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SNAKE
GOURD (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
Snake
gourd is a common cucurbitaceous vegetable of Kerala.It
is an annual climber native to India. The crop prefers
a tropical warm humid climate. A loamy soil having pH
range of 6.0-7.0 is best suited for the crop. The crop
cannot tolerate frost.
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Kaumudi,
Baby and TA-19.
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Season
January-March and September-December are the main
growing seasons.
Seed rate: 3.0-4.0 kg/ha
Spacing: 2.0 m x 2.0 m
Sowing
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 seeds are sown @ 4-5 per pit. After
two weeks remove the unhealthy plants retaining three
plants per pit.
Erect pandals for trailing snake gourd. Provide bamboo
stakes and cross wires for spreading the vines. The
seedlings when starts producing tendrils should be
staked to thin bamboo poles using banana fibres so
as to enable the vines to spread on the pandal.
Training of developing fruit
Fivedays after fruit set,at the tip of the developing
fruits,a small stone is tied using a piece of banana
fibre.Otherwise the developing ovary ovary will be
coiled.however short fruited types do not require
such training.
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During
the initial stages of growth irrigate at an interval
of 3-4 days. Irrigate on alternate days during flowering
and fruiting periods.
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Apply
FYM @ 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) is applied
in several split doses at fortnightly intervals.
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Conduct
weeding and raking of the soil at the time of fertilizer
application.
The important pests attacking snake gourd are fruit
flies, epilachna beetle and red pumpkin beetle. Control
measures recommended for bitter gourd can be followed
in this case also.
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The important diseases are downy mildew and mosaic.
The control measures as stated under bitter gourd can
be adopted.
Harvesting can be done only after 10 days (at least)
of insecticide / fungicide application. The fruits should
be washed thoroughly in water before cooking.
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The
harvest starts from 78 to 80 days after sowing. The
harvest is done at an interval of 5-6 days. A total
number of 6-8 harvests can be done.
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Not
Available
Yield
ranges from 18 to 25 tonnes/ha.
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