Growing and Crafting Gourds
Information, tips, and resources
for members of the
Texas Gourd Society
www.TexasGourdSociety.org
Table of Contents
WHAT IS A GOURD? ...................................................................................... 1
HOW TO GROW GOURDS ............................................................................. 1
Preparing the Gourd Beds ........................................................................ 2
Fertilizer .................................................................................................... 2
Ornamental and Hard Shelled Gourds...................................................... 2
Growing and Harvesting ........................................................................... 3
CLEANING GOURDS ...................................................................................... 3
Cutting .......................................................................................................... 4
Cleaning the Inside ................................................................................... 4
GOURD CRAFTING ........................................................................................ 5
Preparing a Gourd for Crafting ................................................................. 5
Glues ......................................................................................................... 6
Finishes ..................................................................................................... 6
CARVING ....................................................................................................... 6
COILING AND WEAVING ............................................................................... 7
SAFETY .......................................................................................................... 8
LONE STAR GOURD FESTIVAL ....................................................................... 9
LOCAL GOURD PATCHES ............................................................................. 10
1
WHAT IS A GOURD?
The gourd plant has been described as
one of nature’s greatest gifts of mankind.
Of all the known plants, the gourd is the
only one experts believe spanned the
entire globe in prehistoric times. It appears
as one of the first cultivated plants in
regions throughout the world and was used
by every known culture in the temperate
and tropical zones. A gourd is a member
of the Cucurbitaceae family.
It produces a fruit that dries to a hardshelled, durable container. Cucurbits are
characterized as a tendril bearing vine with
both male and female blossoms borne on the same vine and producing a fruit with
an outer shell covering and a seed embedded pulp. Members of the Cucurbitaceae
family include cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkin, squash and zucchini, along with
ornamental and hard shell gourds. As the head of the family, the gourd is the only
one that is non-edible.
The gourd name refers to either the Cucurbita pepo, ornamental gourds (the small
ones sold around thanksgiving in markets) or to Lagenaria Siceraria, the hard
shelled gourds.
HOW TO GROW GOURDS
The basics of gourd growing are the
same as that for pumpkins, squash,
cucumbers and watermelon. The only
difference is the pollination of the
hard shelled gourd.
Gourds need a long growing season
and should be planted as soon as
there is no danger of frost. If you
want to give your gourds a head
start, you may want to soak the
seeds in water overnight before
planting and/or plant them in a 3 inch peat pots and set them on a sunny windowsill
about the third or fourth week of February.
Gourds grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Your gourds should be planted in a
slight depression or ditch which will hold water with three seeds or plants per
planting. The distance between plantings will depend on the amount of space you
have. If you have plenty of room, you may want to allow 10-20 feet in either
direction between plantings. However, if you only have a small area to grow your
gourds you may be able to manage with as little as five feet between them.
Because of the tremendous vine growth, be careful not to overcrowd your plants.
2
The vines can be trained to climb fences to get long, straight gourds, or left to grow
on the ground for squatty, flat bottomed gourds. To protect young plants from a cold
snap, cover with a plastic container with the bottom cut out. The open top will
provide air circulation. Soda bottles and milk cartons work very well.
Preparing the Gourd Beds
Ideally, make raised beds about 12’ in diameter for your gourds. Line the ground
inside the bed with newspapers, cardboard or shredded paper. Add soil containing
sand, topsoil and fertilizer mix about 6-8 inches deep. Top the bed with another 6-8
inches of mulch.
Create a watering system with a sprinkler in each bed and plant the seeds in a
circle about a foot from the sprinkler head. As the vines grow the sprinkler will water
the base of the plant and the rest of the vine can be trained to grow up poles
resembling a tipi. If needed, the bed can be fenced on the perimeter to keep
animals out.
Keep growing gourds off wet ground by placing them on cardboard, plastic plates,
boards, etc. This will prevent rotting out the bottom of the gourd.
Fertilizer
Gourds require fertile soil and you may use organic material or 10-10-10 fertilizer.
Fertilize every 3-4 weeks during their first two months. Stop fertilizing after two
months or they may not mature properly.
Ornamental and Hard Shelled Gourds
Ornamental gourds are generally small,
colorful gourds and are frequently used
in fall decorations. This type of gourd
has a yellow blossom, which opens
during the day and produces small green
fruits that have stripes.
Hard shell gourds are larger with white
blossoms that open at night. The fruits
are shades of green and white. Male
flowers grow on the main vine. The side lateral lines carry the female flowers which
will produce the fruit.
Pollination is done by night time bugs – unless you want a true to type gourd. Then
a controlled environment is required. When the vine is 10-20 feet in length, pinch
the end off to encourage lateral line growth. Gourds that become too heavy for the
vine to support may need additional support. Make a girdle out of netting or
breathable cloth and suspend the gourd in it.
For pest control, use Seven dust or soapy water. However, be sure to keep the
Seven dust away from flowers to protect bees.
Systemic pest control sprays have their place but should not be the first choice.
Systemic pesticides are those that are highly soluble in water. These chemicals are
absorbed by the plant and move into its tissues. They make the plant poisonous to
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insects but they can also make it poisonous to people. Do not plan on using gourds
treated with systemic pesticides for water or food utensils. Some of the common
house and garden insecticides that are systemic include acephate (Orthene®),
imidacloprid (Bayer’s Tree & Shrub Insect Control™, Merit®) and dinotefuran
(Greenlight Tree and Shrub Insect Control™, Safari®).
Growing and Harvesting
Before the first frost, gourds on the vine will
start to turn brown in spots, become lighter, and
the stem will begin to brown as the vine dies.
Only after this process starts can you begin to
harvest them. Gourds should be left on the vine
until frost. Be sure the first 3-4 inches of stem is
brown. That shows the vine is no longer feeding
the gourd. When cutting gourds from the vine,
leave a 3 to 4 inch stem attached to the gourd.
Gourds will dry indoors or outside but should be
set up on something to ensure air circulation
around them so they do not rot. Wooden pallets
or boards can be useful to set gourds on when they are drying during winter. Just
leave them alone during the drying process. It can take several months for gourds
to dry completely. It is normal for them to become mildewed during the drying
process. Place gourds in an area away from people and animals to ensure that any
mold spores that build up on them while drying do not cause illness.
Gourds should be ready for cleaning by spring. Soft or shriveled gourds can be
discarded. A dry gourd will be light weight and you can hear the seeds rattle when
you shake them. If you plan to use any seeds from the gourds to plant the next
crop, those gourds should be taken and stored out of the freezing weather or the
seeds may not be able to germinate.
CLEANING GOURDS
After drying, the gourd will be reduced in weight by
about 90%. The seeds may become loose enough to
shake freely and the gourd is often covered with mold
that needs to be cleaned off. There is more than one
way to clean a gourd.
Washing method: Fill a tub with water. You may use
a small amount of bleach and/or soap in it if you like.
Gourds will float, so cover them with a wet towel and
allow to sit several hours. Scrub them with a chore
boy scrubber. .
Sun method: In summer, wet an old towel and wrap it
around a dirty gourd. Place it in a black plastic trash bag and lay it in the sun a few
hours. Finish cleaning with soap and water and a chore boy scrubber.
4
Dirt method: This is the easiest method. Get a large plant pot or tub. Place damp
top soil (cheapest you can buy is fine) in the bottom and layer gourds and top soil till
all the gourds are completely covered with dirt. Gourds should not rest on each
other. Instead, allow the dirt to fill all the spaces so dirt is touching the gourds all
over. Pile dirt on top to cover the top
gourds and leave for 3 days. Remove
gourds and easily scrub off remaining
dirt and skin with a chore boy
scrubber. Both the moisture and
bacteria in the soil help to clean off
the moldy outer gourd skin.
Allow wet gourds to dry completely in
the shade. Placing wet gourds in the
sun may cause them to crack.
Cutting
If you are going to open your gourd, consider
how you want the edge cut and mark it out
with a pencil if you need to. Gourds are
typically cut with a mini jigsaw or a regular
jigsaw.
If you are going to use the piece you cut off for
a lid, you will want to cut with a mini jigsaw
and a fine blade. The larger the blade, the
harder it will be to get the lid to fit back on.
It is important to use a good dust mask when
cutting a gourd. Gourd dust is very fine and can carry mold with it. So keep your
lungs healthy. Half face respirators with cartridges rated for particulate are best.
These can be purchased at your local big box home improvement store. These
respirators come with cartridges that are typically good for both organic vapors and
dust. So you can also use them when applying spray paint or clear coats. Sand
your cut edges to finish them.
Cleaning the Inside
Once the gourd is open, shake out the seeds and pull out the
fibrous membrane. Wear a mask as this process is dusty and
moldy. Once the bulk of the material is out, scrape the inside with a
metal tool such as a gourd scraper.
Once the inside is rough cleaned,
there are a variety of tools to smooth
the inside. These include carbide grit mushroom
cleaners, Gourd Master ball cleaners, sanding
flap wheels, “paint eater” disc.
These tools can be used with a hand drill or a drill
press.
5
If you gourd has a bad odor, use a cotton ball soaked in vanilla. Put it in the gourd,
cover it and the odor will be gone the next day.
GOURD CRAFTING
The gourd is simply a different type of canvas for your art. It can be painted, dyed,
wood burned, inlaid, carved, gouged, or decoupage to name a few. Design styles
include dishes, bowls, flasks, musical instruments, clocks, lamps, dolls, purses,
birdhouses, wall hangings, drums, wind chimes, night lights and so forth. There are
no limitations.
Most of the time, your design will change as you start to work with the gourd. The
gourd’s natural shape and markings often dictate how you will work it.
Don Vyskocil
Zeldajean Byrd
Shelia Guidry
Preparing a Gourd for Crafting
Gourds grow in many shapes and sizes. Therefore, the first step in crafting is to
select a gourd suitable to your project. Gourds are normally priced by size which is
the diameter in inches at the widest part of the gourd (not by height or
circumference). Some of the more common shapes are: Bottle, Tall Body, Round
Body, Pear or Tear Drop, Canteen, Kettle, People, Apple, Mini gourds and
Ornament gourds.
Gourds are sold in three stages of preparation - cleaned, uncleaned and craftready. Craft-ready gourds are cleaned both inside and out and are precut for
specific projects such as: pots, vases, oil lamps, ornaments, dish and
birdhouses. As the name implies, craft-ready gourds are ready to go and need no
further preparation to begin crafting. They are also the most expensive way to
purchase gourds.
Unclean gourds are the least expensive but they generally come covered with a
waxy skin, mold and soil which must be removed before any crafting can
begin. Safety precautions to protect yourself from breathing mold spores and gourd
dust when cleaning gourds.
The rim left by openings cut in the gourd should be sanded or filed to a smooth,
even feel and appearance. Many artisans paint the interior and rims of their gourds
to help preserve and enhance their appearance. Paint can be sprayed or brushed
on. Black paint and textured spray paint seem to be favorites as they tend to hide
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imperfections not removed in the cleaning process. Mixing white glue with acrylic
paint helps to seal the inside and prevent the paint from flaking over time.
Sanding the outside of a gourd is mostly a matter of preference as the outer shell is
very smooth and readily accepts stains, dyes and paints. Sanding will alter the
effects of colors, generally making them darker. Sanding the outer shell with ultrafine grit papers can achieve a high gloss which will remain even after stained or
dyed. Small cracks can be glued and holes filled with wood putty and sanded.
Lastly, making the gourd sit straight and upright may be necessary. Some gourds
sit well on their own and might be a consideration when purchasing, while others
may need a base, stand, legs or maybe a flat spot sanded on the bottom. Sanding
the bottom of a gourd can be done with a belt sander or by sliding the gourd across
a flat sheet of course sand paper. Bases, either attached or unattached, can be
fashioned from a multitude of materials. Bases not only support the gourd but they
should also complement or enhance its appearance.
Glues
Hot glue is easy but it doesn’t stick well to the smooth outer skin of a gourd and it
will not hold over time. Better choices are extra tacky craft glue, Goop, super glues
and wood glue. E-6000 is also good. A small amount of hot glue can be used to
hold a piece while the other glue sets up.
Wood putty is good for filling holes and gaps. It also stains well to match the gourd
finish.
Finishes
A clear finish should be applied to your piece when it is complete. This helps to
deepen the color and protects the artwork. Finishes include clear acrylic sprays
such as Polycrylic or Krylon, modge podge, Deft lacquer, or wood sealers.
CARVING
Gourds are an exceptionally workable medium
for carving. They have a density and
texture that holds a shape well yet allows easy
removal of material. The American Gourd
Society describes the carving techniques
allowed for competition as, "Hand carved,
power carved, cut, chiseled, chipped, and/or
gouged,
including
cut
outs".
Stipple carving, a form of relief carving, is the
most common method of carving on
gourds. It is normally accomplished with a
Roy Cavarretta
high speed rotary tool, such as a "Dremel",
and ball shaped cutter burrs to incise small pits evenly over the surface surrounding
a design. Cut outs are also a common carving technique in which either a
motorized saw, similar to a small jigsaw, hand saw, or knife are used to remove
what is commonly called "dead space" from around or between design
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elements. This is done by cutting completely through the shell of the
gourd. Filigree carving is a method of cutting an intricate pattern of holes, often
randomly shaped and spaced, through the gourd skin. This is a very attractive form
of carving and shows great contrast between carved and uncarved areas of the
gourd. This also is accomplished with a rotary tool and pointed cone or drill bit
shaped burrs.
Invest in a micro carver or get a lightweight pen attachment if you intend to progress
into much carving. It will go a long way towards averting hand injury down the road
due to constant and repetitious gripping of heavier tools.
Chip carving using hand chisels or gouges and round carving, similar to sculpting a
design, are more advanced techniques and require more practiced skill. A gourd
with a softer skin is need for hand carving.
Gourds with the thickest shell are the best for carving and those without blemishes
on the inner membrane are considered a real prize.
COILING AND WEAVING
Coiling and weaving on gourds- Coiling and weaving are both
types of fiber art that can be done on gourds but differ in the
fact that weaving is done with weavers and spokes. Spokes
are usually made of reed and are what holds the shape of the
weaving.
On thick gourds, holes are drilled in the cut rim
Shelia Guidry
and spokes are glued in. Weavers of smaller
reed, yarn, seagrass, beads and many other items are then woven
around the spokes as in the photo above.
Coiling differs from weaving in that on a
cut gourd holes are drilled through the
side. Then some form of coiling
material such as Danish cord, seagrass
or pine needles are attached by
basically sewing through the holes and
over the coiling material on the first row.
Then rows after that are stitched to the row below it.
Embellishment, such as beads, can be added to the coil.
Shelia Guidry
Teneriffe weaving - Teneriffe patterns can be created in any
opening or against any surface as long as a warp of spokes can
be made that radiates from a center. The spokes are then
divided into groups and woven separately to create interesting
designs.
Georgia Cunningham,
teneriffe demo
When working with a gourd, the pattern can be woven around
an opening, such as a hole cut in the side of the gourd, around
the perimeter of the neck opening, or simply around a circle or
other natural shape that is drawn onto the side of a
gourd. Natural dyed raffia is an effective material for weaving
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teneriffe designs. Most pine needle basketry books contain detailed instructions on
how to create teneriffe designs. From -The Complete book of Gourd Craft By Ginger Summit and Jim Wides
SAFETY
There are some specific safety concerns associated with gourds that require special
attention.
The mold which grows on and in gourds and the dust from gourd pulp can cause
allergic reactions, sinus infections and/or lung disease. These can be irritating or
very severe in some people. Whenever cleaning gourds or creating dust from any
portion of a gourd such as when sawing, carving, grinding, drilling, filing or sanding,
the eyes and especially the respiratory system must be protected. Safety goggles
are better than safety glasses as they keep more of the dust and mold spores out.
There are a wide variety of respirators with changeable filters available. As
mentioned previously, check the rating on the filters and get one rated for
particulate and organics. Even the slightest infraction can cause severe irritation to
the respiratory system at the least and life threatening infections in some people. No
small matter.
These precautions should continue beyond the actual work on gourds through the
cleanup of the work environment which should thoroughly remove and dispose of all
gourd dust, pulp and residue. Don't remove your dust mask and then shake out
your work apron or clothing. If working with a dust collection system, be especially
careful when emptying the collection canisters or changing filters.
Gourd work frequently involves the use of sharp tools which can cause serious
injuries. Caution when working with such tools may seem obvious; however, the
nature of gourds carries some unique hazards not normally found with other
materials.
First, the shell of a gourd is very hard and slippery, whereas the pulp under the skin
is generally softer, but very unpredictable. One can encounter hard spots to
suddenly very soft spots without warning which can allow tools to unintentionally
penetrate the shell. Work slowly and with as light a touch as possible. Be aware of
the properties of the individual gourd as you are working.
Second, gourds can be somewhat unwieldy requiring stabilization while working on
them. Many artisans work with the gourd in their lap which stabilizes the gourd well
while providing comfortable, easy access to the work surface. When working on a
hard surface such as a work bench or table, the gourd should be stabilized with a
non-slip surface. Rubber shelf liner works well. When doing fiber works or carving
on gourds people will often place a hand inside the gourd to help stabilize and
rotate it. Beware to keep said hand out of the way of plunging sharp pointy tools.
Motorized tools such as rotary tools, sanders, drills and saws, like all
electrical appliances should be kept away from water. Read the instructions and
know how to inspect and operate your tools properly. Always make sure the
9
business end of tools are under control before turning them on and never attempt to
insert the blade of a gourd saw into a gourd while the saw is running. Insert the
blade then turn it on. Foot operated start and stop pedals are very convenient and
improve safety considerably.
If using a belt sander, say to flatten the bottom of a gourd, make sure the sander is
secured and hang on to the gourd for dear life because the sanders sole purpose is
to take the gourd away from you and throw it across the room.
This may sound obvious, but remember, wood burning tool are hot. Real hot. Get in
the habit of placing the pen in an appropriate holder when you set it down and never
leave one unattended with the power on. There are many claims that the smoke
produced from wood burning is harmful. Many people strategically place a fan to
suck the smoke away from them. You don't want a fan blowing on your pen or work
surface as it will alter the performance of your burner. Wear your respirator or work
outside or in a well ventilated area.
Gourd work is also often associated with assorted
chemicals such as glues, resins, paints and
acids. Read and heed the hazard warnings and
wear protective equipment as appropriate. CA glue
(Crazy or Super Glue) and E-6000 are very common
products, but can be quite harmful if not handled
properly. Read and follow all hazard warnings.
This all may seem rather obvious, but experienced
gourders can relate and if you have ever sprayed
yourself in the face with a can of spray paint you will
understand the risks.
LONE STAR GOURD FESTIVAL
The Lone Star Gourd Festival is an annual event
sponsored by the Texas Gourd Society. It is held the
third weekend in August in New Braunfels at the
Convention Center.
It is open to the public and features a gourd art
competition, classes, demonstrations, supplies, tools,
crafted gourd vendors, cleaned raw gourds,
embellishments and a raffle.
The event draws people from across the State and is
the society’s main fund raiser.
Detailed information about the festival can be found on
the Texas Gourd Society’s website.
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LOCAL GOURD PATCHES
Southeast Texas Gourd
Patch
West Houston area
Margaret Bell, Patch Leader
713-253-1053
mabell713@gmail.com
http://www.artisanart.biz/tgs_
southeast/
Cowtown Gourd Patch
DFW/Euless area
Becky Wise, Patch Leader
817-726-6653
dbwise@swbell.net
Greater San Antonia Gourd
Patch
San Antonio Area
Michelle Montgomery, Patch
Leader 210-846-5494
mr.mrs.monty@gmail.com
Capital of Texas Gourd
Patch
Austin/Dripping Springs area
Lynda Smith, Patch Leader
512-524-7897
lyndabethsmith@gmail.com
Guadalupe Gourd Patch
Kerrville area
Judy Richie, Patch Leader
judyrichie@yahoo.com
Bob Richie
brichie@ktc.com
West Texas Gourd Patch
Lubbock area
Paula Bownds, Patch Leader
806-634-5919
bownds@windstream.net
Dallas Gourd Patch
Cal Stewart, Patch Leader
440 Kentucky Lane
Fairview, TX 75069
469-667-6858
caldstewart@yahoo.com
Bay Area Gourd Patch
East Houston area
Susan Urban, Patch Leader
Baytown Art League
110 West Texas Avenue
Baytown, TX 77520
281-782-6017
hummingbird707@gmail.com
Arlington Gourd Patch
Cindi Creswell
Fielder House Museum
1616 West Abram
Arlington, TX
817-244-0135
Cidnboo@hotmail.com
www.freewebs.com/arlington
gourdpatch
Pat Duncan
pdunk8@msn.com
Concho Valley Gourd Patch
San Angelo area
Beth Lively, Patch Leader
325-456-4556
blively@wcc.net
Coastal Bend Gourd Patch
Corpus Christi area
Shelia Guidry
337 -376-9690
Sheliaathome@aol.com
The American Gourd Society publishes The Gourd journal quarterly for members. This
publication is a vehicle for news and information about people, events, state Chapters, books,
seeds, crafting and other gourd related subjects both domestic and foreign. The AGS is the
unifying body for all state Chapters and provides a network of contacts for people and
organizations worldwide.
TEXAS GOURD SOCIETY
EXECUTIVE BOARD
President:
Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Membership:
Immediate Past President:
Gourdzette Editor:
Shelia Guidry
Rosa Semien
C.C. Rice
Blanche Cavarretta
Joel Hartman
Suzanne Haffey
Rickie Newell
Directors:
Cal Stewart
Roy Cavarretta
Linda Hughes
Mari Tarver
Carey Collier
Rona Thornton