Hard-shell Gourds

GROWING: It is fairly simple to grow the hard-shell gourds Lagenaria siceraria. Even our Sonoran desert produces a gourd we call the "coyote" gourd (Cucurbitus digitata). It is also hard-shelled and can be used in a similar matter to other gourds grown in the garden.

Throw the gourd seed in the ground and it will probably grow. But, it does like water and will produce larger, healthier fruits in a planned garden plot-much the same as a pumpkin, squash, or cucumber.

Gourds are a vining plant and since the gourds can grow from 3 to 30 inches they can get very heavy and their weight can break the vines. The serious grower will construct a support system before the fruit matures. Post and beam construction with a wire ramada is ideal. Cementing the corner posts to the ground to anchor the support system is a good idea. If the gardener is planning to grow only a few gourds, allowing the gourd plant to climb a tree or fence will probably suffice. Old panty hose make a good support under individual gourds as the fruit begins to grow and adds weight. Tie the top of the hose to the "roof" of the ramada using a portion of the hose under the gourd as a sling. Young gourds will hide behind the huge leaves of the plant so the gardener will have to really search to find them.

If gourds are left outside on the vine to mature, lift them off of the ground so insects don't scratch them. The blemishes found on the gourds are usually some sort of insect tracks. If unblemished fruit is desired, bring the gourds inside once the vines begin to wither and retain a stem piece when snipping the gourd from the vine so it can be hung. Wipe them down with a weak bleach and water solution to discourage mold and place them in an area with good air circulation to dry. The best way to find out if a gourd is properly dried is to shake it and listen for the seeds to rattle inside. If a gardener wishes to save the seed, the gourd must not be allowed to freeze.

CLEANING: A dried gourd cannot be stained, painted, or waxed until the outer layer of skin is removed. The most successful way to loosen this exterior layer is to wrap the gourd in a towel that has been dipped in a water and weak bleach solution. Place the wrapped gourd in a sealed plastic bag or some other closed container for a few hours or overnight. The epidermis can be scraped off with a knife without fear of damaging the gourd. Re-soak those stubborn areas or re-wet them. As the scraped gourds dry, the noticeable white spots are those missed areas which will require re-scraping. A rubber mat under the gourd when scraping will stabilize the gourd. When scraping is complete, sand the gourd with a polyester scouring pad to smooth it. The finish should feel very smooth and silky.

The interior of the gourd has a natural iridescent sheen which does not need to be removed unless the intended use is as a drinking vessel or dipping implement. After determining the gourds use, the design may call for cutting the gourd. The seeds are easily removed scraping out with a spoon, scooping, or with a wire brush. It is a good idea to use a filter mask as this process produces fine dust particles that are airborne. Save the seeds for next season's crop or include a few seeds as part of the gift when making a decorative gourd. It may take a month of soaking the interior with water to loosen the fleshy interior. The long soaking turns the flesh mushy so when rocks are added and swished around, almost everything washes out. What remains can then be scraped away. The cleaning and scraping actions give the artist the opportunity to hold and appraise the gourd to determine what its use may be.

DECORATION: Gourds have been used for hundreds of years in many cultures as implements for eating and drinking. They have been decorated and used as rattles or musical instruments by Southwestern Indian tribes as well as other people.

The gourd can be cut with most serrated-edge knives or saws. Mark the gourd with a pencil line to be used as a guide when cutting the gourd. Again, it is recommended that you use a filter mask during this process. The cleaning, scraping, and carving processes we best done outside as these procedures we quite messy. The shape and texture can dictate the gourds final design. If it is misshapen, irregular, blemished, or just plain ugly, give it more time and care. Sometimes these irregularities create the most striking final product.

The gourd can be cut, drilled, burned using a wood burning tool, stained, painted, or waxed. It can be decorated with beads, buttons, leather, cloth, paper, or twigs. Hot glue it on and it will stay! After cleaning, the interior of a gourd can be painted, stained, or polished. The imagination of the decorator determines the gourd's final design. Great satisfaction can be derived from growing and decorating a gourd you have grown.

INFORMATION: There are many publications available for the further study of hard-shell gourds. Seeds can be purchased from Native Seeds/SEARCH, 3061 N Campbell Ave Tucson AZ 85719 offers at least 11 varieties of gourd seed in its catalog.  Home centers, hardware stores and other local sources also carry gourd seeds.