On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 02:17:03 GMT, "Harvey R. Stone"
opined:

My neighbor has gourds and two or hanging over our fence. I am sure he would
like me to have them. When should I pick them and how do you dry them?
Phyl


Leave them on the vine as long as you can. When the stem starts to harden off,
remove it, do not nic the gourd in any way or it can rot and store it in a very
dry, warm place. It takes anywhere from 6 months to a year to fully dry. It
will dry cleaner if you wash it off with a solution of one part bleach to nine
parts water and dry it off. After it's dry, you can do what you want. I use a
wood burning tool and make bowls, and decorative items. You can also paint them
and if the base is about 12 inches in diameter, you can drill a hole about three
inches up from the bottom, paint it white, and hang it for purple martins. They
recommend at least a 12 inch diameter bottom or the baby birds can fall out.

Victoria