Edible Calabash/Gourd/Lau/Bottle gourd/Doodhi

Edible Calabash Gourd is an extremely vigorous climbing vine in warm climates. There are many varieties producing fruits of different shapes and sizes. One of the interesting results in growing Calabashes is that Calabashes of different fruit shapes/varieties may pollinate each other and produce fruits in many unusual shapes. The plant is easy to grow and is almost free from disease and insect. Fruits are picked when immature and cooked like squashes. The matured and dried fruit forms a hard wooden shell that can be used to make a drinking gourd.Bottle gourd is actively evening flowering plants & it needs insects to carry out the pollinating process for setting fruits. If insects are not available in your area, the HAND pollination can be done, by picking up male flowers and transferring pollens to the center of the female flower (face-to-face).This process should be carried out when flowering is active. If the pollination is done correctly, the fat portion of the female flower turns into fruit in short period of time.