Both the curing and the preserving of gourds are dependent upon the quality of the fruits and their maturity. If they are damaged by skin bruises, there is no method by which they can be preserved. Skin bruises form an excellent point for the inroad of bacteria which will cause ultimate decay. To avoid such damage, care must be given during both the growing and the harvesting periods.
Some growers do not advocate the use of sprays to ward off insects from the growing vines and their fruits. However, we believe that such sprays are necessary if the vines are to be kept free from the harmful pests which may attack cucurbits. Poor vines produce poor fruits. To avoid staining or rotting, it is wise to keep the growing gourds off the damp ground. This can be accomplished by placing a board under them or by allowing the vines to trail over a brush pile, low fence, stone wall, or a specially made trellis or arbor. These different methods depend upon the kind of gourds grown and the shapes desired.
Harvest When Fully Ripe
For best keeping qualities the gourds should not be harvested until mature, that is, fully ripened on the vine. If picked sooner, they will decay in a very short time. One of the best. indications that the gourds are fully matured and ready to be harvested is the withered vine. It is sometimes recommended that the skin of the gourd be pressed with the fingernail to determine whether the shell is hard enough for the gourd to be picked.
We do not advise this method because it tends to bruise the skin and leave a small opening which would allow injurious organisms to enter and cause decay. By merely feeling the gourd gently with the fingers, it is possible to determine whether the shell is hard enough for the gourd to be picked. Gourds of all varieties require a long growing season since they are composed largely of water. Those of the soft-shelled varieties commonly blown as ornamentals must not be allowed to be frost-bitten. Those that have not matured by harvest time will not keep and are not worth gathering.
As soon as harvested, ornamental gourds should be carefully washed with a strung solution of some disinfectant which will not act as a bleach and is not highly poisonous. Any disinfectant should be handled carefully and kept away from children and animals. Such a disinfectant ó borax or sulpho-naphthol are both good ó will remove any soil and other injurious substances from the skin.
Then the gourds should be placed in a cool, airy room to dry, out of the direct sunlight. It is best to spread them out so that they do not come into contact with each other. Some advocate drying by the additional heat of an oven or other hot place and have had success, but we feel that the former plan is better as the gourds dry more evenly and require no special attention during this period. Within two weeks the shells should be hard enough to be waxed. Any good liquid wax will do. This will help to heighten the color and to give a glossy coat. Do not use shellac or varnish as neither acts as a preservative and often alters the natural color of the gourd.
Many people are disappointed when the ornamental gourds begin to lose color. These gourds have a thick flesh and a soft shell and arc not likely to maintain their color more titan three or four months. Then they may commence to decay. On the other hand, there are occasional ornamentals which do last longer and so are a pleasant surprise. These gourds are used for decorative purposes and largely as table decorations. Among this variety of C uourbila pcpo onfera are the pear, egg, crown of thorns, turk’s turban and others.
Gather When Vine Withers
The lagenarias, or hard-shelled varieties, may be harvested after the first frost, if wanted for some special reason. However, these are improved by remaining out of doors to weather during the Fall months, if the season is not too severe. Lagenarias are not ready to be gathered until the vine is withered. In mild climates the gourd may turn brown on the vines and when shaken, the seeds may rattle. However, our gourd friends who grow them in the climatic conditions of the New England states report that their gourds of the lagenaria varieties are always green when picked, even after the first frost. When removing the gourd from the vine, cut, do not tear, it away.
Leave two or three inches of stem for the best results. The stems of the lagenaria types grow as a part of the gourd and do not drop off as they do with the ornamental cucurbit varieties.
When harvesting, the gourds should not be thrown carelessly into a basket as this can injure or cause bruising and possible rotting at the site of the bruise. The fruits should be cut from the vine and laid carefully in the container. They should also be washed in a strong solution of some disinfectant, wiped dry and hung or Iaid on wire racks in a cool, well-ventilated place to cure. This takes time and only Nature can take care of it properly. Some enthusiasts have tried to hasten this drying-out process by either artificial heat or by drilling a hole in the bottom of the gourd. Neither of these methods is recommended or is likely to be successful.
Gourds of different kinds and sizes take varying lengths of time to cure; some take many months. During this time mold is most likely to form on the gourd. If left on, it will produce a mosaic pattern on the gourd which is much desired by some. If, however, a gourd is preferred free from stain or blemish, it must he watched constantly and, as the mold forms, it must be wiped off carefully with a strong solution of some disinfectant like sulpho-naphthol or borax.
Gourds Have Many Uses
Gourds have been found growing in nearly all parts of the world where climatic conditions were right for their proper maturing. Over the centuries and by peoples of many lands the hard-shelled lagenarias have been used and are still used for both practical and decorative purposes. Dishes, water-carriers, dippers, cricket cages, vases, bird-houses, musical instruments and patio or charm strings are but a few of the many interesting and useful articles.
Today, in the United States, hard-shelled gourds have found a place in handicrafts for both old and young, at home and in school.
The shells of these gourds are hard and tough enough to last for hundreds of years. On the other hand, they are delicate and crack easily, if dropped. Frequently they are decorated with paint or lacquer, or a burning needle, or are carved with a knife. Exhibits of gourds can be found in museums and in the headquarters of the American Gourd Society. Both are well worth visiting for the hints and ideas you can pick up.
Begin to plan now what you will do with this year’s crop so as to be fresh and original in your designs and objects.
by S Young – 61901
