Growing Birdhouses Preschool Nature Project

By Charlene Haukom

Spring is coming! Celebrate the season with your preschooler by growing your own birdhouse gourd. This Preschool Nature Project will show your preschooler how to plant a gourd garden, how to harvest the gourds, and how to turn them into birdhouses! Give your preschooler some gardening gloves and involve them in every step of the project.

What You Will Need

6-12 Gourd Seeds
Large Growing Area or Container for Planting
Trellis (if container planting)
Garden Gloves
Garden Shovel
Fertilizer or Compost
Soil (if container planting)
Plant ties (if container planting)
Floral Wire

Planting the Birdhouse Gourd Garden

Step 1:
Decide whether you want to plant the gourds in a container or in the ground. Gourd vines can become quite long, often reaching 30+ feet. If planting in the ground, be sure to choose a large area that receives a lot of sunlight. *Hint: The gourd vines may take over an existing garden - try to use a dedicated space for this project. 

If using a container, choose one that is at least 1’ deep and 2’ in diameter (at the top).

*The rest of the article will assume you are using a container. If you are planting in the ground, dig a hole that is 1’ deep and 2’ in diameter, then proceed with Step 2.

Step 2:
Have your preschooler sprinkle a thin layer of rocks at the bottom of your container to aid in drainage. Fill the container about half way with compost or soil mixed with fertilizer. *Safety tip: Let the grown-up handle the fertilizer.

Add about 4” of soil, forming a small hill. Preschoolers should now place 6 to 12 seeds around the base of the hill, then cover them with the mound of dirt. Insert the trellis.


Step 3:
Check the soil daily with your preschooler and water as needed. You want the soil to be well hydrated, but you don’t want to “drown” the seeds. As the seeds begin sprout and have 2-3 well-formed leaves, remove all but the best 2 or 3 plants.

Step 4:
As the vines grow, have your preschooler help attach them to the trellis with plant ties. Omit this step if you are growing the gourds in the ground.

Harvesting the Birdhouse Gourds

Step 1:
After your gourds have grown nice and big, your preschooler can check the stems to see if they’ve dried up and turned brown. If they have, it’s safe to cut the gourds from the vine. Snip the stem close to the vine, leaving plenty attached to the gourd.

Step 2:
Set the gourds out to dry and harden. Leave them outside – they need the airflow. Inclement weather will not affect them as long as they were fully mature when you removed them from the vine. Elevate the gourds so that air can pass under them. You could use a pallet, two 2x4’s, or cement blocks. Wire plant stands and cooling racks would also work.

Step 3:
When the gourds have tanned, let your preschooler give them a shake. If the seeds rattle, the gourds are dry and ready to use.

Making the Birdhouses

Once the gourds have dried, you and your preschooler can make the birdhouses. An adult will need to do Steps 1-3, however, let your preschooler help in any way that is safe. For instance, preschoolers can fetch a bucket and rubber gloves, or help you tie an apron.

Step 1:
Fill a bucket or sink with water and add enough bleach to make a 10% solution. Soak the gourd for 15 minutes. Use rubber gloves and protect your clothing during this step. Set the gourds aside to dry.

Step 2:
Use a drill bit to cut a hole into the gourd. The hole should be just slightly above the center. You’ll want your hole to be between 1”-2 ½”. Visit Amish Gourds for more information on the size of hole to use.

Step 3:
Use a 3/8” drill bit to drill four or five holes in the bottom for drainage and ventilation. Drill two holes at the top for the floral wire.

Step 4:
Empty the seeds.

Step 5:
Set your preschooler loose with paint or markers! If you want your preschooler’s artwork to last longer, you’ll want to pre-treat the gourd with a water sealer. You’ll also want to finish with a few coats of clear polyurethane.

Step 6:
Hang your gourds! Use floral wire to hang the birdhouse. Amish Gourds has information on how high to hang birdhouses.

Variations

If you have extra gourds, use them for other preschool crafts like the Gourd Bank Nature Preschool Craft.

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