Bottle Gourd
Tamil Name: Sorakkai; Scientific Name: Lagenaria siceraria;
Planting/Sowing
Jan – Mar; Sep – Dec;
Harvesting
Mar – May; Nov – Feb;
First Harvest
~55 – 75 Days
General Info
| Crop category | Vegetable |
| Life span | Annual |
| Type of crop | Climber |
| Part(s) of the crop to harvest | Fruit |
| Avg. Height | 1 – 6 feet |
Climate & Humidity
Bottle gourd does best when planted outside of summer months, preferring night time temperatures of 18 – 22 C and daytime temperatures of 33-35 C.
Planting / Sowing
When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
Jan – Mar; Sept – Dec;
How to plant:
Direct Sowing; Seeds are sown directly in small pits or on raised beds which germinate in around 7-8 days. Brownish or whitish-brownish seeds germinate well. Bottle gourd seedlings are very fast growing and quickly form the habit of a climber. A strong trellis support should be built for the climber to grow.
Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements
Pits of 18 to 24 inches deep soil. Space plants about 5 inches apart.
NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.
Irrigation
First irrigation is given 2-3 days after sowing. After that, irrigation is done at 8-9 day interval in general. But do check the plant everyday if it needs watering.
NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.
Pruning
To improve yield, remove lateral branches until the runner reaches the top of the trellis. Leave 4-6 laterals and cut the tip of the main runner to induce early cropping.
NOTE: See the Pruning guide for general info.
Harvesting
When to harvest
Harvesting can be done after 55-75 days after sowing. Fruits should be harvested within 3 days of shedding of small hairs present on the skin. It is time to harvest when bottle gourd changes colour.
How to harvest
Cut the fruit with a sharp knife during harvest time.
NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on the environmental, climatic, soil conditions.
Pests & Diseases
| Pests | fruit fly, fruit borer, beetles, spider mites |
| Common Diseases/ Problems | nematode, leaf spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew |
| Pest and Disease prevention measure(s) | Neem oil and soap nut mix, manually remove affected fruits, spray home made garlic, chilly paste. Mix 1 part curd with 9 parts water for disease prevention and spray the stems and tops of leaves. |
NOTE: Read Pests & Diseases for more information.
Did you know?
Bottle gourds are so called because the mature fruits of rounder varieties can be dried and used as water bottles! [Learn How]
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