Do all gourds dry

Do all gourds dry so you can make something out of them? It not how will I know which to get so they will?

All gourds dry, that is usually all they are good for. The trick is to decide what you want to make with them. What I found the years I tried growing swan gourds, the birdhouse kind, is that mine were big feeders just like cantaloupes. The first year I grew them on a fence, no amendments, and I got a couple tiny gourds that made it through summer. All the rest fell off or died. None were big enough for birds. The second year I made sure it got water often, and got one or two decent sized gourds. When I dumped a load of compost next to the fence, the volunteers went nuts. Then the problem was making sure that they hung freely so I didn't get weird shapes.

I was at Krogers and they had all sizes and shapes. A lot were the odd pumpkin ones and I was wondering if they would dry or rot first before I spend any money on any thought I would ask :)

If the decorative ones from the grocery store are green (not dried out completely) then a lot of them will probably rot. We used to buy them in the past and most ended up in the compost pile later on. The best thing to do is buy the artificial ones at Hobby Lobby after the holiday ends for 50% or more off - these last forever if taken care of.

Thanks so much hcmcdole...I figured it would be a waste of 4.00 each

Here are some of the pumpkins and ornamental stuff we bought at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. There is a matching display on the other side of the door. They probably had smaller gourds/squash/pumpkins there but the wife picks this stuff out for her displays.

I love that. Those are the kind I was talking about fresh at Krogers grocery store

Oh, but it is much better and way more fun to grow your own gourds. This was just a few of my ornamental gourds grown in 2013. I am so looking forward to growing gourds again - in 2014. Here it is December 7 and most of what I have grown and still have from 2013 crop are still in good shape, but a few have deteriorated - which is to be expected. They sure made for colorful decorations (several baskets of colorful decorations).

Those are really cool Brenda. I may have to try others besides the ones that dry for crafts :)

Timing on harvesting gourds is important, especially the ornamental ones. A person should read up on when to harvest. I did not harvest all of mine at the same time. I would harvest a few at a time, depending on their growth stage. So, they have done very well for me. I'm already making plans for growing more next year.

Thanks for the info :)

U are welcome and happy gourding................