Gourds and apple questions

JuzaMum

I was given some gourds seeds, labelled 'assorted Gourds, not edible', no information beyond that. I have gourds growing now, I have no idea how big they grow, when to pick them, do I dry them and if so how. The plants have that powdery leaf fungus so many leaves have died but new ones are growing. Anyone, any ideas/knowledge on gourds? (last gourd pictured is about the size of a tennis ball, others are larger)

Also I have two small apples trees, am I right in thinking that when the apples are ready, they will come off with a gentle twist?

Tia

MyRealNameToo

JuzaMum said:

I was given some gourds seeds, labelled 'assorted Gourds, not edible', no information beyond that. I have gourds growing now, I have no idea how big they grow, when to pick them, do I dry them and if so how. The plants have that powdery leaf fungus so many leaves have died but new ones are growing. Anyone, any ideas/knowledge on gourds? (last gourd pictured is about the size of a tennis ball, others are larger)

Also I have two small apples trees, am I right in thinking that when the apples are ready, they will come off with a gentle twist?

Tia

Given they arent edible what are you intending to do with them? Does it matter if they are "ripe" or not? Tends more to be a matter of them being the size/colour you want. 

Normally tell by the stem, it'll go brown and dry. You should cut the stem though, they won't come off with a gentle twist like apples. 

twopenny

How beautiful!
Seems like they are ornamental gourds which used to be a thing and people still have them on display.

I wouldn't worry about the mildew or fungus. Happens a lot with marrows and such. The gourds aren't affected and new leaves are coming.
I would cut the dead leaves off and clean the ground under them.

Someone will know about when to pick, just check that you can cut them when they get to the size you want and it won't cause rot at the top.
Here's the way https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-harvest-gourds/

I'd forgotten that people make bird houses though there are a couple hanging outside my dentists.
I have half a smooth round one skinned, covered in black wax and animals etched into it that I bought in a village in the Amazon. They can be carved too. But decorating is easier 🙂

JuzaMum

MyRealNameToo said:

JuzaMum said:

I was given some gourds seeds, labelled 'assorted Gourds, not edible', no information beyond that. I have gourds growing now, I have no idea how big they grow, when to pick them, do I dry them and if so how. The plants have that powdery leaf fungus so many leaves have died but new ones are growing. Anyone, any ideas/knowledge on gourds? (last gourd pictured is about the size of a tennis ball, others are larger)

Also I have two small apples trees, am I right in thinking that when the apples are ready, they will come off with a gentle twist?

Tia

Given they arent edible what are you intending to do with them? Does it matter if they are "ripe" or not? Tends more to be a matter of them being the size/colour you want. 

Normally tell by the stem, it'll go brown and dry. You should cut the stem though, they won't come off with a gentle twist like apples. 

I just fancied something different and they'll be used for Halloween decorations. I think that once they are 'ripe', they last for a really long time in the right conditions, so if kept in a dry place will last for several Halloweens. 

JuzaMum

twopenny said:

How beautiful!
Seems like they are ornamental gourds which used to be a thing and people still have them on display.

I wouldn't worry about the mildew or fungus. Happens a lot with marrows and such. The gourds aren't affected and new leaves are coming.
I would cut the dead leaves off and clean the ground under them.

Someone will know about when to pick, just check that you can cut them when they get to the size you want and it won't cause rot at the top.
Here's the way https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-harvest-gourds/

I'd forgotten that people make bird houses though there are a couple hanging outside my dentists.
I have half a smooth round one skinned, covered in black wax and animals etched into it that I bought in a village in the Amazon. They can be carved too. But decorating is easier 🙂

Thank you, that link was just what I needed. I shall leave them to ripen some more. I really like them as they are different to anything I have grown before. 

Brie

Used to be the thing to pick them and then pierce near the base with a long pin/needle so that the inside can slowly dry out.  I'd keep it somewhere cool and dry during this process.  

JuzaMum

Brie said:

Used to be the thing to pick them and then pierce near the base with a long pin/needle so that the inside can slowly dry out.  I'd keep it somewhere cool and dry during this process.  

I tend to put seed pods on top of the fridge to dry out as it's a little warmer there. Is the warmth a bad thing for the gourds? I might experiment by stabbing some and not others to compare results.

Farway

JuzaMum said:

Brie said:

Used to be the thing to pick them and then pierce near the base with a long pin/needle so that the inside can slowly dry out.  I'd keep it somewhere cool and dry during this process.  

I tend to put seed pods on top of the fridge to dry out as it's a little warmer there. Is the warmth a bad thing for the gourds? I might experiment by stabbing some and not others to compare results.

I found it was more dampness that was the problem, so warm & moist is bad, cold & dry is fine

Cut with a decent length of stalk as well, not at the shoulder, The stalk will shrivel as the gourd dries out

I varnished mine after drying, but they still crumpled & died after a year or so, probably because I had not dried them 100% properly

MyRealNameToo

JuzaMum said:
I just fancied something different and they'll be used for Halloween decorations. I think that once they are 'ripe', they last for a really long time in the right conditions, so if kept in a dry place will last for several Halloweens. 

They only last one halloween here but they come out early, kept for a good while after and our home is always warm that naturally increases the speed of detioriation. It's obviously different if you remove their flesh and dry the skins... there are several percussion instruments made out of gourds in this way and they do last a few years even with use. 

twopenny

I'd be inclined to leave them a bit longer if it's dry where you are. See if the stem starts to shrivel.
You could put some stones under where they touch the soil so they don't rot or discolour at that point.

There are a number of sites telling you how to dry them and how to know if they are dry inside. Remember to ask for a UK site. Different weather conditions.

The smooth surfaced ones do last a longer time because usually they are scooped out.
You could try that with a small one and make a bird house or feeding station 
https://www.gourdsforbirds.com/how-to-gourd-birdhouse/

Apples. Cup in your hand and gently lift upwards. That's the best.
This year found that fruit is reluctant to leave the tree. Must be the heat and dry. Give a very gentle twist if this is so you can feel if it's on tight still. Don't force it