[gourds] Dipper knots
Lillian Kepp (gourds@globalgarden.com)
Fri, 13 Feb 98 16:20:16 PST
Pat,
About knots in dipper gourds. Have you ever grown a dipper on a
fence or trellis and found that ones growing on lower vines touch
the ground and start bending? Well tying knots is something like
that, only you bring the ground to the gourd.
I read this in a book somewhere, don't remember which book. But
basically these are the directions.
When the gourd is still young and soft - handle about a couple
inches long - tie a sling around the base of the dipper and connect
it to the fence or trellis. Every couple days go out and tie the
sling higher. This will gradually bring the base up higher. When
you have the base up to where you can slip it around the handle,
then slip it around the handle and remove the sling. Gravity will
take over then and pull the knot tighter. I have seen gourds with
long handles with two knots tied on them. So far, I haven't had
gourds with long enough handles to do this, but I bought extra long
handle gourd seeds this year at the Ohio gourd show and I might
give that a whirl. Then when my friends show me there knot herb
garden I'll show them my knot gourd garden. :)
One thing the book did say is that you will probably screw up about
half the time the first time you try the knot thing. This I found
out to be very true. :) So, if you break the gourd, keep trying
until you get the hang of it. (no pun intended)
Let me know if you try this and how you do.
Lillian Kepp
thekepps@bright.net