Hello All,

I know that ideally you want your gourd stems to be brown and dry, but I have a bit of an issue at this time in my garden. I think that I have read that you cut the gourds after first frost....that is what I usually do anyway.

I made an unfortunate mistake in judgement and allowed "volunteer" gourds to sprout and grow in various places througout my garden. Needless to say they have just made themselves at home and wandered and crawled and climbed all over everything now.

Next year they will have their own homes and will be closely contained to those areas only.

I am trying to get my garden cleaned up and manured and mulched and planted for the Fall but I am having a hard time because of the gourd vines that are growing everywhere.

Most of the stems are just beginning to turn brown now and are still pretty moist looking. The foliage is pretty much gone.

If I cut the gourds now and hang them up will I lose them? I hate to do that but at the same time I need the space. I don't grow the gourds for any particular purpose. I give them all away.

I thought that I would consult the experts on this question because of my lack of experience.

Thanks in advance!

Good gardening!

Aubrey