Gourd Canteens

Yes, it is OK. I live in SW Mi,. I leave mine out in the barn all winter, just move them around once a month. Let them stand on something out in the open so they get good air circulation all the way around- think window screen, a piece of fence, or ?

Ok, I do have some window screens I could put them on...It would also get them out of the house!

So as I'm sitting here planning out my garden, you now have me wanting to try to grow some

Make sure you have plenty of room. They grow fast and the vines get long.

I grew my gourds up a fence in my garden, so they could hang without touching the ground. I would highly recommend it! (you do need to have a strong fence though, my T-posts are almost 3 feet into the ground to hold the fence up, because the plants really take over come August). It saves a lot of space too.

when I lived in indiana, I just planted them and they grew everywhere. sometimes I remembered to pick them, sometimes, I tripped over them mid winter. I picked some one year and chucked them in a pile in my mini barn. In the late spring, they were ready. We made shakure's out of them (african musical instrument). I still have one.

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I have made water bottles out of the bottle gourds like yours in the past for my reenacting supply chest. You did right keeping some stem on. Hang them from a piece of string by those stems from the rafters in your attic where they get good air circulation and darkness. It will take several months for them to dry. When the seeds rattle, they are ready, mark your hole with the cork your are going to use and cut it out, I used a bottle brush to get inside and scrub around then just poured the seeds out. You need a pretty long piece of leather string to wrap around the neck several times and tie off to use as a strap. I also secured a piece of leather to the top of the cork and tied it around the neck so I would't lose the cork. Mine are out in the shed somewhere else I would post a pic, but right now have no idea which box they are packed in (sooo ready to get the house done so I can finally finish unpacking stuff -- sigh). Oh and I also rubbed the outsides down with beeswax to shine them up a bit. They work really good at events and sure beat having to hide plastic water bottles. I usually wear a belt with my dresses so when I am out and about I slip the carrying strap on over my belt and let the gourd hang down my skirts to keep my hands free.

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thanks for the tips!