When drying gourds, if the fruit is not mature, even the good gourdspirits cannot save them.

#1 "Wondergourds." I recommend a location that is well ventilated and a temperature in the low sixties, a strong table 47 or so inches off of the floor, a low running fan not closer than six feet from the gourd , and running just a few hours a day. The keyword here is dry slowly. Place a mat or something under the gourd to catch the water , just in case it rots or breaks from stress . Place several pieces of wood runners under the gourd, enough to balance the gourd . This will allow air to pass under the gourd. Place three wood wedges to keep from rolling off the table . Rotate gourd from bottom to top and side to side at least once a week. The large gourd should dry in six months or less. The seeds will also be viable .

#2 Drying the gourd outside is fine but if the fruit freezes less than 2% of your seeds will germinate . You have several choices. You can put straw underneath the gourd to keep it off of the ground, several inches high, and circulating air under it . Turn the gourd to keep it drying evenly.

#3 You can cut the gourd off of the vine and make sure you leave a triad stem about ten or more inches ( main stem and several inches of two other branches.) Secure with a burlap cord or whatever is strong enough to hold the weight and hang it up in a garage , barn or under the porch. Space so that the gourds are not touching each other, Be careful that you don't put too much weight on the floor joists or beams.

#4 When vines are dry remove the gourds from the vines with ten or more inches of stem on them and place gourds on benches or pallets prepared for this type of storage and drying. Turn once every ten days or so. Allow space between each gourd. Any gourd weighing over fifty pounds should be dried on a table, not on the floor (See "Wondergourd)

#5 Smaller gourds can be dried in a box with dry warm sand, turning gourds several times a week.

#6 Onion sacks are ideal , one large gourd in a sack, hang to dry.

#7 I heard it is possible to dry small gourds in a micro-wave unit. I don't have any information on this technique.

#8 Some patchers drill small holes on the underside of the gourd to release the pressure and the water. I don't like this idea because it interferes with the natural drying process and opens up other dangers of disease , fungi and insects which can infect the seeds . It is recommended to remove diseased or decaying gourds from the drying places.( make sure you don't confuse molding gourd with decaying gourd.) Many people throw out good gourds because they confuse rotting with molding . Remember that all gourds go though a metamorphosis of molding due to the process of natural osmosis, which is when the water inside the gourd filters its way through the membrane of the wall to release the pressure, the moisture and other unessential materials . This process dries, protects and secures the seeds for the next generation of fruit. The cycle of life is ready to begin when the seeds are exposed once again to the elements of light, air, water, and the earth . I am sure there are other methods of drying gourds. If so, why not send them to me and I will compile them into a report for the patch. I hope this documentation of drying techniques helps in your search to preserve your precious "gourds in hand."