Ash gourd or Chinese watermelon is a variety of gourd that is roughly the same size as a watermelon. This fruit gets its name from its powdery ash-colored exterior. It tastes similar to a cucumber and is popularly eaten in many south Asian countries including India. Ash gourd has also been used as an ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries because of its various health benefits.
Ash gourd is low in calories, fat, and protein. It has a high-water content as it comprises 90% of water. It is a rich source of several vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B, manganese, copper, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants (flavonoids and carotenes). Let’s take a look at how to plant, grow, and care for ash gourd.
Climate
In India, ash gourd can be cultivated two times. Once between February-March and another between June-July. This crop is mainly grown in South Indian states as it thrives in extremely humid environments that receive a lot of rainfall. It grows in hot regions as it is susceptible to getting destroyed by frost.
Soil
The perfect soil to grow ash gourd in sandy loamy soil. The pH of the soil should range between 6 to 6.5. The field should be prepared by ploughing at least 3 to 4 times. There is also a need for hand weeding as a method of weed control. However, once the crop is grown, weeds can also be controlled by mulching. Organic fertilizer should be applied to the field before sowing and the last ploughing. Well-decomposed cow dung and neem cake help bring the soil to a fine tilth and increase its nutrient quantity.
Sowing
Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in water and treated with Carbendazim, Trichoderma viride, or Pseudomonas fluorescence in order to protect the seeds from soil-borne fungus. The seeds can be directly sown into the ground. 2 to 3 kg of seeds is sufficient for one acre of land.
The field should be divided into pits which are 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm at a spacing of 4.5 m × 2m. Well-decomposed fertilizer must be mixed with the topsoil in the pit. Irrigate the soil before sowing as well. 5 to 6 seeds should be sown per pit at 1 to 2 cm depth. Deeper sowing should be avoided as it delays germination. The seeds usually take 4 to 5 days to germinate.
Irrigation
During the initial growth stage of the crop, it is advised to water the plant every 3 to 4 days or depending upon the climate. The crop should be watered every alternative day or frequently when the plants start bearing fruits and flowers. During the rainy season, check the soil for its moisture content and take rainfall frequency into consideration before irrigating the crop.
Fertilizer
Before the last ploughing, neem cakes and cow dung must be applied to the field. It is advised to apply 10 kg of farmyard manure along with 100 grams of 6:12:12 nitrogen: phosphorous: potassium mixture per pit as basal and 10 grams of nitrogen per pit after 30 days of sowing.
Pest and Disease Management
The Ash gourd crop is prone to diseases and pest infestations. Common diseases include- downy mildew, mosaic, and powdery mildew. Common pests include- fruit flies, pumpkin beetle, Epilachna beetle, and aphids. In order to prevent pest infestation, inspect your crop on a regular basis for holes, prematurely dried and yellowing leaves, curled leaves, and punctured holes on the fruit.
Remove and destroy all of the damaged leaves, flowers, and fruits to control the infestation. Put neem oil in place of the clipping. You can spray insecticides to prevent infestation and even plant crops that attract predatory pests near the ash gourd crop. Many diseases can be prevented by treating the seeds and properly watering the plants.
Harvest
Depending upon the market requirements and variety of the crop, the crop is ready to be harvested in 90 to 150 days after sowing. Usually, both immature and mature fruits are harvested. While immature fruit is sold for consumption, the mature fruit is stored for seed production purposes.
