Also known as lauki, bottle guard is a versatile vegetable with variety of uses in the Indian culinary scene. It makes a great addition to the kitchen garden as well as terrace.
Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria
Other Names: Long Melon, Lauki, White Flower Gourd, Doodhi, Ghiya, Dudhi, Zeeth and Sorakaya
Growing Season: January-March and September-December are ideal months for growing bottle gourds.
Ideal Temperature: 20-35°C
Uses: Used in making koftas, halwa and tasty sambhar
Difficulty Level: Easy
How to Grow – Quick View
- Sandy loam soil
- 6-7 hours of sunlight
- Water regularly to keep soil moist
- Fertilize every month with cow manure
How to Sow Seeds
- Sow the seeds 0.5 inch deep directly in the soil. Make sure the seeds are half a feet apart.
- If you are growing laukis on terrace or balcony then take a large pot, fill it with potting mix, and sow one or two seeds per pot.
Seed Care
- Water the seeds every day to keep the soil moist.
How to Care for Bottle Gourds
Sunlight: Choose a planting location that receives atleast 6-7 hours of sunlight. If you are growing in pots, terrace will be your ideal location.
Watering: Water the plants at regular intervals to keep the soil moist.
Soil: Sandy loamy soil is suitable for growing laukis. You can also add cow manure to improve fertility.
Fertilizer: Fertilize the bottle guard plants every month with an organic fertilizer.
Harvesting: You can harvest the laukis after two-three months of sowing the seeds. Fully-grown bottle gourds are soft and have a smooth surface, so you can identify and obtain them easily.
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