The round bottle gourd — known locally as lauki — is a kitchen garden favourite across the Subcontinent, prized for its versatility in the pot and its ease of growth even in modest spaces.

After sprouting and spending their first days settling into direct sunlight, the seedlings of the round bottle gourd enter their most active phase: this is when the vine truly takes off, climbing, flowering and, eventually, setting fruit. But certain guidelines need to be followed to ensure the plant’s growth from a fragile sprout to a fully fledged, fruit-bearing vine.

The seeds germinate within one week to 10 days of sowing. Once they produce two to three true leaves, the plant is mature enough to be transplanted. If the seeds were sown in a seedling tray or a cup, shift the seedlings to a permanent grow-bag or a container of at least 14 inches, which offers better room for root growth. If three to four seeds were sown to germinate within the same pot, then the seedlings must be separated. The plant grows best in the ground, but it can also be shifted to a 14-inch container.

Once established, the round bottle gourd vine begins to grow rapidly. As it starts to grow and spread, the size of its leaves........

© Dawn (Magazines)