bottle gourd/ surakkai

🌱 Bottle Gourd Seed Sowing Guide

1. Season

Best time: Summer (Feb–April) and Rainy season (June–July) in India.

Requires warm climate and sunlight.

2. Soil Preparation

Well-drained, sandy loam or loamy soil is ideal.

Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.5.

Enrich with compost/FYM (Farmyard manure) before sowing.

3. Seed Treatment

Soak seeds in water overnight or in cow dung slurry for 6–8 hours to speed up germination.

Optional: Treat with Trichoderma or a fungicide to prevent seed rot.

4. Sowing Method

Direct sowing in pits or raised beds.

Depth: 2–3 cm.

Spacing:

Pit method: 2 seeds per pit, 2.5–3 m apart.

Row method: 1 seed every 1 m, rows spaced 2.5–3 m apart.

5. Germination Time

Seeds germinate in 7–10 days under warm conditions.

6. Watering

Keep soil moist, not waterlogged.

Light watering after sowing until germination.

7. Support

Provide trellis, bower, or fencing after seedlings establish, so vines can climb.

8. Thinning

After 2 weeks, retain the healthiest seedling per pit, remove the weaker one.