You have to dry the pumpkins before you can make a birdhouse.The birdhouse gourds will leave you with a hollow shell for birds to use.If you have dry and sunny weather, you can move the pumpkins into your garage or home.It can take two to three months for birdhouse gourds to dry.These pumpkins can be painted or decorated according to your tastes.
Step 1: The stems of the pumpkins are brittle and brown.
Before the first frost, inspect your pumpkins to make sure they are ready to cut.When your gourds feel brittle and dry, they are ready.If you don't wait for them to fully mature, they will rot in a few days.Soft spots on the vine will show overripe gourds.There is no way to keep them from rotting.
Step 2: The vines should be cut from the gourds.
If the stems are brittle, cut them off with garden shears or a knife.Make sure to leave at least 3 inches of stem for your gourds to be less prone to rot.
Step 3: Put the gourds in a container and wash them.
Use soapy water and a cloth to remove any dirt and debris from the pumpkins, pat them dry, and then wipe them down with a rubbing alcohol soaked cloth.
Step 4: You can spread out your pumpkins in the sun.
Put the pumpkins on a bench or picnic table in a sunny spot.Air can circulate between them if they are far enough away from each other.You should leave the pumpkins in the sun for a week before moving them indoors.Make sure the air reaches all sides of the gourd by turning it once a day.Alternatively, hang your pumpkins by tying a string around the stem and tying the other end to a clothesline.The need to turn your pumpkins every day is eliminated by hanging them.
Step 5: The pumpkins should be brought indoors.
If you want to spread out your pumpkins, choose a warm spot.There are good places to put a shelf or workbench in your garage, for example, or next to a heating vent.The gourds should not be stored in a damp or chilly space.
Step 6: The air will circulate if the gourds are spread out.
You can either hang your pumpkins from a hook or a string or wire on the wall, or you can spread them out on sheets of newspaper.
Step 7: The pumpkins should be turned every couple of days.
If you store your pumpkins on a flat surface, you will need to turn them frequently to keep them dry.You don't want the side the gourd is sitting on to miss out on air, so you should rotate it by hand.
Step 8: Look for rot and mold.
There are signs of rot, such as spots or fluid.You should act quickly to remove the rotten gourd from your collection.There are patches of mold that are dry and flaky and not like rot.It's a natural part of the drying process that mold can be cleaned.If you see spots on one of your pumpkins, you should discard them.That way the rot won't spread to the other pumpkins.If you see gray, black, or white mold, you can spray the gourds with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and wipe it away.
Step 9: The gourds need to be tested to see if they're dry.
You want to test them after a few weeks to see if they're cured.Press the pumpkins with your fingers.The dried gourds will feel hard and dry.Some people will tell you to scratch your gourds with your fingernails to see if they are dried and cured, but this could cause harm to your fruit and make a hole that could allow bugs to get in.If the gourds feel dry to the touch, you can shake them and listen for the sound of seeds that let you know they are dry.Your pumpkins will be ready to paint and prepare if they sound like the maracas.
Step 10: The rough spots need to be removed.
If you want your pumpkins to look their best, use a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any bumpy patches.Sand with a gentle touch in a slow back-and-forth motion to avoid damaging the gourd.
Step 11: The birdhouse hole needs to be cut.
To puncture the pumpkin, use a knife, drill, or jack-o-lantern carver.The opening you saw was big enough for a bird to use.The birds in your yard will affect the hole's size.For house wrens, the hole should be 1 in, for chickadees, 1.5 in and for bluebirds or swallows.
Step 12: There are holes for hanging and drainage.
To hang your birdhouse, you'll need to drill holes in the top of the birdhouse gourd, as well as a small hole in its bottom, so that the rain can drain out.There are two.125 holes directly across from each other at the top of your gourd, about 1 inch below the base of the stem.If you want to hang your birdhouse from a tree branch, you need to run a wire or string through the holes and tie the ends together.You can use a.25 in (0.64 cm) hole in the bottom of your gourd to allow rain to drain rather than rot.
Step 13: You can decorate the pumpkins.
Make sure to cover every side of the dried gourds by spreading them out on the newspaper and spraying them with a white primer.Then, spray paint them whatever colors you like, or use a pencil to sketch your design onto the gourd before you paint on it.
Step 14: The pumpkins should be sealed.
To protect your pumpkins from the elements, spray on a few coats of spray paint to seal them.Wait for it to dry, then spray a second coat.