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Gourds are like pumpkins -- they are vining plants that take up a lot of space. Plant seeds in groups of four or five, leaving four to six feet of space between seed groups. Harvest the gourds when completely ripe, wash thoroughly with a disinfectant, like Lysol, and spread out on newspaper in a dry, well-ventilated area. Don't let the gourds touch each other. Your gourds will take three to four weeks to dry. During the drying period, turn them regularly so that they will dry evenly. Once the gourds are dry, cut a hole 1 1/2 inches in diameter in the upper middle of the gourd for a doorway. Try to use gourds that are large enough so that there is at least 5 1/2 inches of space from the bottom of the doorway hole to the bottom of the gourd. Otherwise, the birds won't have enough space inside for nest building. Attach a fastener to the top of the gourd and hang at least six feet above the ground from a porch roof, pole, or tree. |
Large gourds can make wonderful birdhouses for your outside wildlife friends. There is even one variety called the birdhouse or dipper gourd, because it has been so popular for this purpose.
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