Ash Gourd Vegetable In Hindi

 Ash Gourd Vegetable In Hindi

Ash Gourd or Wax Gourd

Botanical Name : Benincasa hispida

Family : Cucurbitaceae

Chromosome No. : 2n = 24 

                                                                                         

Petha (Ash Gourd) holds a prominent place among the cucurbitaceous vegetables. Petha (Ash Gourd) is mainly grown to make 'Petha' (Ash Gourd) sweets. Its raw fruit is used to make vegetables. It is a vegetable which is easily digestible and has the same effect. 'Chyawanprash' is also made from it which increases the memory power of the brain. 'Bari' is also made by mixing spices in the pulp of its ripe fruits, which are used as vegetables. Agra's Petha (Ash Gourd) is famous all over India. In India, it is grown especially in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Origin and History - Its places of origin are considered to be Japan and Java. From there it reached other countries. It has been cultivated in China since ancient times.

Nutritive value - Petha (Ash Gourd) is shown in the nutritional value table -

                        (Nutrition Value of Ash Gourd per 100 gm)

Moisture                  : 96.5 g Protein                    : 0.4 g Fat                           : 0.1 g Minerals                 : 0.3 g Fiber                       : 0.8 g Carbohydrates      : 1.9 g Calcium                 : 30.0 g Phosphorus           : 20.0 mg Iron                       : 0.8 mg Thiamine              : 0.06 mg Riboflavin            : 0.01 mg Vitamin C            : 1.0 mg

 

                                                                             

Climate - Although hot, humid weather is favorable for its growth, but if there is dryness in the weather, it has a special ability to tolerate it. For its successful production, 22-35°C temperature is considered optimum. Frost-free weather is good for it. 28-30°C temperature is good for seed germination. Excessive rainfall during flowering time reduces the yield.

Soil & Its preparation - For successful production of Ash Gourd, sandy or loamy soil rich in organic matter and with proper drainage is considered the best. The PH value of the soil is considered to be 6.5-7-5.

First ploughing should be done with a soil turning plough. After that, 2-3 ploughings should be done with harrows. After every ploughing, use a leveler so that the soil becomes soft and flat.

Improved Varieties

Coimbatore-1 (Co-1) – This is a medium duration variety, which gets ready in 140-150 days. The weight of the fruit is 8-10 kg. This variety is suitable for growing in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 8 fruits grow on each vine. It gives 200-250 quintals of yield per hectare.

Coimbatore-2 (Co-2) – This variety gets ready in about 120 days. The shape of the fruit is long and round, the pulp is light green in colour. The average weight of the fruit is 3 kg. It gives 300-340 quintals of yield per hectare.

A.P.A.U. Shakti – This variety gets ready in 140-150 days. Its fruits are long and round, it gives 300-350 quintals of yield per hectare.

K.A.U. Local - This variety has been developed by Kerala Agricultural University through selective method. The fruit is medium oval. This variety is getting popular day by day in Kerala.

S-1 - This variety has been developed by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. This is a high yielding variety.

Manure and Fertilizer - To get abundant yield of Ash Gourd, it is very important to use balanced manure and fertilizers in the soil. Therefore, use manure and fertilizers only after soil testing. At the time of field preparation, 150-200 quintals of cow dung manure should be added per hectare. Apart from this, 70 kg nitrogen, 60 kg phosphorus and 50 kg potash should be given at the rate of per hectare. Half the quantity of nitrogen, full quantity of phosphorus and potash should be given while making drains or basins in the field. The remaining half quantity of nitrogen should be divided into two equal parts and given as top dressing 20 and 45 days after sowing.

Ash Gourd Hindi

Sowing

Time of Sowing – The sowing time of Ash Gourd depends on where it is being grown. As a main crop, it is grown in the second fortnight of June in the plains. In the plains of the north, where there is proper irrigation system, it is sown in the third week of February. In South India, it is sown from June to August. Whereas in the mountainous regions of North India, it is sown in April-May.

Seed Rate – For direct sowing in the field, 3.5-40 kg of seeds per hectare is sufficient. If 2-3 seeds are sown at one place, then 5-6 kg of seeds are sufficient.

Method of Sowing – Pits of size 45 x 45 x 45 cm are dug at a distance of 2.0-5.0 m x 1.0-1.5 m. 5-6 seeds are sown in each pit. After germination, 2-3 plants are kept and others are removed. Rainy season and more spreading varieties should be planted at a distance of 3.5 m x 8 cm.

Irrigation - At the time of sowing summer crop, there should be sufficient moisture in the soil so that the plants can germinate and grow well. Summer crop should be irrigated at an interval of 6-7 days. Otherwise, it has an adverse effect on both the vegetative growth and yield of the plants. Rainy season crop does not require special irrigation. If there is no rain for a long time, then keep irrigating as per requirement. Winter crop should be irrigated at an interval of 10-15 days.

Use of Plant Regulators - To produce more female flowers in the crop, 250 ppm of Ethephon should be sprayed 4 times. The first spraying should be done when the first two true leaves appear. It should be sprayed three times a week.

Plant Protection

Weed control - Weeds are a big problem in the rainy season crop of Ash Gourd. Weeds are a big problem from germination to 25 days. This has an adverse effect on both the growth and development of the crop. Therefore, weeds should be removed as per requirement.

For weed control, Butachlor 2.0 kg per hectare should be sprayed immediately after sowing the seeds.

Insect control 

The major insects that attack the Ash Gourd crop and their control measures are mentioned below- 

Red Pumpkin Beetle - It is a shiny red insect, 7 mm long and 2.5 mm wide, its body is covered with red colored hard wings. There are thin black hairs on the lower surface of the body. Its small insects eat the soft leaves of the plants and destroy them completely. Due to which the development and growth of the plants stops. Its adults cause a lot of damage to the crop. Its caterpillar also causes damage to some extent. Due to the attack of this insect, the leaves become sieve-like.

The following measures should be taken to prevent this insect-

- These insects remain lethargic before sunrise, so at that time they should be caught by hand and killed.

- Quinalphos/ Chlorpyrifos (0.05 percent) should be sprayed on the plants.

Fruit fly - It lays eggs under the skin of the fruit. From which the caterpillars come out and enter the pulp due to which the fruits rot and fall on the ground. The number of this insect decreases a lot in the dry season. But its number increases in the rainy season. At the place where the fly lays eggs, small marks are visible which are covered with a glue-like substance. Before laying eggs, the female makes holes in the fruit several times due to which the juice comes out on the fruit. The fruits infested with the pest either get deformed or look normal from the outside. The adult fly does not cause any direct damage.

The following measures should be taken to prevent this pest-

- The fruits infested with the pest should be plucked and destroyed.

- Malathion (0.03 percent) solution should be sprayed in the initial stage of the fruits so that its caterpillars die.

- Poison baits should be used for the adult fly. For its preparation, Fenthion (0.05%) + 5% sugar syrup is mixed and sprayed.

Epilachana beetle - Both the larvae and adults of this beetle eat the leaves of plants. All its stages from egg to adult are spent on plants only, hence their control is easy.

- This insect can be controlled by spraying 0.05% solution of Chloropyrifos on plants.

Champa (Aphis grassypi and Aphis malve) - This insect sucks the juice of the soft parts of the plant. Due to which the vigour of the plant is adversely affected. This insect also helps in spreading viral diseases.

To control this insect, 0.05% Monocrotophos should be sprayed. 

 Ash Gourd Vegetable In Hindi

Disease control 

Downy Mildew - This disease is caused by a fungus named Pseudo peronospora cubensis. Due to this disease, yellow spots appear on the upper part of the leaves while the color of the spots on the lower part is purple. The following measures should be taken to prevent this disease -

- During the initial growth period of the crop, Mancozeb (0.25 percent) should be sprayed at an interval of 10 days.

- Keep the crop free from weeds.

- Adopt proper crop rotation.

Powdery Mildew - This disease is caused by a fungus named Erysiphe cichoracearum. Due to this disease, white spots appear on the lower surface of old leaves. Gradually the number and size of these spots increase and later powdery growth appears on both sides of the leaves. Normal growth of the leaves stops and they turn yellow and the plant dies.

The following measures should be taken to control this disease -

- The diseased plants should be uprooted and burnt.

- 3 kg of soluble sulphur like Ilosal or Sulphax should be dissolved in 1000 litres of water and sprayed.

Yield - The yield of Ash Gourd depends on the fertility of the land, the variety grown and the care of the crop. With good care, about 350-400 quintals of yield is obtained per hectare.