Staci-I am new to drying gourds but I understand that mold is to be expected and it isn't necessary to remove it before the gourds are dry.The gourds are almost all water which seeps out during the drying process.That is what produces the mold.I think the mold gives the gourds a lot of character because it makes all kinds of designs on the outside of the gourds once they are dry and cleaned.
At this time I have 12 birdhouse gourds drying in panty hose on my front deck.They were given to me by a nice man down the road and cut from the vines before the leaves were completely dead.I was afraid they would not dry properly but I checked them a few days ago and they are all getting lighter and hard,and so far have no mold at all on them.I haven't bothered them at all since I hung them up in September.I think it is also pretty normal to lose a few in the drying process.Maybe you just need to give them time to do their thing.A lot may also have to do with your weather.I live in West TX and our temperatures have been generally mild,so I'm sure that has helped.
I'm sorry I haven't been much help.Maybe someone else with more experience growing and drying will be able to help you.I'm basically just into making things out of them.LOL
Good luck............Lillie

One of two things is either there was not enough growing season for the skins to thicken or this has just been a lousy season for GOURDS

The thin shell is not a result of your drying process. It results during the growing season. If they do not develop a thick enough shell during the growing season they will be too fragile to use, during or after drying. Every year you will get some with the thin unusable shells. I had a bunch of em this year.

The mold won't hurt your gourd, if it is thick shelled. Mold occurs on the outer epidermis and is just a natural part of the drying process. Let your gourds dry at their natural rate [ several weeks to several months ], and when they feel like balsa wood, then you can soak em and remove the dried moldy epidermis with a copper scour pad.

I concur. But, if the top of that flimsy gourd fails you, perhaps you can even cut the bottom say, six inches off and still have a nice little "tray"...
One year I took the gourds off the vine too soon... bad move.

Sometimes you can work around the bad spots, making for a pretty interesting creation.
~Ruth

Homegrown54, you said it was a bad move to harvest the gourds to soon. I will be planting my first gourds this spring, how will I know when is the right time to pick them? I live in z6 SE Missouri. Thanks

Shellie6
I live in SW Mo also. I plant my gourds just as early a possible (ground temp 70 degrees) because some years our growing season is just barley long enough for a good thick gourd. DonÂt harvest your gourds until the first hard frost. The vines will be dead.
Barbara