|
BOTTLE
GOURD (Lagenaria siceraria)
It
is an annual vine trailing on the ground. It is a very
hardy crop and withstands drought. The fruits vary in
shape. It can be grown in a wide range of soils. The
fruits are typically bottle shaped with a narrow neck
and a round bottom.
Top...
Pusa
Summer Prolific Long, Arka Bahar.
Top...
Preparation
of land
Pits
of 60 cm diameter and 30-45 cm depth are taken. Well
rotten FYM and fertilizers are mixed with topsoil
in the pit and four or five seeds are sown in a pit.
Remove unhealthy plants after two weeks and retain
two or three plants per pit.For trailing the water
melon, spread dried twigs on the ground.
Season
Bottle gourd can be successfully grown during January-March
and Sept-December. For the rainfed crop, sowing can
also be started after the receipt of the first few
showers during May-June.
Seed
Rate
3-4
kg/ha
Spacing
3.0 m x 2.0 m
Sowing
Four or five seeds are sown per pit. Remove unhealthy
plants after two weeks and retain three plants per
pit.
Trailing can be done either on pandals or on the ground.
Top...
During
the initial stages of growth, irrigate at an interval
of three or four days. Irrigate on alternate days during
flowering and fruiting periods.
Top...
Apply farm yard manure at the rate of 20-25 t/ha as
basal dose along with half dose of N (35 kg) and full
dose of P2O5 (25 kg) and K2O (25 kg/ha). The remaining
dose of N (35 kg) can be applied in several split
doses at fortnightly intervals.
Top...
Conduct
weeding and raking of the soil at the time of fertilizer
application. Earthing up may be done during rainy season.
The important pests are epilachna beetle and red pumpkin
beetle. They can be controlled by adopting measures
recommended under bitter gourd.
Top...
Downy mildew and powdery mildew are important diseases
in bottle gourd. Refer control measures recommended
for bitter gourd.
Top...
Harvesting
can be done only after 10 days (at least) of insecticide
/ fungicide application. The fruits should be washed
thoroughly in water before cooking.The fruits are harvested
when they attain sufficient size but still tender. Maturity
can be tested by piercing the nail on the skin of the
fruit.
Top...
Not
Available
Average
yield will be 25-30 tonnes/ha.
Top...
|
