Hi Donna. I had apple gourds growing up a tree and I found that, after the first hard frost, the vines became desiccated and brittle and seemed unlikely to support those heavy apples. I did not want them to fall several feet so I ended up cutting the gourds off and leaving them around the base of the tree. Eventually due to their increasingly diminishing weight and some high winds we were having, I moved the gourds to a sheltered outside area. The great thing about growing on a tree is that the gourds form-up so nicely and have unmarred shapes. Good luck. J

Thanks Janmar. I'll just leave them where they are until a hard frost. Your right, they have perfect shape.

Yours dried ok outside? Any trouble with rodents getting at them?

Donna

Hi Donna, Mine dried outside beautifully, but even though we can get very cold, we are VERY dry. We have few problems with rodents here in Eastern WA. Any so foolish as to venture out in a big open space are easy pickings for hawks and coyotes. In any event, I found that the hard shell and long drying process seems to discourage most creatures who find they would do better to head for an easier lunch. J