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Rich in nutrients, fiber and water content, I am low in energy and fat. I am a very good food for those who want to lose weight. Who am I?
Seems like a pretty good vegetable, isn’t it?
It is none other than Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), also known as Calabash or Lauki.
- The plant bears white color flowers
- Produces fleshy and bottle shaped fruits
Bottle gourd helps in:
- Better digestion
- Reducing sugar level
- Reducing constipation
- Curing urinary infections
- Treating insomnia
✅ Best Season for Cultivation
- January–March and September–December are the best months for cultivation
- If the crop is rainfed, it can be planted in May–June
✅ Main Varieties
- Pusa Summer Prolific Long
- Arca Bahar
Land Preparation
- Well prepared land is used
- Ploughing followed by harrowing is done to bring soil to a fine tilth
Sowing Method
- Cultivated by direct sowing of seeds
- 12 to 16 grams of seeds are required per cent
- Planted in pits of:
- 60 cm diameter
- 30–45 cm depth
Spacing Guidelines
For climbers grown at height
- 3 m spacing between plants and rows
For plants spreading on the ground
- 2 m spacing between plants
- Proper spacing between rows should be maintained
Seed and Pit Preparation
- Four or five seeds can be sown in pits
- Pits should be filled with:
- Compost
- Organic manure
- Dung manure
- Topsoil
Soil Nutrition
- Add lime to the soil and mix it two weeks before sowing
- Add:
- 5 kg of dung manure per bed
- 100 g of bone meal per bed
| Problem | Details |
|---|---|
| Fruit Fly | Symptoms: Fruits turn yellow, rot inside, fall early. Reason: Fruit fly lays eggs inside young fruits; worms eat fruit inside. Solution: Spray Carbaryl 10% – 600–700 g in 150 litres water / acre. |
| Pumpkin Beetle | Symptoms: Holes in leaves, roots damaged, plant becomes weak. Reason: Beetles eat leaves and roots. Solution: Spray Carbaryl 10% – 600–700 g in 150 litres water / acre. |
| Epilachna Beetle | Symptoms: Leaves eaten fully, only veins remain. Reason: Grubs and beetles eat leaf surface. Solution: Spray Carbaryl 10% – 600–700 g in 150 litres water / acre. |
| Downy Mildew | Symptoms: Yellow spots on leaves, leaves dry slowly. Reason: Fungus caused by rain and moisture. Solution: Spray Mancozeb – 400 g in 150 litres water / acre. |
| Powdery Mildew | Symptoms: White powder on leaves and stems, leaves curl and d |
| Problem | Symptoms (What you see) | Reason (Why it happens) | Solution (What to do) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit Fly | • Fruits turn yellow• Fruits rot from inside• Fruits fall early | • Fruit fly lays eggs inside young fruits• Worms eat fruit inside | • Spray Carbaryl 10%• 600–700 g in 150 litres water / acre |
| Pumpkin Beetle | • Holes in leaves• Roots damaged• Plant becomes weak | • Beetles eat leaves and roots | • Spray Carbaryl 10%• 600–700 g in 150 litres water / acre |
| Epilachna Beetle | • Leaves eaten fully• Only leaf veins remain | • Grubs and beetles eat leaf surface | • Spray Carbaryl 10%• 600–700 g in 150 litres water / acre |
| Downy Mildew | • Yellow spots on leaves• Leaves dry slowly | • Fungus due to rain and moisture | • Spray Mancozeb• 400 g in 150 litres water / acre |
| Powdery Mildew | • White powder on leaves and stems• Leaves dry and curl | • Fungus spreads in dry weather | • Spray M-45 or Z-78• 400–500 g in 150 litres water / acre |
| Mosaic Disease | • Plants grow slowly• Leaves look twisted and patchy• Low yield | • Virus spread by insects like aphids | • Spray Dimethoate• 200–250 ml in 150 litres water / acre |
- Spray early morning or evening
- Do not mix extra medicine
- Avoid spraying during rain
- Use hand gloves and mask while spraying
☆ Interesting fact!
Bottle gourd is one of the oldest vegetables grown by ancient human civilizations. The history of bottle gourd cultivation is untraceable and goes back thousands of years
What is the best season for bottle gourd cultivation?
January–March and September–December are the best months. Rainfed crops can be planted in May–June.
How long does bottle gourd take to harvest?
It can be harvested within two months of planting.
How much seed is required for bottle gourd cultivation?
12 to 16 grams of seeds are required per cent.
Why do baby bottle gourds fall off?
This usually happens due to lack of sufficient nourishment or watering.
What are the common varieties of bottle gourd?
Pusa Summer Prolific Long and Arca Bahar.
Why do bottle gourd fruits turn yellow and fall early?
Bottle gourd fruits turn yellow and fall mainly due to fruit fly attack. The insect lays eggs inside young fruits, causing internal rotting and early dropping.
How to control fruit fly in bottle gourd naturally and chemically?
Fruit fly in bottle gourd can be controlled by removing affected fruits and spraying Carbaryl 10% @ 600–700 g in 150 litres of water per acre.
What causes holes in bottle gourd leaves?
Holes in bottle gourd leaves are caused by pumpkin beetles, which feed on leaves, roots, and tender parts of the plant.
How to control pumpkin beetle in bottle gourd crop?
Pumpkin beetle in bottle gourd can be controlled by spraying Carbaryl 10% @ 600–700 g in 150 litres of water per acre.
Why do bottle gourd leaves look eaten or skeleton-like?
This damage in bottle gourd is caused by Epilachna beetles, whose grubs and adults eat the leaf surface, leaving only veins.
What is the best treatment for Epilachna beetle in bottle gourd?
Spray Carbaryl 10% @ 600–700 g mixed in 150 litres of water per acre to control Epilachna beetle in bottle gourd.
What are yellow spots on bottle gourd leaves?
Yellow spots on bottle gourd leaves are symptoms of downy mildew, a fungal disease that spreads during rainy and humid weather.
How to control downy mildew disease in bottle gourd?
Downy mildew in bottle gourd can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb @ 400 g in 150 litres of water per acre.
Why do bottle gourd leaves have white powder on them?
Why do bottle gourd leaves have white powder on them?
White powdery patches on bottle gourd leaves indicate powdery mildew disease, which spreads during dry weather.
What is the best spray for powdery mildew in bottle gourd?
Spray M-45 or Z-78 @ 400–500 g in 150 litres of water per acre to control powdery mildew in bottle gourd.
Why is bottle gourd plant growth slow with twisted leaves?
Slow growth and twisted leaves in bottle gourd are symptoms of mosaic disease, caused by a virus spread by aphids and other insects.
How to control mosaic disease in bottle gourd crop?
Mosaic disease in bottle gourd can be managed by controlling insects using Dimethoate @ 200–250 ml in 150 litres of water per acre.
When is the best time to spray pesticides for bottle gourd?
The best time to spray pesticides in bottle gourd is early morning or late evening for better effectiveness and plant safety.
How to prevent pests and diseases in bottle gourd crop?
To prevent pests and diseases in bottle gourd:
- Avoid waterlogging
- Remove infected plants and fruits
- Follow correct spray dosage
- Keep the field clean
