The gourd family is very popular during the summer season. From bottle gourds and bitter gourds, to cucumbers and Armenian cucumbers, gourds are often regarded as a bumper crop at this time of the year.

The sponge gourd, locally known as turai or tori, can be found in households across Pakistan during these sweltering days. This vegetable is a local favourite, often devoured in curries and cooked as bhujia for meals.

The sponge gourd is an inhabitant of warmer, tropical regions and thrives in areas where there is high temperature and humidity. As a result, sponge gourd vines aren’t really found in colder areas, since their produce is limited in colder climates.

You may come across a variety of sponge gourds being sold in the market. They may vary in their length, and the colour of their peel can also range from light green to dark green. The seeds of the sponge gourd can also either be white or black, depending upon the variety. When purchasing seeds from a store, it is better to discuss the variety that one wants to grow with the shopkeeper.

Given its regular usage in Pakistani cuisine, the sponge gourd is the ideal vegetable to grow during the summers

The best time to sow sponge gourd seeds would be when the temperature is at least above 20 degrees and below 32 degrees Celsius. In places like Karachi, where there is no concept of harsh winters, the seeds of the sponge gourd can be sown throughout the year. In Karachi, the seeds should ideally be sown in late January, while in Punjab the best time for this would be around mid-February. Those living in colder areas should sow the seeds indoors and wait for the last frost to pass away. Once the temperature outdoors begins to rise, the plants can be gradually transplanted outside.

With the help of its soft tendrils, the vine of the sponge gourd spreads a lot by clinging on to anything that comes in its way. This aspect should be kept in mind before sowing the seeds, and a location should be chosen which ensures that the plant is adjacent to any installed trellis on which the vine may spread easily.

The soil for sowing the seeds should be filtered, devoid of any pebbles and fertile. A single seed should be placed on the soil surface, with a space of at least one inch on either side from the other seeds. The seeds are then covered with a thin layer of compost. Depending upon seed quality and other factors, the germination time is likely to be one to two weeks.

The best time for transplantation to a permanent position will be when three-four true leaves and a tendril start to grow on the plant. The permanent position should be selected on the basis that there is an availability of direct sunlight from morning to noon.

The vine grows ideally in a 10- to 12-inch sized container and even in smaller fruit baskets and wooden crates. The soil should never dry off at any stage of the plant growth. It should be well-drained and watered enough to keep the soil moist till the next watering schedule.

The plant should be supplied with any of the organic nitrogen-based fertilisers till the flowering phase, after which potassium-based fertilisers are also added to boost up plant growth and produce. The sponge gourd has yellow flowers. If natural pollinators like bees and butterflies do not visit the area where the vine is growing, then hand pollination should be applied to the flowers.

The fruit of the sponge gourd vine is ideally harvested before it turns pulpy and ripens. One to two vines of the sponge gourd are enough to feed a family of four multiple times throughout the season.

Gourds, especially the sponge gourd, are highly recommended to grow for any local enthusiast adopting gardening as a hobby. The satisfaction of harvesting a bumper crop and consuming ample organic produce with one’s family is simply unmatched.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 18th, 2023