FREE: 3 Bird House Gourd seed

The listing, 3 Bird House Gourd seed has ended.

Sow these seeds in the garden after all danger of frost is past, A mostly sunny location, and give them something to climb on and you will have gourds by Fall. I let mine dry out on the vine. Then pick them and bring them in and let them continue drying for a few more weeks. A lot of time they will get a black dusty mold on them but you just dip them in a 10% solution of bleach and water and let them dry a few days and it will go away. As long as they aren't mushy they will be fine. Carefully cut the hole and remove the seeds (save some for next year) (give some away) Then sand lightly and paint. Or rub with car wax, or spray with varnish, it doesn't matter but they will only last a few months if you don't seal them with something. Most of the paints sold in the US today are nontoxic and as long as they are dry they will be safe for the birds. Hang at different heights for different birds, and vary the hole size. Up high for the martins, and low, near cover, for the wrens. You don't have to put anything in them, the birds will gather the things they need. Watching birds and gardening have been a life-long passion, I'd love to introduce someone new to it to.