https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/ New England from the editors at Yankee Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:19:11 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442996 Sat, 14 Jan 2023 22:37:03 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442996 First time with birdhouse gourds, probably 100. Saved only the nicest.
Started drying in the garage but then had a 4 degree below cold snap so I moved them to the basement & put them on my racks where I start my garden plants. They have been under my fluorescent lights with dehumidifier. Drying nicely & starting to rattle. A lot of them have a mosaic pattern I’m going to try & gold leaf the edges on. Wish me luck! It’s been good so far.

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442995 Mon, 26 Sep 2022 20:08:29 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442995 i read to wash gourdes in 1 tbls bleach and 1 gallon water, they look like they are rotting. please advise

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442994 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:49:50 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442994 (the whole packet, eventually) I was thrilled. I then very carefully planted a few at a time, in our side-yard, following the packet directions. I went through the process of carefully planting, watering, caring for… many many times! But, I must’ve been doing something wrong. ???? None..! of these gourd seedlings made it. I tried several times, and amended the soil, etc. No success.. ???? ..!.. I usually have success starting plants from seed, but not this time. . . .. frustrated, I took what small sprouts remained in the sprouter, and put them in to our compost pile. Time passed. .. A vine that I didn’t recognize, showed up in the center of our compost pile. I had no idea what it was… since we eat lots of different vegetables. ¿Do I pull it out, or just wait to See what it is?! It grew and grew.. and began to form these *beautiful* white flowers, then a shape (butternut squash??) appeared! In my researching the white flower, *I found that our compost pile was the home to Birdhouse gourds vines, flowers, and the beginnings of many gourds taking shape!* *I was so thrilled!!!* I began to create a homemade trellis for them. Now, there are numerous gourds on the way, which I plan to share with my neighbors, and there are *three large gourds* almost ready to be harvested.. and, at some point in the future, to become birdhouses!!!! *•.Yeah!!!•* ~Amélie]]> Hi everyone,
In selecting seeds for our yard this season, ..among many, was a packet of Birdhouse gourd seeds.
Having no experience with these seeds, I decided to start some in our sprouter, situated by our kitchen sink… every seed in our sprouter, sprouted!!!! ☺️ (the whole packet, eventually)
I was thrilled. I then very carefully planted a few at a time, in our side-yard, following the packet directions. I went through the process
of carefully planting, watering, caring for… many many times! But, I must’ve been doing something wrong. ???? None..! of these gourd seedlings made it. I tried several times, and amended the soil, etc. No success.. ???? ..!..
I usually have success starting plants from seed, but not this time. . . .. frustrated, I took what small sprouts remained in the sprouter, and put them in to our compost pile.
Time passed. .. A vine that I didn’t recognize, showed up in the center of our compost pile.
I had no idea what it was… since we eat lots of different vegetables. ¿Do I pull it out, or just wait to See what it is?! It grew and grew.. and began to form these *beautiful* white flowers, then a shape (butternut squash??) appeared! In my researching the white flower, *I found that our compost pile was the home to Birdhouse gourds vines, flowers, and the beginnings of many gourds taking shape!* *I was so thrilled!!!*
I began to create a homemade trellis for them. Now, there are numerous gourds on the way, which I plan to share with my neighbors, and there are *three large gourds* almost ready to
be harvested.. and, at some point in the future,
to become birdhouses!!!! *•.Yeah!!!•* ~Amélie

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442993 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 21:51:51 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442993 my gourd looks like a goose and it’s large. So different and I love it.
Mostly dry now. Going to shellac it right off.

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442992 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 01:42:07 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442992 Very useful article, particularly preserving gourds

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442991 Sun, 03 Nov 2019 15:47:43 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442991 can hollowed out painted gourds last in storage in the attic

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442990 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:37:49 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442990 I am amazed every year of what mother nature gives us in the fall. What wonderful decorations she leaves for us to make, such beautiful arrangements. Even more wonder is the fact is doesn’t cost us much, if anything.

]]> https://newengland.com/living/how-to/how-to-preserve-gourds-2/#comment-442989 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:34:08 +0000 https://newengland.com/today/living/crafts/how-to-preserve-gourds/#comment-442989 […] Make a gourd birdhouse. If you are artistic or crafty, consider painting the gourd or etching designs on it. […]

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