What Can You Do With Ornamental Gourds? (7 Handy Ideas)

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A vibrant assortment of ornamental gourds, with varied textures and colors, ideal for festive autumn decorations.

Do you have ornamental gourds but don’t know what to do with them? Then, read on because this blog post is for you.

Gourds have a long history that dates back several decades ago. Our ancestors used dried gourds for various purposes, such as drinking, cooking eating vessels. Thanks to their robust wooden structure, that’s durable and long-lasting.

Gourds are closely linked to squash and pumpkins. This is because they all come from annual vines. However, most pumpkins and squash are edible, while only a limited type of gourds are edible.

When it comes to ornamental gourds, they are usually dried and hardened for decoration. Apart from decoration, ornamental gourds can also be used for a variety of purposes, as we’re about to find out below:

1. Decoration Purposes

Of course, decoration is the first thing you can do with an ornamental gourd. Ornamental gourds make perfect décor items. After drying them, you can paint and wax them to your liking. Aside from using them during Halloween decorations, you can use ornamental gourds in wreaths and centerpieces.

Pick the right ornamental gourds if you want to put them in your wreath. Besides you can also use ornamental gourds to decorate your patio in the fall. Place them beside your porch flower pots.

If you want the best results, mix the gourds with natural elements to bring nature into your living room. You can also become craftier during Thanksgiving by placing the decorative gourds in the middle of the table.

Mix them with fresh flowers to create a soothing and welcoming ambiance.

2. Special Occasion Accents

Apart from being utilized for décor, decorative gourds can also be used as unique occasion accents. For instance, you can use them as place cards. Cut a thin line into the top of the ornamental gourd. Next, insert a place card in every cut and use them to label seating arrangements at a table.

Secondly, you can utilize them as escort cards. You must tie a card with visitors’ names and table numbers to the gourd’s stem.

Finally, you can also use ornamental gourds as favors.

Paint every gourd with a peculiar design and color, and give them to visitors as they leave the event.

3. Hanging Baskets

Ornamental gourds may be famous for their decorative purpose, but their use doesn’t end there. They are also great when used as hanging baskets. This works perfectly for large ornamental gourds. But if they are small, you can use them as bowls for placing various items or fruits.

Large decorative gourds can be hung and flowers placed in them. However, medium-sized gourds cut to form typical baskets or large bowls are ideal for putting in fruits, snacks, and popcorn.

Make sure you design your baskets and bowls to be appealing and unique.

4. Kitchen Utensils

You may be wondering if I am going nuts. Yes, you can use ornamental gourds to create kitchen utensils! After all, ancient people used them for serving drinks and even food.

To date, some tribes in Africa use gourds to take porridge and fermented milk. Additionally, some ornamental gourds can be crafted to make spoons and ladles. This usually depends on the size and shape of the decorative gourd.

If it’s small, you can craft spoons out of it, but if it’s large, you can make ladles.

5. Gourds Birdhouse

As the name suggests, you can use ornamental gourds as birdhouses. When appropriately dried, they make fantastic birdhouses with the same texture and density as wood. You have the choice of making practicable or decorative birdhouses from the gourds.

A birdhouse is created by boring a hole in the gourd’s stem to allow hanging a wire through it. You can design the birdhouse gourds according to your taste. Depending on the birds in your area, you can create a large or small nest that fits them perfectly.

Color the house and hang it on a tree where the birds reside.

6. Bird Feeders

After creating a bird’s house, you can also use these gourds to create a bird’s feeder. Follow the same procedure, but you can design them differently. Most people prefer making open bird feeders, but you can also have an enclosed bird feeder with a small opening.

Things to do with ornamental gourds - Gardeners Yards

7. Gourd Candle/Decorative Gourd Lights

Last, you can also use the gourd to light up your house. After drying the ornamental gourd, you can create a hollow at the top and fill it with wax. Next, put in a wick and enjoy the light that this masterpiece produces. These can also be great for candlelight dining.

Aside from candlelight dining, you can also light up your living room or bedroom by poking holes in the sides of the gourd using a sharp nail.

Next, cut the top off and put a tea light inside. You will love the wow factor that this light will create.

Other Uses for Ornamental Gourds

The Horn of Plenty display is a traditional harvest-themed gourd decoration. It is filled with colorful gourds, hay, and mums for the ultimate autumn centerpiece. Gourds come in various interesting shapes, and one of the most enjoyable fall crafts is decorating them with eyes and paint to make Halloween faces. However, cured gourds make beautiful, rustic planters for houseplants and are nearly indestructible.

Cut a fully dried and cured gourd in half, paint the inside, and then coat the inside with food-grade varnish to make a bowl. Additionally, these bowls are perfect for popcorn, crackers, bread, and other dry foods but are not ideal for soups or ice cream. To decorate your home this fall, you can also fill large glass apothecary jars with colorful mini gourds.

They make great centerpieces for harvest parties, fun décor in bathrooms and bedrooms, or lined up across the mantle. Make a rattle from dried gourds for autumn babies or spooky charades. Hang a wind chime with cured gourds close together to make a gentle, clattering sound.

Before hanging, gourds can be painted or varnished before hanging, but leave them unfinished for deeper tones.

How To Harvest and Dry Ornamental Gourds?

Before using the ornamental gourd for décor, ensure they have adequately dried for exceptional craft ideas.

Step 1:

Start harvesting your gourds when the stems turn brown and leave the vine dead. Next, wash the gourd in warm soapy water. Afterward, dry and wipe them using a little alcohol. Ensure to eliminate damaged or immature fruit, as they are undesirable.

Step 2:

Put the gourds in a properly ventilated place and away from direct sunlight for at least seven days. You will notice that the gourd’s skin will harden and change color. After a week, the outside of the gourd should be dry.

Step 3:

Transfer the gourds to a dry and dark area to stay for at least six months. Put them on a vented or screen surface in a single layer and ensure they don’t touch one another. If you have not hanged the gourds, you will have to turn them so that they can receive ample airflow under and around them. Monitor your gourds daily and throw away those that start to rot or become soft.

Step 4:

After six weeks, you should check the gourd. If it’s light, hard to touch, and you can hear seeds, know it’s ready. You can now go ahead and decorate it or use it for your intended purpose.

Summary

Ornamental gourds are a valuable item in the fall for decoration, but they can also be used for other purposes. This precious item can be used for special occasion accents, creating birdhouses, designing bird feeders, creating gourd handles, hanging baskets, and even be used to craft kitchen utensils.

Make sure to dry the gourd properly for a very long time. Also, color the gourds according to your home décor and theme for exceptional results.

You can now use your ornamental gourd even after Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations.

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