Bottle gourd requires a minimum temperature of 18^oC during early growth, but optimal temperatures are in the range of 24–27^oC. The crop can tolerate low temperatures, but extreme cool temperatures will retard growth and frost will kill the plant. The plants are adapted to a wide variety of rainfall conditions. Bottle gourd tolerates a wide range of soil but prefers a well drained sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter. The optimum soil pH is 6.0–6.7, but plants tolerate alkaline soils up to pH 8.0.

Season

• Bottle gourd can be successfully grown during January-March and September-December.
• For the rainfed crop, sowing can also be started after the receipt of the first few showers during May-June.