Overview

Alkarty Round Bottle Gourd Seeds produce high-yielding, round-shaped gourds known for their tender texture and mild taste. This variety is popular in Indian kitchens for its versatility and health benefits. It’s ideal for small gardens, kitchen gardens, and open fields.

Uses

• Culinary: Used in curries, soups, stuffed dishes, koftas, and halwa.
• Nutritional: Rich in water content, dietary fiber, and essential vitamins (A, C) and minerals.
• Medicinal: Supports digestion, cooling for the body, and promotes weight loss.
• Cultural: In some traditions, dried gourds are used as water containers or utensils.

How to Grow

• Climate: Thrives in warm climates with temperatures between 25–35°C.
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained loamy soil with high organic content and a pH of 6.0–7.5.
• Sowing Season: Spring and monsoon (Feb–May and June–Aug).
• Sowing Method: Direct sowing on raised beds, pits, or containers. Needs support for vine growth.
• Sowing Depth: 2–3 cm deep.
• Spacing: 1 meter between plants; 1.5–2 meters between rows.
• Germination Time: 6–8 days.
• Sunlight: 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Care Instructions

• Watering: Regular watering is important; soil should remain moist but not soggy.
• Fertilizer: Enrich soil with compost or well-rotted manure. Supplement with balanced NPK fertilizer during growth and flowering stages.
• Support: Use a trellis or support structure to allow proper vine climbing and air circulation.
• Pruning: Remove yellow or dead leaves and control side shoots to focus plant energy on fruiting.
• Pest Management: Watch for aphids, beetles, and powdery mildew. Use neem oil or organic pest control measures.

Harvesting

• Ready for harvest in 60–75 days after sowing.
• Harvest when gourds are young, round, and tender (approx. 10–15 cm in diameter).
• Timely harvesting ensures better taste and prevents hardening of skin.

Quick Reference Table