Report on:
BOTTLE GOURD CULTIVATION cum Layered Vegetable Farming
in Sacks (as part of the PROJECT WORK)
Introduction
Bottle gourd is vigorous, annual, climbing vine with large leaves and a lush appearance.
Itis probably one of humankind's first domesticated vegetable species, providing food, medicine
and a lot more.It probably originated in Africa.
Cultivation on sack (Bora) is special type of pot culture adapted in the area where there
is little or no cultivable area. Sack can be adjusted on the various place; top of the house, around
the house etc. Its main purpose it to use the limited area and to have the variety of products
especially of the vegetables according to season. For example, Chilly, Tomato, Brinjal, Rayo,
Bottle gourd and other vegetables are successfully grown on sack.
Botany and Flowering
Bottle gourd ,Lagenariasiceraria, Cucurbitaceae , grows fast and may begin to flower
only 2months after seeding. It has tendrils to climb up and foliage is covered with soft hairs with
foul musky odor. The leaves are circular with a few broad lobes. The flowers are borne singly on
the axil of the leaves, the males on long peduncles and females on the short peduncle. The
flowers are white and attractive up to 4 inches in diameter with spreading petals. The ovary is
inferior. The anthers are borne on short filaments at the center of flower.
Pruning
To improve yield, remove lateral branches until the runner reaches the top of the trellis.
Leave 4-6 laterals and cut the tip of the main runner to induce early cropping. Removal of lateral
branches in the first 10 nodes has a positive effect on total yield. Without pruning, most of the
female flowers occur between the 10th and 40th nodes, or at a height of 0.5-2.0 m.
Climate and soil
Bottle gourd requires a minimum temperature of 180C during early growth, but optimal
temperatures are in the range of 24–270C. The crop can tolerate low temperatures, but extreme
cool temperatures will retard growth and frost will kill the plant. The plants are adapted to a wide
variety of rainfall conditions. Bottle gourd tolerates a wide range of soil but prefers a welldrained sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter. The optimum soil pH is 6.0–6.7, but plants
tolerate alkaline soils up to pH 8.0.
sStaking and Trellising
Bottle gourd can be trailed either on bamboo poles, wooden stakes, GI pipes or other
sturdy materials, when the plants start vining Vines are supported by bamboo stakes, which help
vines climb freely and reach the top.
Harvesting
The fruits are ready for harvest 60-120 days after sowing depending on the variety. Cut
the fruits from the vines carefully, using pruning shears or a sharp knife leaving 3-4 inches of
stem attached.
Observations
a) Layout of the field; 48 soil filled sacks with Bottle gourd plant were arranged in 4 rows
according to the roll number.
b) Crops used; Rayo (Khumal Broadleaf), Radish (40 days) and a Bottle gourd plant.
c) Sowing of seeds; 3 circular rows were made by making small holes around the sack. On
first, second and third circle, Rayo, Radish and Rayo seeds were sown respectively. The
distance between the circles was 10cm and that of between the holes was 5cm.
Table of Activities Performed
S.N.
1.
Date
069/4/32
2.
069/5/18
3.
069/5/19
Activities
Cultural practices; weeding and mulching, seed
sowing of Rayo and Radish into the holes
around the sack.
Watering, Staking of bamboo stakes, weeding,
and pruning of side branches with sharp blade
leaving 2cm from the main branch, counting of
no of leaves, position of 1st tendril and no of
nodes presented.
Weeding, counting of no of leaves and no of
nodes.
Data Taken
appearance of first
true leaf, appearance
of first node
No of open leaves=11,
no of nodes=12, no of
side branches pruned
=7, position of node
for 1st tendril=3th
No of leaves=19, no
of nodes=17, no of
4.
069/5/30
5
2069/06/01
pruned branches=4
2 time staking, observation of male and No of leaves=34, no
female flowers and their pattern, harvesting of of nodes=32, position
Rayo, position of female flowers.
of 1st side branch with
female
flower=24th
and similarly on 26st,
27nd,28rd.
Water Application and Cow Urine Application Fruit initiation
nd
Discussion
Our project work for cultivation of Bottle gourd on sack provided opportunity to know
the skills about the pot culture. On working with this, we got the idea about optimum utilization
of soil filled sack for the production of vegetables. We saw that the male flowers appeared first
on the main branch than the female ones. Female flowers appeared later as temperature went
down and on side branch only. Male flowers had peduncle with no bulge at base and female
flowers had peduncle with a bulge i.e. ovary.
Conclusion
In this way, we performed our project work. There is feasible scope of such type of
cultivation practice. Year round seasonal annual vegetables can be produced within a limited
area and a pot or sack. As there is possibility to plant the different plants from top to bottom in
circular fashion within a sack, this is one of the best time, space and place utilizing economic
practice. Our observation on growth habit, flowering pattern, no of leaves, no of nodes,
branching habit, fruiting habit, staking, pruning of Bottle gourd within the sack showed the
remarkable and positive results of good performance.