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GROWING GUIDE FOR BOTTLE GOURD LONG SEEDS PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS Soak the seeds in water overnight to speed up germination. Raise the seedlings in a 4 inch pot indoors (growing vegetables from seeds) or in a hot/frost free place (temperature at least 20 deg C). The seeds should be spaced about 24 inches apart so the plants have room to grow. You can thin out weaker seedlings as the plants grows. Make sure the bottle gourd plants are going to be stable as the fruit can be heavy on the vines. GROWING REQUIREMENTS WATERING Keep the soil constantly moist. PESTS Some of the symptoms include punctures in the early tender fruit tissues. The entire crop can be completely lost by infestation. The maggots can cause premature dropping of fruits. The types of pests attacking are – Nematode Leaf Spot, Powdery mildew, Downey mildew fruit fly, Shoot and fruit borer, Spider mites, Aphids, Beetles, and Caterpillars SOIL Prefers soil with pH levels of 5.5 - 6.8. Thrives the best in sandy, loamy soil. SPOT Ideally, the plant should receive 8 hours of sunlight per day to thrive TEMPERATURE This crop requires a moderate warm temperature. Can't withstand frost. Bottle gourd requires a minimum temperature of 18 C (65 F) during early growth, but optimal temperatures are in the range of 24–27 C (75-80 F) HOW TO HARVEST Bottle gourd crop should be harvested while it is still green. Delay in harvest causes it to weaken or become dry. Simply cut the stem using a sharp knife or trimming shears. Leave as much of the stem on the gourd as possible. The time from planting to gather is 60 to 120 days from transplants.