How to Turn a Gourd into a Birdhouse

Gourd vines make beautiful additions to any garden, and like other vines they grow rapidly on trellises and fences, making striking displays. Gourd vines make fragrant large blooms and, of course, uniquely shaped fruits that can be used in fall displays and later can be preserved to use for crafts. One popular gourd, Lagenaria sicerana, is often referred to as a birdhouse gourd. They look like they have been squeezed in the middle, creating a funky shape that’s perfect for making a birdhouse.

Many people like to sow their seeds in late summer, and they let their gourds dry on the vine until after the first frost. However, television host and garden designer P. Allen Smith believes harvesting time depends on if the gourds are fully ripened. Gourds are ready to be harvested when their stems dry and turn brown and the fruit has hardened. An unripened gourd will just rot after harvesting or after a frost. When cutting your ripe gourd off a vine, make sure to leave at least 2 inches of the stem so water can evaporate and the gourd will dry properly.

You certainly don’t have to grow your own gourds. A fall visit to your local pumpkin patch is the perfect time to find gourds for crafts. You’ll want to look for gourds that weren’t harvested too early, with long dry stems and tough skin that’s difficult to pierce with your thumbnail. Smith recommends gently cleaning your gourds to remove dirt and wiping them down with a diluted bleach solution (2 tablespoons bleach to 1 gallon of water). This removes bacteria and helps to prevent any rotting.

To begin the drying process, lay your gourds on a mat or piece of cardboard and put them in a place that has good air circulation, like a garage, shed or barn. Make sure they are spread out and not touching each other. After that, leave your gourds alone. You can rotate them occasionally. You may lose a few to rot, so you’ll want to toss those out. Large gourds can take up to six months to dry, but if you start the process in late fall you’ll have beautifully dried gourds by springtime to make birdhouses.

Once your gourds have dried, you can gently sand any mold spots off, but you may leave small scratches by doing this. Using a utility knife or a drill, cut a hole in the lower front of your gourd and empty out the seeds. Now, for the fun part. You can paint or decorate your gourd however you like. Some people enjoy the rustic look of gourds and prefer to use a stain or gloss to preserve the organic tones and colors.

Others create decorative folk designs using acrylic paints. Either way, make sure to seal your birdhouse if you plan on using it outdoors and not just decoratively.