Each fall, as grocery stores and garden centers pile up mountains of orange pumpkins, it’s easy to forget the diverse gourd family. Pumpkins might be the headliners, but they’re not the only stars in the patch. Look past the big orange icons and you’ll find their quirky cousins. These are the warty, twisted and striped gourds that can turn any front porch display into a natural work of art.
Ornamental gourds come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Speckled swan gourds have a curved neck like a bird in motion. Apple and pear gourds are shaped like their namesake. Turk’s turban looks like a gourd wearing a hat. Gooseneck gourds are something out of a Halloween fairy tale.
Most of the ornamental types are not good for eating, but they shine in displays. Arrange them in baskets or stack them on steps. They don’t need carving, just a good cleaning and an eye for color.
If kept uncut and dry, gourds can last well beyond Halloween. In fact, many people dry them to use for crafts. Depending on the variety, ornamental gourds can last anywhere from two months to a year. Once they’re fully dried, they become lightweight and hard as wood, perfect for painting or turning into birdhouses.
Ribbing, warts and wings are distinctive features of ornamental gourds.
Dreamstime
For uncarved pumpkins and gourds, you can use paint or markers to create colorful designs. Acrylic paint works best on the waxy skin, and sealing it with a clear matte spray afterward will help it last longer outdoors.
Some people use push pins, upholstery tacks or metallic thumbtacks to create geometric patterns. Others glue on dried flowers, moss or lace. It’s a great activity for kids that doesn’t leave a slimy mess.
If you’re a traditionalist and just want good old-fashioned pumpkins, there’s no shortage of advice to keep them from rotting. Some say to coat pumpkins with Vaseline or WD-40, others swear by soaking them in bleach, vinegar or baking soda solutions. The truth is, none of these methods is a magic fix. Once a pumpkin is carved, the clock is ticking. In our Lowcountry climate, you have about five or 10 days before nature takes its course.
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