Homegrown: Gourds: the 'other' in-season squash

Lisa Slattery, Linn County Master Gardener, shares her gourd-growing experience:

Pumpkins aren't the only squash in season! So are gourds - which I love.  There are all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors.  Gourds are a close relative to pumpkins and other veggies in the cucurbitaceae family like cucumbers, melons and squash.

 I actually grow several types of gourds.  I always thought I was growing ornamental gourds but have learned after chatting with members of the Iowa Gourd Society that what I grow are actually considered hard-shell gourds - not technically ornamentals.

 There are two types of gourds, the ones I grow - which are the "Lagenaria" or hard skinned gourds and the "Cucurbita" or soft-skinned gourds (the ornamental gourds.)  The hard-skinned gourds are the bigger gourds like birdhouse, bottle, dipper or swan gourds.  These grow in shades of green on the vine and turn to shades of beige and brown as they dry and age. They are also unique in that they have white flowers that bloom during the night - totally different from the yellow squash and pumpkin blossoms that we're familiar with.  I think they smell funny too - not unpleasant but just different.  Mine grow along a fence and the deer never touch them.

 The soft skinned or "Cucurbita" are the smaller, oddly-shaped gourds that are so popular right now - they are super colorful ranging from greens to yellow to oranges.  They are a favorite for fall decorating used fresh but can also be dried and carved like the hard-skinned gourds.   

 Growing gourds is fun - they need lots of sunshine, water and space.  They trellis very well. They are ready to harvest when the stems dry out and turn brown.  Its best to leave several inches of stem on the gourd intact - helps with drying.  Gourds should be harvested before a hard freeze.  Handle gourds carefully since their skin is susceptible to bruising and scratching.  Wash gourds to remove any dirt in warm soapy water.  Iowa State Extension recommends wiping gourds with a soft cloth with household disinfectant which will destroy decay organisms that could lead to fruit rot.  Then thoroughly dry each gourd with another soft cloth.  If you have any gourds with bruises or brown spots -  they will probably rot and decay and not properly dry.

 To cure or dry the gourds keep them in a warm, well-ventilated area.  I place mine on a back bar counter near my kitchen.  Give them a little room between each other - they shouldn't touch.  Check them every couple days for signs of decay and rot and discard those. After about two weeks the outer skin will dry and harden but drying from the inside takes several additional weeks.  Once the seeds rattle inside your gourd - they are properly dried.

 This is my fifth year growing gourds and this year's harvest is very small compared to the last few - I had an invasion of squash bore which damaged my vines.  However I still have about 50 dried gourds sitting around the house from past seasons that I intend to paint and decorate.  My son recently had some friends over and they asked "What's with all the gourds?" my son replied "Oh, they're all my moms."  I'm just saying - growing gourds can be addicting.