Bottle Gourd (扁蒲）

Official Name:Lagenaria siceraria

General description: Bottle gourd. Bottle gourd, (Lagenaria siceraria), also called white-flowered gourd or calabash gourd, running or climbing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to tropical Africa but cultivated in warm climates around the world for its ornamental and useful hard-shelled fruits.

How to grow:

Fill your pot with the given growing medium and level the surface. Wet the soil with water to provide the right environment for seeds to germinate.Plant seeds about 1-2 inches deep in group of 3 seeds then cover them with growing medium. Keep the soil moist by spraying water twice daily.The sprouts should emerge within 10-14 days. If you want quicker germination, soak the seeds overnight in water, prior to sowing. heck the soil once or twice daily for moisture loss. If it feels dry, its time to water. A healthy Bottle Gourd plant needs water in a uniform manner, so that the soil does not dry up. Proper watering in the growing season encourages plant flower and fruit. If not watered well, the plant will have a weak produce.Once the plants have reached at least 1/2 foot in height, its time to transplant them to a pot or open space.Before transplanting, keep one healthy plant and remove others. At the base of the soil, cut the weakest seedlings out. Be careful not to disturb the roots of the healthy plant. This process is called plant thinning and its a great way to ensure healthy growth. After thinning, shift the entire biodegradable pot out in an open space or in a container 18 to 24 inches deep. Bottle gourd grows well in sandy loam soil. By adding organic manure you can make the soil rich. This will give you high-quality vegetables.The plant can grow over 1 - 6 feet as a vine, so it needs a solid support to climb. You can provide support by installing vertical trellis.

Benefits: 

• Cools your body. 
• Helps in weight loss. 
• Treats urinary tract infections. 
• Cures tummy troubles. 
• Keep your heart healthy. 
• Relieves stress. 
• An excellent post workout drink