Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), commonly known as white-flowered gourd,it is a climbing or running vine of the Cucurbitaceae family native to tropical Africa but cultivated in warm areas around the world for its decorative and useful hard-shelled fruits. The young fruits are edible and are typically prepared as a vegetable. Water bottles, dippers, spoons, pipes, and a variety of other utensils and containers are manufactured from mature gourds; they can also be fashioned into birdhouses, beautiful ornaments, lamps, and musical instruments.
Bottle gourd seed growing instructions:
- Throughout the year, seed sowing makes it simple to cultivate bottle gourd. Summer and monsoon seasons are ideal for seed planting. Bottle gourd seeds can be purchased online from http://bhagatseeds.com/
- Seeds are directly placed in small holes or raised beds and germinate in 7-8 days.
- Bottle gourd seedlings grow quickly and quickly assume the habit of a climber.
- For the climber to grow, a strong trellis support should be erected. Many gardeners allow the plant to trail on the ground or climb on poles or the top of the house.
- To stimulate branching, pinch off the young plant’s growth tips.
- In the second month, the side shoots will produce separate male and female flowers.
- Female flowers contain little gourds beneath them after pollination. If there are a lot of male blooms, you can remove some of them.
Bottle gourd harvesting:
- The harvesting season begins around 2-3 months after seed sowing and lasts about 6-8 weeks.
- Harvesting is best when the fruits have a soft, smooth surface and you can easily insert your finger nail through the skin or scrape it.
Growing Bottle Gourd in Pots:
- Bottle gourds grow well in 14-inch containers or large grow bags. Before sowing seeds, fill the container with high-quality potting soil. One of the greatest growth media for bottle gourds is organic veggie mix. Grow only one plant in each container.
Plant care for bottle gourds:
- Bottle gourds should be planted in open, sunny areas.
- Top treat the plant with an equal mix of coco peat and well-rotted manure. Repeat 2-3 times throughout the growing season.
- Watering is essential for the growth of the bottle gourd plant. It demands a constant supply of moisture.
- The constant halting and pinching of the climber produces a highly faithful and sharply planted plant.
Troubleshooting bottle gourd plants:
Immature gourds are falling: This is a regular problem. Baby gourds remain motionless, gradually shrivelling up and falling off. This is usually due to a lack of adequate food or irrigation. Provide liquid manure and allow it to reach the roots.
Gourds decay while they are small: Gourds turn yellow, rot at the end, and eventually fall off. This could be caused by waterlogging or poor pollination.
