Seed rate
Approximately 3-4 kg of seeds are required for cultivating one hectare of land.
Planting
January-March and September-December are the ideal seasons for growing bottle gourd. For the rain fed crop, sowing can be started after the receipt of first few showers during May-June.
Prepare the soil to a fine tilth by ploughing and harrowing. Pits of 60 cm diameter and 30-45 cm depth are taken at a spacing of 3m x 3m for growing on pandals. Well rotten FYM and fertilizers are mixed with topsoil in the pit. Sow four or five seeds per pit at 1-2 cm depth. Avoid deeper sowing as it delays germination. Soaking the seeds overnight in water and giving a pre-sowing irrigation 3-4 days before sowing are found to be beneficial. Seed treatment with 0.2 % bavistin helps protect against the attack of soil born fungus. After sowing, irrigate daily with a rose can. The seeds germinate in about 4-5 days. Unhealthy plants are removed after two weeks and only three plants are retained per pit. In high range zones of Kerala, seedlings can be raised in greenhouses to ensure good germination and are later transplanted to the main-field at spacings similar to those used for the direct seeding method