Re: Want to Pick Gourds in Time for Gourd Festival!

[Bill R]

My 6 yr. old daughter has grown some terrific snake gourds from plants

> I bought at her kindergarten plant sale. A couple of them are 3 ft. > long. The gourd plant itself is starting to look beaten; leaves, vine > turning brown in some places. But - the stems of the gourds > themselves are still thriving. > > If we picked them now, is there any chance they would cure properly in > 5 wks? The annual state gourd festival is in early Sept. and my > daughter would love to enter the 10yr and younger "gourd animal" > division! If not, there's always the state fair in two months - > > Thanks! > > [e-mail]

There is a lot of information on the net about curing gourds. This Google link is a good place to start:

[Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A.]

By cured, do you you mean dried? Try 5 months. Only necessary if you plan on saving it for the next 2,000 years (archeologists have found much older ones). See if you can't just pick it a week before the show and enter it uncured. Assuming the judges are decent sorts, they'll understand.

[Olushola]

I have play this African musical instrument called a balafon which is a type of marimba with gourds underneath to resonate the sounds. Holes are put in the gourds and thin paper over the holes to produce a buzzing sound when the key struck. Really beautiful sound.

I haven't had much luck finding sources in America for strong gourds. I usually get them from Africa. they are much more durable. Does this have something to do with hot climate?

Olushola

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[Chris Owens]

The gourds won't be ready to pick until their stems wither. If you pick them earlier, they're likely to rot. How fast they will cure really does depend on ambient conditions . . . warmer, drier air and air movement -- to take the moisture away -- will speed drying. So, I'd say that five weeks is probably pushing it.

Chris Owens