Botanical Interests Gourd Hard-Shelled Corsican

The round flat Corsican gourd has historically been used to make serving bowls, jewelry boxes, and many other beautifully decorated lidded containers. Once cured, they will last indefinitely and can be painted, carved, cut, or drilled as you would do with wood for literally hundreds of craft projects. (Instructions for making a container inside packet.) The 15’ to 35’ vines can be grown along the ground or up a VERY STURDY trellis or fence. When to plant outside: RECOMMENDED. Spring, 2-4 weeks after the average last frost and when soil temperatures have risen above 60 degrees. When to start inside: Not recommended, except in very short season climates. Start indoors, 3-4 weeks before average last spring frost. Sow in individual pots for direct planting. Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing. Seeding into a black plastic mulch is HIGHLY recommended because it 1) keeps down weeds 2) traps moisture 3) warms the soil. How to Cure or Dry for Craft Purposes: Hard-shelled gourds are easy to cure. At the end of the season when the vines are completely dry, you can harvest the gourds for curing. Leave 1”-3” of stem when cutting off the vine and simply place them in a dry location with good air circulation. Smaller gourds will be dry in 3-6 months. Larger gourds may take up to 1 year to be completely dry. Due to the potential for mold forming, it’s best to cure gourds in a garage or dry basement instead of inside your house. You may also simply leave the gourds outside on the vine to cure, making sure that they are not touching wet ground. Cold weather will not harm mature gourds. While drying, the gourds will leach out the internal moisture. An occasional cleaning with Lysol or a 10% bleach/water solution will help to reduce the amount of mold that may accumulate on the surface. (Some mold can be desirable for the interesting patterns it leaves behind.) When the gourds are finished drying, any mold spots can be sanded off for a smoother finish. During the curing process, if you find moldy or soft spots on a gourd, discard it. (It may not have been mature enough to cure properly or is beginning to rot.) Gourds are dry when they turn brown or off white. Their shells will be hard, they will be lighter in weight, and the seeds will rattle inside when they are finished curing.