Ashgourd, Ash gourd

1. .Production Technology of Ashgourd

3. Introduction and importance:
Ash gourd is widely in India and several tropical countries. Ash gourd or wax gourd or white gourd or known
as petha kaddu.it is mainly grown in north India , especially in UP, where it is used to prepare PETHA. Agra
petha is famous all over India . Fruits contain 0.4% protein, 1.9% carbohydrate, 0.3% minerals and vitamins
A, B and C per 100g edible portion. Ash gourd is good for people suffering from nervousness.
There are two type of ash gourd purple and green type. They are also considered as round and oblong
shape. Ash gourd is a annual hispid( rough with bristle like hairs), climbing herbaceous monoecious varying
several meters of length.
The leaves are broader with 5-11 angular lobes. The staminate flowers have long peduncle. Corolla have
long five large yellow petals. Benincasa is a mono specific genus. It is cultivated throughout the tropical and
subtropical regions of Asia, including south China . Primarily grown for its young and mature fruits. Which is
also used to make sugar candies.
Ash gourd have extensive trailing habit. Fruits are 25-40cm long , and 15-25 cm in diameter fruit flesh is
white and contain numerous compressed and margined seeds. The surface is covered with bluish white,
waxy ash. Fruits have long shelf life.

4. ASHGOURD
• Synonyms: Ash gourd, wax gourd, hairy melon, winter melon,
wintermelon, Ash pumpkin, Chinese preserving melon.
• S.N: Benincasa hispida.
• Family: cucurbitaceae.
• Origin: java or japan.
• In india the crop is widely grown in Up and Delhi for prepration
of ‘Agra petha’ and in southern states for use as vegetables.
• Fruits at maturity have white waxy growth on it.
• Longest storage life among cucurbits.

5. Botany:
Genus benincasa is monotypic and the only species is B.hispida. Wild forms do not exist in this species.
Ashgourd is diploid with 2n=24. it is vigorous but slow growing trailing annual. Due to long tap root system,
ashgourd considered as an ideal crop for river bed cultivation. Stem all other parts are covered with bristle
like hairs. This monoecious produces large male flower with long pedicel and female flowers with densely
haired ovary and short peduncle on same plant. Corolla is yellow in colour and large in size. Ratio of
staminate to pistillate flower is 34:1. anthesis takes place at 4.30-7.30 AM and anther dehiscence is at 3.00-
5.00 AM . Stigma receptivity from 8 hours before to 18 hours after anthesis.
Climate:
Ash gourd is a warm season crop and is susceptible to frost. The crop comes up very well in humid and high
rain fall areas also. The ideal temperature for growth and production is 24-30 degree.
Season:
In areas, where winter is mild, crop is grown throughout the year. As a rainfed crop, it is slown by may in
kerala and by june - july in Tamil nadu. In North-india ,it is mainly grown during summer and rainy seasons.

7. Ash gourd cultivation

8. Varieties:
• Pusa urmi
• Pusa shreyali
• Pusa Shakti
• Pusa ujjwal
• Co-1
• Co-2
• Kashi dhawal – petha prepration
• Kashi surabhi – distant hybrid
• Mudlier – from tamil nadu
• Pusa shwetha

9. Cultivation:
Germination and fruit set are better, when 3-4 months old seeds are used for sowing than fresh seed. Initial growth of
ash gourd plant is slow when compared to pumpkin. Hence, fast growing and short duration crops like cucumber,
oriental pickling melon etc. can be grown as intercrop along with ash gourd. If fruits are harvested at tender stage at
frequent intervals, apply fertilizer in more splits as topdressing.
Seed rate: 5-7 kg/ha
3-4 seeds are sown per pit in raisedbed.
Nutrient management:
FYM: 20t/ha
NPK usually 45-60:50-60:60-80 Kg NPK/ha
AS recommended by VNMKV 100:50:50 Kg NPK/ha

10. Irrigation:
For summer crop frequent irrigation is done. Irrigation intervals varies from 6-7 days, at
crop maturity irrigation requirement increases.
Harvesting and yield :
Fruits are harvested at immature and fully mature stage depending on demand in each
locality. Immature fruits are harvested one week after anthesis and harvesting is done at
weekly intervals. Mature fruits for storage, long distant transport and for seed
extraction are harvested after full development of waxy coating on fruit surface. Yield
10-15 t/ha when fruits are harvested at mature stage. 25-30t/ha when harvested at
immature stage.

11. Storage:
The fruits have good storage quality and can be transported long
distance via truck. The fruits is mainly purchased by
confectioners, who use them to prepare ‘ Petha’. Ash gourd can
be stored for longer than any other cucurbits.