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Yes, the longer they are on the vine the better. And when you do cut them, leave about 3 inches of the vine on the gourd. They need to dry with lots of air flow. I set mine on top of the dog pen, a big pen made from 2x4 welded wire. It's in the car port so there is air flow and protection from rain and snow.
You 'gourdheads' talking about gourds bring back old memories....in another lifetime I was a 'gourd artist'....haven't done any for years....but I painted houses 'in the round' on gourds...did collections of streets (like a village) with each house numbered. I think 2005 was my last year to do it. Here is an old picture of some of my larger gourds...these pictures are all I have on this computer, but I will get some finished painted ones off my old computer at home when I get some time.
I liked painting the 'apple' gours and the 'tear-drop' shaped ones...they made the best houses.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/JuneZn7/b896686f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/JuneZn7/9fe57747.jpg
June, it is funny you mentioned "in a former life your painted gourds", I did as well. The ones I painted, beaded and decorated were more native american in style for ceramonies and pow-wows and show. The ones I liked the best to paint were the ones they call "Crown of Thorn" gourds. They are the short squat ones that have a ring of spikes sticking around the top of the gourd. Those were a lot of fun to paint.
Unfortunetly. I do not have any of them anymore because they were either sold or gifted. I maybe interested in growing some gourds next year to paint.
Another way to preserve gourds is let them dry out, cover the outside with a thin coating of vasaline or a thick oil (not too much because it will make the outside tacky), set the oven for I believe 250 degrees and bake the gourds for about 30 minutes or until the outside becomes black. Because of pressure points from where the gourds are laying they have to rotated every 5 mins or so. I have done this with and without the seeds in it. If you take the seeds out it will not need as long to bake.
It has been years and years since I have done this, so I think this is right. It sure looks pretty when it is done and it makes them a lot stronger.