Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique by MetalFarmer Pritham D'Souza

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is one of the most widely consumed vegetable crops grown in Dakshina kannada district. its also called Thure (Tulu), Bobley (Konkani) and Soorae kai (Kannada). It has several uses from preparing different kinds of sweets, hail oil (from seeds), hard shells used as floats in fishing nets and also in making some musical instruments.

The hybrid varieties can yield up to 8 to 10 tonnes per acre and is a commercially viable croo

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

LAND PREPARATION

• the land selected here is a hillock and pits are made at the base of the hillock as shown
• a bucket of fresh decomposed farm yard manure is added to each pit and soil mixed well
• stones, twigs, inert matter etc are removed
  
• 3 or more seeds are then sowed in each pit
• after germination, once the seedlings reach 4 leaf stage, thinning out is done and only 2 seedlings per pit allowed

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

IRRIGATION AND MANURING

• since they are grown in pits, wastage of water is prevented
• light irrigation is a must after seeds are sowed and till transpanting
• dried leaves act as an excellent mulch and prevent loss of water due to evaporation
• its always recommended to give the crop nutrients in split doses.
• on the 20th day after germination, when the growing vines begin to develop, farm yard manure, decomposed, can be added to each pit @ 5kg per pit (minimum requirement)
  
• the fully grown plant requires a lot of water and so mulching is required

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

FLOWERING AND HARVEST

• bottle gourds are ready to harvest after 50 days from first day of sowing
• the edible fruits are the ones whose skin color facing the sun is green
• harvesting must be done using a knife.

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

SOME IMPORTANT TIPS AND POINTS WHEN GROWING BOTTLE GOURDS

• when manuring with fresh decomposed manure, care should be taken to see that the manure is added to the root zone area only and not on top of the plant as it might damage the leaves
• weeding is very important and tall growing weeds above the growing vines should be oulled out
• application of too much Nitrogen will result in excessive biomass and subsequently less yields
• application of too much Nitrogen will also produce more male flowers which is not desired
• deficiency of K (potassium) in soils reduces plant growth significantly and causes flower and fruit drop
• soil temperature is very essential and germination of seeds wont take place if soil temp is less than 10 degrees centigrade
• excess temperature over 40 degrees centigrade can cause scorching of leaves

Note: the pale green color on one side of the fruit is because that part did not receive sunlight and it is nothing to worry about, the taste and quality is not compromised.

From Bottle Gourd Cultivation in Pits, Summer Technique

all photos and data by Pritham 'MetalFarmer' D'Souza