps to follow that apply to all avenues of interest.

Step one is to determine the type of gourd you want to plant. Lagenaria is the name of the family of hard-shell gourds most of the world uses. Differently shaped gourds have different purposes, most of the time the name on the seed packet will give you a good idea what shape you will get, though don't always expect them to come out quite like the picture.

Step two is to plant, following the directions on the seed packet. Most can be planted in early spring, though you will need to cover the sprouts in the case of a late frost. Once again, much will depend on the type of gourd you're planting. The larger the fruit and vines, the more space will be needed between the vines. Also, most gourds do better when they have a trellis they can climb; gourds develop better shapes when the can grow suspended.

Step three: water and fertilize generously. Gourds take well to compost and manure, and, being related to cucumbers, are always thirsty.

Step four: harvest time! No so quick, though. Remember, gourds need time to dry before use. Many people recommend actually letting them dry on the vine, the vines will wither away and the gourds will be easy to spot. If you must harvest them early, wait until they are done growing before doing so. To determine if they are done growing, look at the stem close to the gourd; if it is brown and drying, the gourd is finished growing. When removing the gourd, be sure to leave as much of the stem attached as possible. Be careful with them if they are not dry yet. The skin is still very soft, and any cut, scratch or gouge can lead to rot and ruined gourds. A good test to see if they are dry is the shake test. If it rattles, then it's ok. If not, let it sit.

Step five is up to you. Now that you have them dried, you'll need to decide what you're going to do with them. Hopefully you have a pretty good idea by this point. Whatever you decided to make, a disposable breathing mask from your local hardware store is a wise purchase. The dust from cutting the gourds is very fine, and can cause respiratory problems if to much is inhaled. Cleaning time will depend on the use you are putting it to. A bowl or container will be easy to clean out since you'll be removing the top of the gourd. A birdhouse on the other hand, has only a small hole from which to extract the seeds.

Gourds are a wonderful way to introduce crafts to children, as a hobby for any adult, and can be beautiful works of art as well as utilitarian products.

Amish Gourds

Harvesting Gourds
American Gourd Society