Your other thread with same question Here is a link that might be useful: your other thread

It does not matter much either way. But soak them overnight to facilitate germinating. I have heard some people even scratch the edges, because some gourd seeds are very hard. But ornamental gourd seed are similar to squash. Or that is how the one Ihvgown hve been. Since you are in zone 5, you might start your seeds inside or in a cold frame or greenhouse 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost date. This way you will get a head start. ONE MORE THING: gourds in general grow long vines, sometimes up to 40 feet and more. So you have to have either a trellis or lots of ground splace for them. GOOD LUCK.

Sure if the gourds are ripe. Just be aware that the small colorful ornamental type gourds are actually squash C. pepo and will cross with squash of that species. Just split gourds, remove seeds, clean and store until planting time.

Either one will work. I've done it both ways and I prefer trellising when possible, just because it keeps the gourds and small pumpkins off the ground which helps keep certain ground-dwelling pests from chewing on them. I grow them on the fence a lot and currently have ornamental gourds on the fence that surrounds the dog yard, and have some winter squash and pumpkins on the ground in the garden where they are roaming in and around the corn. With some gourds, like the long-handled dipper gourds and the birdhouse gourds, I think the gourds often have a nicer shape if grown on a trellis. With the mini-pumpkins like Jack-B-Little and Baby Boo, I've even grown them on teepees made of three cedar tree limbs wired together at the top. The kids would crawl inside the teepees to play when they were young, and eventually we'd get to pick the mini-pumpkins for fall decorations.