Ash gourd is an incredibly versatile vegetable and offers plenty of health benefits. It is a vine plant and grows in an oblong, watermelon like fruit. You should definitely grow one in your kitchen garden or terrace and enjoy its mild flavor.
Botanical Name: Benincasa hispida
Other Names: White gourd, Winter Melon, White Pumpkin, Agri Petha, Pethakaddu, Kumbalanga
Growing Season: Feb-March and June-July
Ideal Temperature: 25-30°C
Uses: You can use ash gourds to make tasty sabzis and healthy juices
Difficulty Level: Easy
How to Grow – Quick View
- Loamy soil
- 5-6 hours of daily sun
- Water regularly
- Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer before blooming period
How to Sow Seeds
- Soak the seeds in water overnight.
- Sow them directly in the ground and cover with soil. Make sure the seeds are not too close to each other.
- For growing ash gourds in pots, sow one seed per container atleast 0.5 inch deep in the soil.
Seed Care
- Water the seeds regularly
- Choose a location that receives full sunlight
How to Care for Ash Gourd
Sunlight: For maximum growth, choose a location that receives ample amount of sunlight. Place the ash gourd plants on terrace if you are growing in pots.
Watering: Water the plant every day to encourage growth.
Soil: Ash gourd prefers loamy fertile soil. You can also nourish the soil with cow manure.
Fertilizer: Fertilize the plant with phosphorus-rich fertilizer before the blooming takes place.
Pests and Diseases: Aphids and whiteflies are some common dangers to ash gourds. So use the right pesticide to get rid of them.
Harvesting: Kumdha is ready to harvest after 45-90 days of sowing the seeds. You can identify ready to harvest ash gourds with their waxy coating.
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