Sponge gourd is also known as Egyptian cucumber and is native to South and Southeast Asia. A highly nutrient dense vegetable, it is also predominantly used in Indian cooking. The best weather to grow sponge gourd is inward and humid and is a fast going plant so you don’t have to wait for too long to reap the fruits of your labour, quite literally.
Lights, Water, Action
Got the seeds, now, let'em shoot!
Light
Full Sunlight
Watering
Water everyday
Where to grow
Balcony or terrace
Time Till Harvest
13-14 weeks
Seasonal Information
Summer
Growth stages
One step at a time, with a lil water and light.
Sow the seeds 0.5 cm deep in well composted soil
Space the seedlings at 200cm by 90cm
Germination will take place in 6-8 days
Harvest in 80-90 days from sowing
Sow, Grow, Reap
Good things take time and care
Sowing
Sponge gourd can be grown from spring through monsoon in both well-draining containers and raised beds Sponge Gourd seeds can be grown in containers or on raised beds.
If you opt for growing sponge gourd in a container, choose a circular pots or grow bag with 16” diameter and minimum depth of 8-10 inches.
Make sure your container has proper drainage holes at the bottom
Ideal sowing medium for sponge gourd seeds is 2 part garden soil & 1 part any Organic Manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part Coco Peat & 1 part Vermicompost.
Fill your container with the growth medium of your choice.
Sow 2 seeds at the centre of a pot.
On raised beds, sow two seeds per spot in a spacing of 4 x 4 ft.
Place your seeds on the surface of the medium and use the inside with the tip of a pencil and cover the surface with growing medium.
Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower with a watering can.
Before sowing the seeds, add good quality organic manure in the soil with 2:1 ratio. Organic manure can be well rotten cow dung manure, farmyard manure, Compost or Vermicompost.
Caring
Your spongegourd seeds will germinate within the first 6 - 8 days. You will notice tiny sprouts growing at this stage.
Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant.
After the second week, keep only single seedling at one spot, Cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.
Sponge Gourds require full sunlight to grow. Make sure that your raised beds and containers get sufficient sunlight.
Water your potted Sponge Gourd plant every day in summer.
For an even shower use a Watering can to water your plants or use a drip irrigation system.
Being an aggressive climber, sponge gourd needs a lot of space to grow. So develop a strong trellis support up to height of 5-6 ft, by using locally available material like pipes, bamboo, ropes, wires etc. for your Indian Round Gourd plant.
When your bottle gourd plant is more than 45 days old, provide one tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) Fertilizer per plant or mix handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant.
Keep an eye out for early signs of any insect/fungal/ any other infections and spray appropriate medicines.
Sponge Gourds have separate Male & female flowers on same plant. Fruits will be formed on female flower after pollination.
By the end of third month ( 80-90 days after sowing ), Sponge Gourd climber will start flowering.
Raw sponge gourd can be harvested 3 months after sowing the seeds. Harvesting season can continue for next 3 months.
Common Problems
Sponge gourd plant is not growing fruits. Insufficient pollination is a big factor that can hamper the growth of bottle gourds. If sufficient pollination does not take place, the female flower will grow initially, but will die and fall off eventually. To increase pollination you can opt for hand pollination using a brush. Why are my Sponge Gourd seedlings wilting? Overwatering is the main cause for wilting. Too much water can drown your seedlings and deprive their roots of air, which leads to wilting and your seedlings might eventually die. Why are my sponge gourd seeds not germinating? Growing conditions like moisture, improper soil temperature, over watering or under watering can all be a reason why your seeds are not germinating.
Spill the tea
All the plant gossip, through the grapevine. Pun intended
Plants with benefits
What you get
Green trivia
1.Sponge gourd fruit can grow as much as 3.5 cm in a day.
2.The sponge gourd has antibacterial and anti fungal properties.
3.Sponge gourd were grown in Japan commercially in 1890, and brought to America from there.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What sowing medium should I use to grow Indian Round Gourd/Tinda seeds?
Ideal sowing medium when growing Indian round gourd is 2 part garden soil & 1 part any Organic Manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part Coco Peat & 1 part Vermicompost.
How often should I water SpongeGourd?
Water your potted Sponge Gourd plant every day in summer.
How much sunlight does Sponge Gourd need?
Sponge Gourds require full sunlight to grow.
product
https://www.ugaoo.com/buy-seeds-online-india/vegetable-seeds-online/sponge-gourd-25-seeds.html?___store=english1101Sponge Gourd Seedshttps://media.ugaoo.com/catalog/product/cache/bf904fa088be7169b4178c352b6a4f7a/s/p/spongegourd_pkt_2.png73145.000000INRInStock/Seeds/Seeds/Vegetable Seeds/Seeds/Vegetable Seeds/Kitchen Garden SeedsSponge Gourd or loofah is an annual climber which is consumed as vegetable when in green condition. Sponge gourd is also known as Egyptian cucumber and is native to South and Southeast Asia. A highly nutrient dense vegetable, it is also predominantly used in Indian cooking. The best weather to grow sponge gourd is inward and humid and is a fast going plant so you don’t have to wait for too long to reap the fruits of your labour, quite literally.00add-to-cartNoAll Seasons, Monsoon, Summer, Winter60 Seeds<section class="growthStages section-container">
<div class="sectionHead">
<h2>Growth stages</h2>
<p>One step at a time, with a lil water and light.</p>
</div>
<div class="growthStagesWrap">
<div class="asideSection pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-u-md-1-3 pure-u-sm-1-3 pure-u-1-1"><img title="Sow the seeds in a big pot and water it daily" src="/media/wysiwyg/sowing_icon.png" alt="Sow the seeds in a big pot and water it daily" />
<p>Sow the seeds 0.5 cm deep in well composted soil</p>
</div>
<div class="asideSection pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-u-md-1-3 pure-u-sm-1-3 pure-u-1-1"><img title="Make sure the plant gets partial sunlight" src="/media/wysiwyg/spacing_icon.png" alt="Make sure the plant gets partial sunlight" />
<p>Space the seedlings at 200cm by 90cm</p>
</div>
<div class="asideSection pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-u-md-1-4 pure-u-sm-1-4 pure-u-1-1"><img title="Create a support system for the leaves and stems" src="/media/wysiwyg/germination_icon.png" alt="Create a support system for the leaves and stems" />
<p>Germination will take place in 6-8 days</p>
</div>
<div class="asideSection pure-u-lg-1-5 pure-u-md-1-4 pure-u-sm-1-4 pure-u-1-1"><img title="Create a support system for the leaves and stems" src="/media/wysiwyg/harvest_icon.png" alt="Create a support system for the leaves and stems" />
<p>Harvest in 80-90 days from sowing</p>
</div>
</div>
</section><section class="importantTips section-container">
<div class="sectionHead">
<h2>Spill the tea</h2>
<p>All the plant gossip, through the grapevine. Pun intended</p>
</div>
<div class="importantTipsIn">
<div class="asideSection healthier1"><img title="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." src="/media/wysiwyg/spongegourd_hwh1.jpg" alt="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." /></div>
<div class="asideSection healthiertext1">
<h2>Plants with benefits</h2>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="importantTipsIn">
<div class="asideSection healthier1 mobileImgShow"><img title="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." src="/media/wysiwyg/spongegourd_hwh2.jpg" alt="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." /></div>
<div class="asideSection healthiertext1 alignRight">
<h2>What you get</h2>
<p></p>
</div>
<div class="asideSection healthier1 mobileImgHide"><img title="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." src="/media/wysiwyg/spongegourd_hwh2.jpg" alt="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." /></div>
</div>
<div class="importantTipsIn">
<div class="asideSection healthier1"><img title="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." src="/media/wysiwyg/spongegourd_hwh3.jpg" alt="Plants growing in containers need more fertilizing than those in the ground. The more you water, the more quickly you flush the nutrients out of the soil." /></div>
<div class="asideSection healthiertext1">
<h2>Green trivia</h2>
<p><b>1.</b>Sponge gourd fruit can grow as much as 3.5 cm in a day.</p>
<p><b>2.</b>The sponge gourd has antibacterial and anti fungal properties.</p>
<p><b>3.</b>Sponge gourd were grown in Japan commercially in 1890, and brought to America from there. </p>
</div>
</div>
</section><section class="staticSection faqSection section-container">
<h1>Frequently Asked Questions</h1>
<div class="staticIn accordian accordianQtn">
<h2>What sowing medium should I use to grow Indian Round Gourd/Tinda seeds?<span></span></h2>
<div class="careerDesc">
<p>Ideal sowing medium when growing Indian round gourd is 2 part garden soil & 1 part any Organic Manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part Coco Peat & 1 part Vermicompost.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="staticIn accordian accordianQtn">
<h2>How often should I water SpongeGourd?<span></span></h2>
<div class="careerDesc">
<p> Water your potted Sponge Gourd plant every day in summer.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="staticIn accordian accordianQtn">
<h2>How much sunlight does Sponge Gourd need?<span></span></h2>
<div class="careerDesc">
<p> Sponge Gourds require full sunlight to grow.</p>
</div>
</div>
</section><section class="seedSowing section-container">
<div class="sectionHead">
<h2>Sow, Grow, Reap</h2>
<p>Good things take time and care</p>
</div>
<div class="seedSowingWrap seedSowingWrap2">
<div class="seedSowingWrapIn">
<div class="asideSection seedshowingimg">
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/sowing.jpg" alt="Take a seedling tray with medium sized cells & drainage holes at the" title="Take a seedling tray with medium sized cells & drainage holes at the">
</div><div class="asideSection seedshowdesc seedSowingDesc">
<h3>Sowing</h3>
<ul>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Sponge gourd can be grown from spring through monsoon in both well-draining containers and raised beds Sponge Gourd seeds can be grown in containers or on raised beds. </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">If you opt for growing sponge gourd in a container, choose a circular pots or grow bag with 16” diameter and minimum depth of 8-10 inches.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Make sure your container has proper drainage holes at the bottom </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Ideal sowing medium for sponge gourd seeds is 2 part garden soil & 1 part any Organic Manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part Coco Peat & 1 part Vermicompost.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Fill your container with the growth medium of your choice. </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Sow 2 seeds at the centre of a pot.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">On raised beds, sow two seeds per spot in a spacing of 4 x 4 ft.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Place your seeds on the surface of the medium and use the inside with the tip of a pencil and cover the surface with growing medium.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower with a watering can.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Before sowing the seeds, add good quality organic manure in the soil with 2:1 ratio. Organic manure can be well rotten cow dung manure, farmyard manure, Compost or Vermicompost.</li></p>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="seedSowingWrapIn">
<div class="asideSection seedshowingimg">
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/growing.jpg" alt="Fill the cells/cups with a moist coco-peat medium" title="Fill the cells/cups with a moist coco-peat medium">
</div><div class="asideSection seedshowdesc seedSowingDesc">
<h3>Caring</h3>
<ul>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Your spongegourd seeds will germinate within the first 6 - 8 days. You will notice tiny sprouts growing at this stage.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">After the second week, keep only single seedling at one spot, Cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Sponge Gourds require full sunlight to grow. Make sure that your raised beds and containers get sufficient sunlight. </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Water your potted Sponge Gourd plant every day in summer.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">For an even shower use a Watering can to water your plants or use a drip irrigation system.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Being an aggressive climber, sponge gourd needs a lot of space to grow. So develop a strong trellis support up to height of 5-6 ft, by using locally available material like pipes, bamboo, ropes, wires etc. for your Indian Round Gourd plant.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">When your bottle gourd plant is more than 45 days old, provide one tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) Fertilizer per plant or mix handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant. </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Keep an eye out for early signs of any insect/fungal/ any other infections and spray appropriate medicines. </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Sponge Gourds have separate Male & female flowers on same plant. Fruits will be formed on female flower after pollination. </li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">By the end of third month ( 80-90 days after sowing ), Sponge Gourd climber will start flowering.</li></p>
<p><li style="list-style: disc;">Raw sponge gourd can be harvested 3 months after sowing the seeds. Harvesting season can continue for next 3 months.</li></p>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="seedSowingWrapIn">
<div class="asideSection seedshowingimg">
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/common-problem.jpg" alt="Hold the seeds and sow 2-3 seeds per cell/cup. Since Lavender seeds are small in size, do not sow them deep" title="Hold the seeds and sow 2-3 seeds per cell/cup. Since Lavender seeds are small in size, do not sow them deep">
</div><div class="asideSection seedshowdesc seedSowingDesc">
<h3>Common Problems</h3>
<p><b>Sponge gourd plant is not growing fruits. </b><br>
<span>Insufficient pollination is a big factor that can hamper the growth of bottle gourds. If sufficient pollination does not take place, the female flower will grow initially, but will die and fall off eventually. To increase pollination you can opt for hand pollination using a brush. </span><br>
<b>Why are my Sponge Gourd seedlings wilting?</b><br>
<span> Overwatering is the main cause for wilting. Too much water can drown your seedlings and deprive their roots of air, which leads to wilting and your seedlings might eventually die.</span><br>
<b>Why are my sponge gourd seeds not germinating?</b><br>
<span>Growing conditions like moisture, improper soil temperature, over watering or under watering can all be a reason why your seeds are not germinating. </span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section><section class="didYouKnow section-container">
<div class="sectionHead">
<h2>Lights, Water, Action</h2>
<p>Got the seeds, now, let'em shoot!</p>
</div>
<div class="didYouKnowIn">
<div class="asideSection pure-u-lg-2-5 pure-u-md-2-5 pure-u-1-1">
<div class="didYouKnowInText">
<ul>
<li>
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/light_icon.png" title="Bright Indirect Sunlight" alt="Bright Indirect Sunlight">
<h4>Light </h4>
<p>Full Sunlight</p>
</li>
<li>
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/watering_icon.png"" title="Water Once A Week" alt="Water Once A Week">
<h4>Watering</h4>
<p>Water everyday</p>
</li>
<li>
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/wheretogrow_icon.png" title="Indoor" alt="Indoor">
<h4>Where to grow</h4>
<p>Balcony or terrace</p>
</li>
<li>
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/timetillharvest_icon.png" title="Average Warmth" alt="Average Warmth">
<h4>Time Till Harvest </h4>
<p>13-14 weeks</p>
</li>
<li>
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/seasonalinformation_icon.png" title="Low Maintenance" alt="Low Maintenance">
<h4>Seasonal Information</h4>
<p>Summer</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div><div class="asideSection pure-u-lg-3-5 pure-u-md-3-5 pure-u-1-1">
<div class="didYouKnowInImg">
<img src="/media/wysiwyg/spongegourd_dyk.jpg" title="Did You Know" alt="Did You Know">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>Pyramid SeedsGourdsAll Time, Jan to March, June to Aug, Oct to NovBalcony, Lawn-Backyard, TerraceUnder 10 g15 cm 10 cm1 cmApprox. 59 to 66 Seeds6 gm 2 to 2.5 Kg/Ha200cm X 90 cm6 to 8 days from sowingOrganic: Neemcake or Vermicompost - 10 g per plant. Chemicals: Suphala or Urea - 5 g per plant.June - July, Feb - Mar30 to 40 ton/Ha
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