I planted two gourd plants in April in the middle of a patch of mammoth sunflowers. The sunfowers have mostly come and gone and the gourd vines are now overwhleming the entire yard. If I pick the gourds that look ripe now, am I eliminating any chance that they will dry properly?

Typically, I would leave them be until the first frost. This isn't an option if I want to prevent the lawn from turning into a meadow.

What is the rule of thumb for cutting back gourd vines?

thanks in advance.