Cultivation of Snake Gourd
Introduction
in this article, I’m going to tell you about the Cultivation of Snake Gourd
Classification
- Botanical name: Trichosanthes cucumerina
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Botanical Features
- Annual plant – Growing Vine
- Flower – white colour, unisexual, there are male and female flowers long tacy fringes on the five petals
- Fruits – Narrow and longish fruits dark green with several light green lines or totally white.
Cultivation
Soil requirements
- Well drain organic-rich soil
- pH 5.5 – 7.5
Climatic requirements
- Warmer climatic conditions preferred
- Grows well in elevation up to soon
- Optimum temperature 25°C
- Heavy rainy periods not suitable for cultivation
Field establishment and Land Preparation
- Spacing (1.5×1.5)m
- plough to a depth of 20-30cm
- Dig pits of size 30×30×30cm at (1.5×1.5)m spacing
- Incorporate organic manure
- Mix with soil and heap to about 10cm above ground
- Add basal fertilizer mixture 2-3 days before sowing
- Sow the seeds (3-4 seeds/hole) in 2-3cm deep
- Water properly
- 5-8 days will take for germination
Potted plants
- Seeds sow in polythene pots sow 3 seeds per pot
- Water the media and cover the seeds
- Lightly with media
- Place in a shady area up to germination
- Two weeks after germination leave the best seedling and thin out other seedlings to make one seedling per pot
- When a seedling has 3-4 true leaves transplant in the field
- Use the potted plants is important to maintain vigorous cultivation
Other Cultural Practices
Irrigation
- Irrigate daily until germination complete
- Thereafter irrigate based on the environmental conditions and crop water need
- Mulching is important to conserve soil moisture during dry weather
Fertilizer application Kg/ha
| UREA | TSP | MOP | |
| BD | 75 | 195 | 65 |
| TD1 4WAP | 75 | 65 | |
| TD2 8WAP | 75 | 65 |
Weed Management
Consider during an early stage of the crop after covering trellis by the crop no need to do weeding
Removing of excess plants (Thinning out)
Keep 2 healthy plants per hole and thin out other plants 2 weeks after germinating
Special Management Practices
Preparation of pandols
Three weeks after planting plants should be trained into the 2m height trellis
Training
All lateral branches (secondary stems) and tendrils should be removed below the trellis. It is better to remove matured leaves and flower buds also.
Special Management Practices
Hang up a small weight at the end of the pod to avoid physical deformation and to keep up the proper shape
Pod covering
Cover pods by using transparent polythene to avoid damage from melon fly
Pest and Disease Control
Pests
Aulacopora
- Reduce the photosynthetic area
- Melon Fly / Cucurbit fly
- Larvae damage to the fruit
Control
- Use pheromone traps
- Destroy affected pods
- Use recommended insecticides
- Pod covering
Epilachna
Damage done by adult and larvae it can be seen in the lower epidemics of the leaf
Harvesting
Harvesting Indices
- Pods reach in to correct length and size
- Colour of the pods should be bright green or white
- Harvesting can be done 60-75 days after planting (Time of the Harvesting)
Harvesting Method
- Cut the stalk by a sharp knife
- Harvesting interval – 4 days
- Within 2-2 ½ month of the period can harvest 10-14 times
- Average yield – 20t/ha
check out my other article: Beet Root Cultivation (Complete Guide)