The bottlegourd belongs to the cucumber family and originated in Africa, and is now available in most parts of the world. Also known as calabash, cucuzza, sorakaya, lauki, doodhi, and ghiya in various languages, this vegetable comes in different shapes, the most common being the bottle-shaped (hence the name) and round. 
The sizes vary from six inches in length to more than six feet.
Sun: Full Sun 
Spread: 12 feet
Height: 10-12 feet
Days to Maturity: 110-130 days
Sowing Method: Direct Sow 
The bottle gourd is a vigorous, annual, running or climbing vine with large leaves and a lush appearance. It grows fast and may begin to flower only 2 months after seeding. The vine is branched and climbs by means of tendrils along the stem. The foliage is covered with soft hairs and has a foul musky odor when crushed.
The leaves of the bottle gourd are up to 15 inches wide, circular in overall shape, with smooth margins, a few broad lobes, or with undulate margins.
Growing Information
The bottle gourd is an annual plant that grows on vines. It has large leaves and it looks very lush as it grows. The plant grows quite quickly and may show flowers only two months after its planted. The vines will grow on trellis and the leaves c?n be up to 15 inches wide. 
Planting
Choose a location that is sunny and has good drainage. If you have a location that is suitable and near a fence, the vines will climb the fence and save you from installing a trellis. Plan planting for spring when all threat of frost is gone and the soil has warmed and dried out a bit.
Remove all grass, weeds and stones from the garden bed. Place an inch of composted manure on top of the bed and work it into the soil. This can be done with a hoe or you may want to use a tiller.
Plant seeds 2 feet apart from each other in rows 5 feet apart. If you are not next to a fence install a trellis or arbor immediately after planting, so you do not disturb growing roots. You may also allow the vines to run on the ground; however the gourds will have a flat, dark side where they lay on the ground.
Water the soil completely immediately after planting. Keep the seeds moist for the first 2 weeks, then cut back watering to once a week if there is no rain. More water may be needed during very hot, dry or windy weather.
Apply a side dressing of 3 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden when the vines start to run. Water the fertilizer into the ground well.
Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and to keep weeds from growing. If you did not install a trellis or plant near a fence, keep the vines above the mulch so the gourds wont be sitting directly on the ground.
Harvest
Weeding can be done by hoeing as and when necessary. Fruit rot during rainy season can be checked by training the plants over the bamboo stick or dried branches.
Special Notes
Cooking Tips
Select small, tender, and firm bottlegourds (light green and fresh-looking); prick the skin, and if its thin, its tender. You can use tender bottlegourds with the peel and tender seeds. To use mature bottlegourd, remove the peel and seeds.
Taste the bottlegourds before cooking, as they can sometimes be bitter.
Wrap in plastic and refrigerate to keep the bottlegourds fresh.
Use them for curries, soups, salads, chutneys, jams or desserts. Their neutral taste lends itself to a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet.
Health Benefits
Including bottle gourd in your regular diet reduces fatigue and maintains freshness especially in the summer.
It is rich in, thiamin, vitamin C, zinc, iron and magnesium thus helping in improving overall health.
Cooked bottle gourd is anti-bilious and it helps one relax after eating.
Almost 96% of the bottle gourd is water which makes it very light and easy to digest. Bottle gourd is commonly used for treating indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. Bottle gourd juice with a pinch of salt is also used to treat dehydration caused by diarrhea.
Very effective in the treatment of acidity and ulcers.
The water content in bottle gourd along with the high fiber content helps with digestive disorders like constipation, flatulence and piles.
Bottle gourd is also believed to help the liver function in a balanced fashion.
The juice from bottle gourd leaves help cure jaundice.
If consumed with lime juice, gourd juice will effectively treat burning sensations in the urinary passage. It serves as an alkaline mixture.
The juice of bottle gourd is a valuable medicine for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhea, diabetes and excessive use of fatty or fried foods.
The gourd fruit juice is used in the treatment of insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases.
It has sodium of 1.8 mg per 100gm and 87mg of potassium making it a suitable vegetable for hypertensive patents.
A mixture of bottle gourd juice and sesame oil acts as an effective medicine for insomnia, it should be massaged on the scalp every night.

The bottlegourd belongs to the cucumber family and originated in Africa, and is now available in most parts of the world. Also known as calabash, cucuzza, sorakaya, lauki, doodhi, and ghiya in various languages, this vegetable comes in different shapes, the most common being the bottle-shaped (hence the name) and round. 
The sizes vary from six inches in length to more than six feet.
Sun: Full Sun 
Spread: 12 feet
Height: 10-12 feet
Days to Maturity: 110-130 days
Sowing Method: Direct Sow 
The bottle gourd is a vigorous, annual, running or climbing vine with large leaves and a lush appearance. It grows fast and may begin to flower only 2 months after seeding. The vine is branched and climbs by means of tendrils along the stem. The foliage is covered with soft hairs and has a foul musky odor when crushed.
The leaves of the bottle gourd are up to 15 inches wide, circular in overall shape, with smooth margins, a few broad lobes, or with undulate margins.
Growing Information
The bottle gourd is an annual plant that grows on vines. It has large leaves and it looks very lush as it grows. The plant grows quite quickly and may show flowers only two months after its planted. The vines will grow on trellis and the leaves c?n be up to 15 inches wide. 
Planting
Choose a location that is sunny and has good drainage. If you have a location that is suitable and near a fence, the vines will climb the fence and save you from installing a trellis. Plan planting for spring when all threat of frost is gone and the soil has warmed and dried out a bit.
Remove all grass, weeds and stones from the garden bed. Place an inch of composted manure on top of the bed and work it into the soil. This can be done with a hoe or you may want to use a tiller.
Plant seeds 2 feet apart from each other in rows 5 feet apart. If you are not next to a fence install a trellis or arbor immediately after planting, so you do not disturb growing roots. You may also allow the vines to run on the ground; however the gourds will have a flat, dark side where they lay on the ground.
Water the soil completely immediately after planting. Keep the seeds moist for the first 2 weeks, then cut back watering to once a week if there is no rain. More water may be needed during very hot, dry or windy weather.
Apply a side dressing of 3 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden when the vines start to run. Water the fertilizer into the ground well.
Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and to keep weeds from growing. If you did not install a trellis or plant near a fence, keep the vines above the mulch so the gourds wont be sitting directly on the ground.
Harvest
Weeding can be done by hoeing as and when necessary. Fruit rot during rainy season can be checked by training the plants over the bamboo stick or dried branches.
Special Notes
Cooking Tips
Select small, tender, and firm bottlegourds (light green and fresh-looking); prick the skin, and if its thin, its tender. You can use tender bottlegourds with the peel and tender seeds. To use mature bottlegourd, remove the peel and seeds.
Taste the bottlegourds before cooking, as they can sometimes be bitter.
Wrap in plastic and refrigerate to keep the bottlegourds fresh.
Use them for curries, soups, salads, chutneys, jams or desserts. Their neutral taste lends itself to a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet.
Health Benefits
Including bottle gourd in your regular diet reduces fatigue and maintains freshness especially in the summer.
It is rich in, thiamin, vitamin C, zinc, iron and magnesium thus helping in improving overall health.
Cooked bottle gourd is anti-bilious and it helps one relax after eating.
Almost 96% of the bottle gourd is water which makes it very light and easy to digest. Bottle gourd is commonly used for treating indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. Bottle gourd juice with a pinch of salt is also used to treat dehydration caused by diarrhea.
Very effective in the treatment of acidity and ulcers.
The water content in bottle gourd along with the high fiber content helps with digestive disorders like constipation, flatulence and piles.
Bottle gourd is also believed to help the liver function in a balanced fashion.
The juice from bottle gourd leaves help cure jaundice.
If consumed with lime juice, gourd juice will effectively treat burning sensations in the urinary passage. It serves as an alkaline mixture.
The juice of bottle gourd is a valuable medicine for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhea, diabetes and excessive use of fatty or fried foods.
The gourd fruit juice is used in the treatment of insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases.
It has sodium of 1.8 mg per 100gm and 87mg of potassium making it a suitable vegetable for hypertensive patents.
A mixture of bottle gourd juice and sesame oil acts as an effective medicine for insomnia, it should be massaged on the scalp every night.