Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)
- Bottle gourds are permitted to obtain a maximum maturity on the vine before harvest. Harvest gourds when vines are dry.
- Fruits that are not fully mature or that have been injured do not store well.
- The fruits are ready for harvest 60-120 days after sowing depending on the variety.
- Cut the fruits from the vines carefully, using pruning shears or a sharp knife leaving 3-4 inches of stem attached.
- Snapping the stems from the vines results in fruits without stem attached, which reduce the storage life. When harvested with a short length of vine, they can be hung from wires below a hot ceiling, where they slowly dry out.
- Depending on variety and crop management, the crop yield can vary between 10-20 t/ha.
