Back to Top Handling Handle the gourds with care. Avoid bruising, scratching or puncturing the fruits. If there are any soft spots or blemishes, discard these gourds, or dry them separately. It is best to harvest most of your gourds prior to a frost. While mature fruits can handle a light frost, colors may be slightly affected, and less developed fruit will be damaged.
Gourds benefit from being cured after they have been picked.
To cure gourds, first start with clean gourds. Wash off the soil, and then wipe the fruits with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol, or dip the gourds into a bath of one part Clorox to nine parts of water. Don t soak them, just a quick dip. Then lay them out so that they aren t touching each other. Drying Those that you plan to use as is, for decorations, should be ready in three or four days.