The soil quality in our region is excellent for agriculture. Various types of crops can be cultivated in this soil. I have a vegetable garden near my house where I have grown several vegetables, including gourds. Recently, I started harvesting gourds from these plants. I would like to share my experience of growing these gourds and the current production with you.
In our village, gourds cultivation has been taking place for a long time. It is not only consumed it's fruit, but also the green tip is eaten as a vegetable. It has numerous nutritional benefits as well. I have some knowledge and understanding about gourds cultivation. Besides, I sought advice from experienced farmers while growing it. Although there is a good demand for gourds in our area, I primarily cultivated it for my family's consumption. However, there has been so much production that there is no option but to sell it in the market.
The weather in this area is suitable for gourds cultivation. My land is mostly elevated, and there is no waterlogging in the plant's roots. Excessive rainfall is not conducive to gourds cultivation, so I avoided planting during heavy rains. I collected good quality gourds seeds from the market. The seeds can be sown directly in the ground, or seedlings can also be planted. I chose to directly sow the seeds. I prepared the soil by mixing necessary organic fertilizers with it.
The roots of the gourds plant extend to about 1.5 to 2 meters. I dug the soil deep so that the roots could go far. I sowed 4 seeds each in 3 different places. After germination, an average of 3 seedlings survived in each places. After planting the seedlings, I irrigated the field with an adequate amount of water. The seedlings faced a minor issue of a particular insect eating the leaves, but I purchased insecticides from the market and sprayed them a few times. After that I didn't face any more problems.
When the vines started to grow, I built a bamboo loft over them. Since the gourds plant is very heavy, it is necessary to build a strong and sturdy loft. Proper care is essential to achieve higher yields in any crop. Weeds around the plants need to be removed to ensure that proper care. Irrigation should be done after 3-4 days. Which I did also. I didn't use any chemical fertilizers for my cultivation, but if you consider the plants weak, you may need to apply necessary fertilizers. It is part of regular maintenance. Gourds are ready for harvest within 18-20 days of flowering. If you observe the picture, you will see the amount of yield I obtained.
In particular, I can see 4 gourds on the tip of a gourds plant. I am really very happy. These are growing bigger, and I am collecting the harvest. Gourds is highly beneficial for health as a vegetable. It contains calcium and phosphorus, which help maintain strong teeth and bones. Due to its low-calorie content, it is beneficial for diabetes patients.
Gourds plant can be grown on the rooftop of a house or in an extensive agricultural land. I have seen many farmers in my village cultivate gourds at least once a year. They find it quite profitable. All of those experienced farmers have helped me with many suggestions in the cultivation of my vegetable garden. I am happy to grow this crop despite the busy surroundings with great enthusiasm. What about your garden? Don't forget to share about your garden here.
