#356 - BHIM

#350 - BHOOMI

Bottle gourd, also known as bottle squash, calabash gourd, Doodhi, or Lowki is a delicious vegetable that has many uses.  Its delicate nutty flavor adds greatly to hot curries as well as cooling yogurt dishes like Raita.  It can be used like squash but it has a firmer, crisper texture.  

Growth and Culture

• Flowers are white, solitary in the axils of the leaves.
• Plant directly outdoors after all danger of frost.
• Grows well supported on a trellis or fence.
• Fruiting occurs approximately in 60-70 days. It thrives well under a hot to moderately warm and humid climate. Bottle Gourd is adapted to a variety of soils (sandy to moderately heavy) as long as the drainage system is good.

#580 Waltham Butternut (Cucurbita moschata)

is an edible type of winter squash with a bulbous shape. It has a sweet, nutty buttery taste that is similar to pumpkin or sweet potato. It has a salmon-yellow skin and orange flesh. As it ripens, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. It grows on a vine, so support should be provided.  Butternut squash can be roasted, puréed or mashed into soups, casseroles, breads, and muffins.  It is notable for its ability to be stored for long periods when stored in a cool dry place.

Approximately 20 seeds/pkt.  $1.25

◄ # 528 RISHI: Ridgegourd (Luffa acutangula), or turiya is another easy gourd to grow and is a versatile vegetable that adds a new dimension to vegetarian cuisine.   Also known as Chinese okra.  Spongegourd is closely related and can be used as a vegetable in its early stage.  Either can be cooked with dal or even made into a chutney. Approx 20 sds/pkg. $2.49

# 996 CHICKNI: Spongegourd (Luffa cylindrica)- This is a smooth skin type luffa. The fruit is edible only when immature and is cooked like zucchini. The matured fruit forms sponge-like fibers inside. The dried matured fruits are often used as scrubbers, cleaning pads or bath sponges. Fruits are cylindrical-shaped, 8-12" long and 3" across, and with green skin and white flesh. Approx 20 seeds/pkg. $2.49                                         ►

Growth and Culture

• The seed should be sown outside after the ground is thoroughly warm in the spring and all danger of frost is past. For faster germination, scrape the seed coat with a nail file before soaking overnight or soak for 24 hours.
• Plant seeds 8-12" apart along a fence.
• The fruit will be preceded by lovely yellow flowers.
• Also known as Chinese okra

Bittergourd (Momordica charantia)

Bitter gourd or karela, also known as bitter melon in the Chinese markets, is a delicacy that is nutritious and is renowned to have medicinal qualities.  It can be fried, stuffed, pickled, baked or curried. Varieties of this vegetable include those with very light, almost whitish green skin to the dark bottle green colored skin. Some are almost a foot-and-a-half, while others are just about 2"-3" long. Cooking this vegetable seems to reduce some of the bitter taste. See recipe. 

#530-GORI This particular hybrid is white in color with good teething. Fruit length is approximately 25 cms. and it is very productive and attractive. Approx 20 sds/pkg. $2.49

#531-JAWAHAR   Emerald green, quite bitter, heavy yielder, 45-50 days from sowing. Approx 20 sds/pkg. $2.49

#535-SOLOK Smooth oriental variety, less bitter. Maturity: around 55-60 days. - Medium green skin.  Approx 20 seeds/pkg. $2.49

Bittergourd thriving indoors in Paris, France apartment.

Growth and Culture

• The attractive vines bear pretty yellow flowers and are very productive.
• Good source of vitamin C and vitamin A, phosphorus, and iron.
• Fast-growing, trailing or climbing vine with thin stems and tendrils, best grown on a fence or trellis.

#550 JAYA

Also known as apple gourd.  The very tender and tasty fruit are flat round in shape and weight 3 to 4 ounces at harvest. Prolific vines grow 40 to 50 inches long and have hair on the stems and leaves. Flowering begins at 30 to 35 days and first harvest follows 15 to 20 days later. Prepared in India in a number of ways: cooked with curry or served with eggplant, peas, potatoes or other vegetables.  Good source of Vitamin A.  Approx 20 seeds/pkg. $2.49

#570 YASH

Also known as Wax gourd, winter melon, fuzzy melon, and hairy melon.  The fruit is covered by a white, chalky wax which deters microorganisms and helps impart an extraordinary longevity to the melon. Winter melon fruits can be stored for as long as a year without refrigeration.

Ash gourd can be used in many variety of dishes from curries to soups to candies. Approx 20 seeds/pkg. $2.49  (see Olan recipe).

#997 KING COBRA An unusual gourd with long, white speckled fruits that actually resemble snakes. This bright green, thin-skinned gourd sometimes grows to a formidable length of six feet. It is a common sight to see them growing with rocks tied to their ends so they don't curl.   This gourd can be cooked in curries or even stuffed with spicy minced meat. It can be used in much the same way that any other delicately flavored vegetable is used: simmered in a coconut milk broth with spices.  Widely grown as a vegetable in India and the Orient. Roots and seeds are used to expel worms and to treat diarrhea and syphilis. Start indoors for outdoor planting, in a warm sheltered place.  Approx 15 seeds/pkg.$2.49

#560 - AMIR  This orange variety with green stripes from India produces fruit weighing 13-15 lbs., that is ready to harvest within 80-90 days from sowing.  Approx 15 seeds/pkg.$2.49

#501   GOURD  COLLECTION #1:  

 1 EA OF GORI BITTER GOURD, BHIM BOTTLE GOURD, AND RISHI RIDGEGOURD.

#502  GOURD COLLECTION #2: 

1 EA OF SOLOK BITTER GOURD, ALOK BOTTLE GOURD AND JAYA TINDA GOURD.

#503  GOURD COLLECTION #3:       

 1 EA OF YASH ASH GOURD, JAYA TINDA GOURD AND JAWAHAR BITTER GOURD.   

#504 GOURD COLLECTION #4:

1 EA OF YASH ASH GOURD, RISHI RIDGEGOURD AND KING COBRA SNAKE GOURD.

Young gardener with Bottlegourd Alok