What Is a Gourd?
Gourds, like pumpkins, melons, squash and cucumbers, are members of the cucurbit or squash family. Like their cousins, gourds grow on long vines. There are three major gourd groups. Cucurbit gourds are small, decorative, colorful, thick-shelled and sometimes warty. Lagenaria gourds are larger and can be used for a variety of utilitarian or decorative functions. This group includes bottle, basket, and dipper gourds. The third group is the luffa gourd. Its elongated fruit contains a fibrous material that is used as a sponge. Most gourds are strictly ornamental, but a few can be eaten like summer squash, if they are harvested young.
Types of Gourds
Except for the luffa gourd, which is harvested before the skin completely hardens, allow the gourds to mature completely on the vine. Harvest when the stem begins to dry and turn brown, using a sharp knife or garden snips. Leave a short stem attached. Handle the fruit with care to avoid bruising. Wash the gourds in soapy water to remove dirt. Then, wipe down the gourds with a soft cloth soaked in a household disinfectant and let them air dry or towel them dry. Cure the clean fruit in a well ventilated garage or shed, spreading them in a single layer on newspaper or shelves. They should not touch each other. Turn each gourd every few days and remove any that show signs of rotting. The curing process will take several weeks; you’ll know they are thoroughly dried when you shake them and hear their seeds rattle. Dried gourds can be waxed, shellacked, painted, or used just as they are for decorating and crafts.
