It takes 3-6 months to fully dehydrate a
gourd depending on the gourd’s size.
When the seeds rattle and/or the gourd is light in weight compared to its size, it is
dehydrated. In fact, a freshly harvested green gourd will be cool to the touch due to the amount of moisture it has. A dehydrated gourd will be room temperature.
A dehydrated gourd will also be
covered in black, gray and white mold. DO
NOT THROW THE GOURD AWAY! It has
been a very good gourd and has done what it was supposed to have
accomplished -- all the water/moisture inside the gourd successfully transpired through the skin/shell
and left a gourd ready for cleaning for use.
Dehydrate gourds outside in the open
with ventilation and sunshine. Turn them
often to discourage rot as excess water accumulates inside, awaiting evaporation. Gourds that
collapse on themselves, become wrinkled or soft will not dehydrate and should be discarded Once fully dehydrated thought, bring the
gourds out of the weather to protect them. Store in a barn/garage/shed, not in your house. Only after gourds have had their outer shells
cleaned should inside house. 
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