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Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds

shaping bird's nest gourds

17 years ago

Probably I was the last person to discover this technique but on the off chance I'm not...I'll post it.

You can shape bird's nest gourds and add decorative or interesting features by taking a young gourd and wrapping it with different materials. Gorilla duct-tape is very strong and doesn't seem affected by rain. You can take say a 1" strip of it and wrap the gourd's circumference. The gourd will continue growing except where the tape was...or wire or whatever you chose to use. I like multiple circles on the gourds...they bulge out above and below the restriction you put on them.

Comments (2)

GardenKiwi
17 years ago
Ha! Nope - you are not the last person - I think I am!!!

I know that people use molds to make faces, tie knots in the long handle dippers, and it makes sense that other shapes can be obtained by wrapping growing gourds with different materials. I am such a neophite that I didn't even know there was sugh a thing of Gorilla duct-tape! I bought some Gorilla glue but am not sure I like it altho many people I know do think it is the greatest.

If you have photos of some of your shaped gourds I sure would like to see them.

Rita in Michigan
sowngrow (8a)
16 years ago
lilies-would you post a photo of one of the gourds you've shaped?
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