India ranks second after China in fruit and vegetable production. Gourd is a vegetable that has an important place in the Indian way of life.
Originating from tropical Africa, this vegetable is available throughout the year. Bottlegourd is a crop of 3.5 to 4 months.
Soil Preparation for its cultivation -
Mix rotten manure of cow dung in the field 3-4 weeks before sowing and plow it 3-4 times. Leveller should be used after each plowing. Sandy loamy soil is suitable for this crop.
The pH value of the soil should be 6.5 to 7 and there should be proper management of drainage.
Sowing time -
February-March is suitable for summer crop and June-July for rainy crop.
Seed quantity -
1.5 to 2 kg of seed is sufficient for one acre. If the seeds are soaked at night before sowing, then germination is good. Treating the seed does not cause diseases.
Seed treatment -
Seeds should be treated with 2 gm Carbendazim per kg before sowing. If you are doing organic farming, then seed treatment should be done with 4 grams of Trichoderma Viridi for one kilogram of seed.
Sowing Method -
Sow gourd seeds in raised beds on the edges of drains, whose width is 2 meters and length should be kept as per convenience. Sow 2 or 3 seeds at a distance of 3-4 cm at one place. After 15 days, if three seeds are sown at a place, then make them 2 seeds per place and keep the distance of 60 cm between the plants.
Irrigation -
Irrigate the crop at an interval of 5-7 days in summer and 8-10 days in rainy season. Irrigation during rainy season depends on rainfall.
