Gourds with their fanciful shapes and beautiful colors are among autumn's natural bounty. While New Englanders are primarily fascinated by their decorative allure, in other parts of the world they are still made into useful and ceremonial objects. Gourds can be made into bowls, bottles, and musical instruments and were even used once as currency.

Craftsmen carve and paint unique designs on some species of gourds and they are often sold as birdhouses.

The odd-shaped and colorful decorative gourds, most often sold at farm stands and in grocery stores, are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes squashes, cucumbers, pumpkins and melons. These mostly yellow-flowered gourds come in many wondrous and curious shapes - round, oval, spoon, turban,

warted and crowned - to name a few. They may be cream, yellow, orange or green in color with stripes, spots and bi-colors not uncommon. Bees pollinate this group of gourds and it is believed these gourds originated in Central America.

Another group of gourds is from the Lagenaria genus. These gourds are larger in size and the plants produce white flowers that open at night. The blossoms are pollinated by moths. This is a very old genus, most likely originating in Africa. Early records found evidence of this type of gourd being used for water bottles as early as 2400 B.C.

Sometimes called the bottle, birdhouse or sugar-trough gourds, these beige gourds generally require a longer growing season than we have here in New England but can be started indoors and will usually mature during a normal growing season.

Gourds are not difficult to grow but face the same insect pests and diseases that attack our other cucurbit crops. In general they are vigorous, vining plants best trained up a fence or trellis. Seed catalogs offer an interesting assortment of varieties each spring.

The longest lasting gourds are those grown to maturity on the vine. Fancy gourds are also very sensitive to frost damage. Those picked too early or exposed to frost will have shortened life spans. When purchasing gourds for decorating, check to see that they are firm and free of blemishes. They should last 4 to 8 weeks even without drying and curing.

For a long-lasting display, the gourds should be dried and cured. This is a two step process. Begin by washing gourds in soap and water, drying them and then applying rubbing alcohol or another mild disinfectant to the skin. First the outer surface is dried by placing the gourds in a dark, well-ventilated spot for about a week. The gourds should be arranged in a single layer and far enough apart from one another for good air circulation. During this time the outer layer becomes hard and the colors are set.

The next step of internal drying may take from one to six months. The gourds can be kept in a warm, dark and well-ventilated area. They should be checked every few days. If some start to rot, discard them. Turn the gourds regularly to promote even curing. Many gourds lose their internal moisture through their stems. It is important to harvest gourds with a couple of inches of stem attached if at all possible. Sometimes a little mold appears on the outside of the gourd. Wipe it off and allow the gourds to continue drying but keep checking them. You'll know they are fully cured when they become lighter in weight and you can hear seeds shaking when you rattle them.

To give gourds an attractive luster, they can be waxed with floor polish or sprayed with an acrylic resin. Some types of gourds are used for crafts purposes and painted. Those fascinated by these interesting plants may want to join the American Gourd Society. Take a peek at its Web site for membership information and benefits.

If you have questions about growing gourds or on any other home and garden topic, call the UConn Home & Garden Education Center (toll-free) at (877) 486-6271, visit its web site, or get in touch with your local Cooperative Extension Center.