How To Harvest Gourds For Crafts

Hey Guys,
I hope everyone is doing well.

Lately we've been looking at using gourds for crafts.
So for today, I just wanted to share with you guys a quick guide on how to harvest gourds, especially for using gourds for crafts.

So let's dive right in:

The first thing to remember and it's important is that Gourds need to fully ripen whilst still on the vine, so never be in a rush to harvest them.

Another important thing to remember when looking to harvest gourds for crafts is to always choose gourds that are dull and matte, as shiny skin usually indicates that it still needs some time to mature.

Tip: When a fruit is so hard that you cannot pierce it with your thumbnail- it is ready to harvest.

To make ornamental gourds last, always harvest them with a stub of the stem attached. Ornamental gourds that lose their stem are much more likely to rot, starting at the stem end, compared to stemmed gourds.

Underripe gourds will begin to deteriorate within days of being cut, just like pumpkins.

There's still plenty you can do with underripe gourds such as making candle holders, vases, whimsical animals and even Halloween decorations! All of these will be short-lasting so make the most of them before the end up on the compost heap!

Thank you for reading, 

Until next time, 

Kim