Frequently Asked Questions
What's to know about gourd safety?
Always be sure to use some type of a dust mask when
cutting, carving and burning gourds. The dust can be harmful
to your lungs. For more information on gourd safety basics,
click
here!
How do I view a past issue of The Gourdzette?
When we send out the latest issue of The Gourdzette directly
to your email, we also add it to the website in the LEARN
section. You can check The Gourdzette Archive for all our
past issues. Gourdzette
Archives
How do I get answers to my gourd growing problems?
To help answer your all your questions about gourds including growing,
drying, seed resources and more, please refer to the following website.
They are dedicated to providing all types of information on gourds.
www.americangourdsociety.org
How do I contact the American Gourd Society?
www.americangourdsociety.org
Where do I buy gourd seeds?
You may buy gourd seed from John Sturgeon, who also happens
to be the President of the American Gourd Society! Please
tell John you were referred by the California Gourds!
John Sturgeon
Sunrise Gourd Seeds
1562 Ballard Lane
Greencastle, IN 46135
E-Mail: msturgeo@indy.tds.net
Or if you prefer, you may purchase gourds from us at www.californiagourds.com
and plant the seeds that are in the gourd! Often times you
will get gourds of the same shape and size from which you
took the seed. Due to cross pollination among gourds, often
times the gourd shapes produced are VERY different from
the gourd they came out of. Its all part of the fun of growing
gourds!
How do I go about drying gourds?
The hard-shell gourd is an amazing vegetable because it will actually dry
and become hollow on the inside (except for the seeds and dried membrane) and
retain a hard shell on the outside!
Gourds are ready for harvest when the stems dry and turn brown. Don't bruise
the skins during harvesting because this will increase the chance of decay
during drying. You can leave the stems on to add to the decorative effect.
Drying times and techniques vary depending on climate. For most regions, you
can start the drying process by placing the gourds on a shelf or on trays in a
well ventilated room such as a porch, shed or garage. The gourds should not
touch each other and must be turned frequently. Check the gourds often for
signs of decay. If you see decay, you may need to turn yourgourds more
often.
Drying time varies from 3 to 6 months depending on the climate and thickness
of the gourd shell.
I’m looking for a specific shape of gourd, how do I order it?
The best way to get the gourds you need is to place a custom
order. You may see a catalog of our available shapes by
visiting our web site on our Custom
Order Page. There is a $100 minimum order for custom
orders.
If you are interested in spending less than $100, we have
great deals and "pre-boxed"
specials on our web site.
If you would like to place a custom order, you may place
your order by phone by calling toll free at 1-888-548-7571,
Mon-Thu, 9am-3pm PST, or fax your order to (951) 639-3681.
What’s the difference between the cleaned and uncleaned gourd?
Uncleaned gourds still have the field dirt and mold on them,
so you will need to clean them with warm water and a non-abrasive
kitchen scrubbie. If you order your gourds from us cleaned,
we will clean the outside for you so they are craft-ready
when you receive them.
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