Bottle gourd is also known as “lauki” and it belongs to family “Cucurbitaceae”. It is an annual climbing vine which has vigorous growth. The plant bears white color flowers which bears fleshy and bottle shaped fruits. The fruit is used for cooking purpose. Also, it is good for health as it possesses medicinal property. It helps in better digestion, reduces sugar level and constipation, cures insomnia and urinary infections and is good remedy for treating insomnia. 

It is grown in variety of soils. It gives best result when grown in sandy loam to loamy soil. 

Pusa Summer Prolific Round: Gives average yield of 100-120qtl/acre. Suitable for kharif as well as rabi season cultivation.

Samrat: Suitable for kharif as well as rabi cultivation. Fruits are 1 to 1.5meter long. Gives average yield of 100qtl/acre. 

Pusa Naveen: Suitable for rainy as well as spring summer season. Gives average yield of 140 to 160qtl/acre. 

Arka Bahar: Medium long with light green shining fruit. Gives average yield of 160 to 180qtl/acre.

Pusa Santushti: Ready to harvest in 60days. Suitable for high temperature as well as low temperature. Gives average yield of 100qtl/acre.

Pusa Samridhi: Fruits are long. Ready to harvest in 50 to 55days. Gives average yield of 110qtl/acre.

Pusa Sandesh: Medium to long medium size fruits. Ready for first picking in 55 to 60days in kharif season and 60-65days in summer season. 

Pusa Hybrid 3: Fruits are green, suitable for long distance transport. Ready for first picking in 50-55day after sowing. Gives average yield of 170qtl in summer and 190qtl/acre.

Varad: Private company hybrid. Ready for harvesting in 60-65days. Fruits are long, attractive and with good keeping quality. Suitable for long distance transport.

Kaveri 1: Private company high yielding hybrid. Fruits are shiny, attractive with excellent taste.  

PusaManjri (Sankar variety), PusaMeghdoot

For bottle gourd farming, well prepared land is used. To bring the soil to fine tilth, ploughing followed by harrowing is done. 

Time of sowing:

For summer season, complete sowing in February to March. 

Spacing:

Use row to row spacing of 1-1.5m and plant to plant spacing of 45-50cm.

Sowing depth:

Seeds are sown at depth of 1-2cm. Sow two seeds in one hole. After germination, remove weak seedling and keep healthy one.

Method of sowing:

Direct sowing of seed on broad ridge beds.

Seed rate:

For one acre land, use seed rate of 0.8 to 1kg of seeds.

Seed treatment:

Seed is treated with Bavistin@0.2%@3gm/kg of seeds to protect the seeds from soil borne fungus.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation, apply well decomposed cow dung @10-12ton/acre. Apply fertilizer dose on basis of soil test results.

In general, bottle gourd crop required, Nitrogen@40kg (Urea@90kg), Phosphorus@20kg (SSP@125kg) and Potash@20kg (MOP@35kg) per acre.

Also, half of Nitrogen and full dose of Potash and Phosphorus at time of field preparation. Apply remaining amount of nitrogen, 30days after seed sowing.

Apply fertilizer dose away from seeds at distance of 8-10cm.

In kharif season it does not required irrigation. If needed, then provide irrigation. Also, avoid water stagnation in field. Provide proper drainage. In summer season, after sowing, immediate irrigation is necessary. In summer, it requires 6-7 irrigations. Apply them with interval of 4-7days. 

To control the weeds, 2-3 hoeings are required at the initial stages of plant growth. Weeding operations are carried out at the time of fertilizer application. Earthing up is also an effective way which should be carried out in rainy season. To control, weed chemically, take spray of Pendimethalin@1.40Ltr/acre in 400Ltr of water, within 48hours after seed sowing.

• Pests and their control:

Fruit fly: They feed themselves on internal tissues of fruits which cause premature fruit dropping and rotting and yellowing of fruits.

Treatment: Spray with Carbaryl@10% @ 600-700gm in 150ltr water per acre.

Pumpkin beetles: The beetles destroy the roots by feeding on themselves.

Treatment: Spray with Carbaryl@10% @ 600-700gm in 150ltr water per acre.

Epilachna beetle: The grubs destroy the plant parts by feeding on them.

Treatment: Spray with Carbaryl@10% @ 600-700gm in 150ltr water per acre.

• Diseases and their control:

Downy mildew: Chlorotic spots are the symptoms of this disease.

Treatment: Spray with Mancozeb@400gm in 150ltr water per acre.

Powdery mildew: Small, white color spots are seen on leaves and stems are the symptoms of this disease.

Treatment: Spraying of M-45 or Z-78@400-500gm is used to get rid of this disease.

Mosaic: The disease causes stunted growth and yield gets reduced.

Treatment: Spray of Dimethoate@200-250ml in 150ltr water is done to get rid of mosaic.

Depending upon variety and season, crop is ready for harvesting in 60-70days. Depending upon market requirement, medium and tender fruits are harvested. Mature fruits are mostly stored for seed production purpose. Cut the fruits from vines with help of sharp knife. In peak season, picking should be done in every 3-4 days.

Keep isolation distance of 800m from other varieties of sponge gourd. Remove diseased plants from the field. For seed production, the fruits are harvested when they get physiologically mature. Three field inspections are required for the production of true to type seed. After harvesting, fruits are dried and then seeds are extracted.