Gourds, Gourds, Gourds...
by Brenda Wood, 8/17/04

       Just what exactly is a gourd? Gourds are members of the Cucurbitaceae family which includes pumpkins, squash, all melons, zucchini and cucumbers—to name a few. Ornamental gourds are small and very colorful, and are familiar reminders of autumn. Hardshell gourds, on the other hand, aren't quite as colorful, and may be light to dark green when harvested. As they cure and dry they can become moldy as the outer skin sloughs off. Because of their hard shell, gourds are very versatile and have been used for utility (birdhouses, bowls, vessels and canteens) since civilizations have existed.
       Gourds are fairly easy to grow, and, like their squash and pumpkin cousins, they prefer a slightly acidic soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5. They prefer well-drained, fertile soil in a sunny location, and need plenty of water since the gourd fruit is 90% water. Gourds can be grown in hills, rows or on an arbor, but will climb on just about anything. Seeds are planted in mid to late April after danger of the last frost has passed.
       Seeds can be purchased from many seed catalogs or reputable growers who have hand-pollinated their gourds to produce “true-type” seeds. Gourds can be pollinated by hand or by letting bees and other insects do it for you. If you let bees do the pollinating for you, and grow several different types of gourds at the same time, you will get cross-pollinated seed. Cross pollination will not affect the shape of the current season gourds. Any change in shape will occur when the cross pollinated seeds are planted. These are always fun too, because you never know what shapes you'll end up with.
       There are many different varieties of hard-shell gourds including: dipper, bushel, kettle (used for martin houses), canteen, apple, egg, lump in neck, luffa (yes, luffa is a type of gourd), and many more. Chances are you or your grandparents have used a dipper gourd for water, or you might have martin houses in your back yard, or have gourds growing in your garden right now.
       Gourds can be harvested from August through October when the fruit is mature, and only when the vines and stems begin to turn brown. It is very important not to pick the gourds until the stem has turned brown to prevent premature rotting. Once picked, the gourds can be stored in a storage shed or barn with good ventilation and allowed to dry. They can also be left in the field to dry. It is not recommended to bring gourds into your house to dry because the mold that develops can be introduced into your home ventilation system. Drying time depends on size of the gourd and temperature of the drying area. Gourds are dry when the shell becomes hard and they turn tan or brown, and you can hear the seeds rattle inside when the gourd is shaken. Some gourds will be dry when you pick them from the vine, but usually most gourds are dry within 2 to 6 months after harvesting.
       Once gourds are dry the mold can be easily washed off with warm soapy water (or water and bleach) with a metal scrub pad. It is best to remove the mold in a wet manner to prevent inhalation of the mold. It is definitely not recommended to sand the mold off with a power tool.
       Now that the gourds are dry and clean, the fun begins. One of the most common uses of gourds is martin houses. Gourds with an 8 inch diameter and 6 inch minimum height are selected for martin houses. They should be painted white to reflect heat. Drill several ¼-inch holes in the bottom for drainage, and several holes in the back for ventilation. An entrance hole of 2 inches is preferable, but no more than 2 ½ inches to prevent bigger birds from entering. Six to eight martin houses can be grouped on a pole and erected about 8 to 15 feet above ground. More information on martin houses can be found at the following websites:
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0612/ or http://www.purplemartin.org/.
       Recently, gourds have been rediscovered and used for artistic creations such as bowls, vases, birdhouses, baskets, musical instruments, figures and Christmas decorations. Techniques include painting, staining, dyeing, carving, partial-carving, wood-burning (pyrography) and any combination of those. In 2000 the Alabama Gourd Society (ALGS) was formed because of interest in gourd craft/art/growing in the state. There are many states with gourd societies, all of which are granted charters by the American Gourd Society (http://www.americangourdsociety.org). There are also many useful books dedicated to Gourd Craft which can be purchased on-line at http://www.amazon.com.
       The Alabama Gourd Society has more than 100 members throughout the state and from other states as well. The ALGS holds their meetings in Cullman, but there are two active groups or "Patches" that meet in Auburn and Baldwin County. There is interest in forming Patches in the Covington County/Opp and Troy/Elba areas. You can visit the ALGS website for contact information: http://www.alabamagourdsociety.org.
       Each fall, ALGS holds its Annual Gourd Festival in Cullman. This is what "gourd-heads" look forward to all year long. You can find dried and crafted gourds in every size and shape. Shop the beautiful vendor booths featuring amazing arts and crafts made from gourds, tour the ribbon competition exhibit hall or take a gourd art crafting class to make your very own hand-crafted gourd. Watch artists do free demonstrations of their crafts, and enjoy food and live entertainment. This year's Festival will be held October 16 and 17 at the Cullman Civic Center. The ALGS members really do an outstanding job of bringing together many wonderful gourd artists and the show-casing the many aspects of gourding all under one roof.
       For more information about the Festival, gourd art crafting, class registration or the wonderful world of gourds, please visit http://www.alabamagourdsociety.org.