Spine Gourd Farming (Kakrol/Kantola); Information and Guide

Spine Gourd Farming (Kakrol/Kantola)

Introduction

Spine gourd or teasal gourds; commonly known as “Kantola or Kakrol” is a popular nutritious vegetable that is cultivated all over India from ancient time. Generally, people confuse bitter gourd with this vegetable. As Spine gourd has feature closely related to the bitter gourd but does not have the same taste. One can easily identify them as these gourd vegetables are round in shape and are also shorter in the length. This vegetable can grow well in a warmer season like in summer. They are cultivated over a wide range of soil but have good results in tropical and subtropical areas.

Scientifically, the Botanical name of spine gourd or Kantola is “Momordica dioica” and they belong to the family of “Cucurbitaceous”. This small, cute, spiny fruit is always used as a vegetable for cooking. It may look spiny, but it is so soft to the touch that it won’t hurt your fingers!

So, before moving ahead to the spine gourd (Kantola) farming, let us learn it health benefits.

Health Benefits of Spine Gourd

Here below are some health benefits of Kantola vegetable, have a look on it.

1. Lower the level of blood sugar in diabetic patients
2. Reduces the chances of cancer
3. Helps in anti-aging
4. Use of it is also helpful in Improving the eyesight
5. Reduces excess sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
6. High in fiber and anti-oxidants and thus very useful for easy digestion
7. Lactating mothers can eat this veggie to decrease the problem of vomiting in infants.
8. Great source of phytonutrients and low in calories
9. Spine gourd also eliminates kidney stones from a body.
10. Spine gourd is one of the best home remedies to cure piles
11. Using it in your diet is helpful in reducing the cough problem
12. Kantola contains nearly 72 mcg per 100 gm of folate which is helpful in reducing the chance of neural tube defect in the new born babies. So, if you are a pregnant mother than it is advice to you that please include this nutritious vegetable in your food.
13. Give relief in breathing problem

I know that most peoples do not like this nutritive vegetable, but please look at its plenty of benefits and add this nutritive vegetable in your diet, eat it regularly and get its benefits.

Spine Gourd Local Names in India

Many people are looking for Kankoda (Kantola) in English or Telugu or Kakarakaya in English. Spine gourd in the English name of this vegetable. But it has various other names in particular language of the specific region. Here below are some of its names in the different language through out the India.

1. Spine gourd or Teasel gourd (English)
2. Kantola (Hindi)
3. Meluku-pakal or Palu-pakal (Tamil)
4. Katwal or Kankoda (Gujarati)
5. Bhat korola or Kankrol (Bengali)
6. Kartoli (Marathi)
7. Avandhya or Bhat-kerela (Assamese)
8. Adavikakara (Telugu)
9. Bara -karela or kankera or kankoda (Rajasthani)
10. Ben-pavel or Erimapasel (Malayalam)
11. Karchi-balli (Kannada)
12. Phagil (Konkani) and some more…

Find which is yours!!!

Spine Gourd Cultivating States in India

In India, this vegetable is cultivated widely as they can grow on a wide variety of soil. In market small size, fresh and healthy Kantola has great demand. In India, West Bengal and Karnataka the two main commercially cultivating state. However, Indira Kankoda I (RMF 37) is one of the latest hybrid or improved variety of spine gourd. It can grow well in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and even many areas of Meghalaya are producing this vegetable as a business.

Types of Spine Gourd

In the market, there is two type of spine gourd available; small size and big size. Take care that they are not the different species. They are similar in appearance but have different size. Usually, the small size Kantola has more demand than the big size. So, if you want to start a profitable spine gourd farming, then it is recommended to go for Small size Kantola farming first.

So, let us learn how to start a profitable spine gourd (Kakrol or Kantola) farming in India?

How to start a profitable spine gourd (Kakrol or Kantola) farming in India?

Farming any crop commercially or as business needs some field related works and also some practical knowledge. Practical knowledge can be gained by farming it by own or by visiting nearest horticulture.

Factors affecting yield of Spine gourd (Kantola) farming?

Farming a Kantola does not need much effort, but to achieve a high yield or good production from it requires too much dedication, a good farm management skills, and the proper planting methods while farming it.

Here is a list of some factors that give direct effect on the yield of Kantola Farming:

1. Varieties of Kantola, Use for the cultivation
2. Climate Condition
3. Soil preparation
4. Planting method
5. Irrigation
6. Application of Manure and Fertilizers
7. Pest & Disease Control
8. Proper harvesting

So, above are the major fact that gives their direct effect on the yield of Kantola Farming. So, please take care of these mentioned factors to obtain a high yield from the same farming to earn a greater amount of profit.

So, I am sure that you are curious to know something more about these mentioned factors to obtain a high yield from the Kantola farming.

Here, I had tried my best to provide you the best Information about these factors in detail. Go through them and raise your yield in Kantola Farming.

High Yielding Variety Of Spine gourd

If you are going to start a spine gourd or Kantola farming, then please use the high yielding variety in your farm. A good or improved variety of any commercial crop leads to the best result in your farming. However, your local horticulture is the best for to learn more about the improved varieties in the Kantola farming.

However, select a high yielding improved variety so that you can achieve an optimum production and earn a lot.

Climate Condition for Spine Gourd Cultivation

If climate condition supports well your business farming, then you can achieve excepted yield even more. So, it is better to know what climate conditions are good for the good development of Kantola plant. As mentioned earlier, this crop grows well in warmer season or in summer.

As Kantola farming can be operated over a wide range but have good results in the tropical and subtropical region. An optimum temp. of 27 to 33 ‘C is considered as the best temp for better development of Kantola plant. Take care that good sunshine provided to this crop is more beneficial to the better growth and a good yield in this farming.

Soil Requirement for Spine Gourd Cultivation

Type of Soil

It had been observed that spine Kantola can grow well over a wide variety of soil. So, one can easily grow them in soil ranging from sandy, loamy to clay soil. Soils with good drainage power and good organic matter are supposed to be the soil for its farming.

pH

For Kantola farming, the pH of soil ranging from 5.5 – 7.0 is considered as the best for it cultivation.

However, you can manage pH of your soil by addition of some organic matter like to raise pH, you can use the lime stone or to reduce the pH, you can use the Gypsum

Propagation in Spine Gourd Cultivation

In any commercial crop, systematic and proper propagation lead to a good result in your production. For Spine gourds farming, propagation is mainly done by seeds and with the help of tubers.

However, it involves some step which is described below in brief.

Land Preparation

Prepare a land by leveling it with the help of local plow or tractor. And bring the soil in very fine tilth form. Usually, 2 or 3 ploughings of soil are sufficient to bring the soil in very fine tilth. It is advisable to add about 15 tonnes or some more tradition manure at the time of the last plough to the uppermost soil. It will help in raising the fertility power of your soil. Since a good land preparation for any commercial farming is lead to the good result.

Method of Propagation

In spine farming, the propagation is mainly done with the help of seeds and also by tubers.

Seed Rate

In commercial crop farming, seed rate while sowing the crop is also a key factor to decide the yield of that commercial crop. In commercial Kantola farming, avg seed rate of 1-2 kg per acre is sufficient enough to for good production. However, planting with tubers, 3500-5000 no. of tubers is enough. And it is recommended to purchase only quality seed which can yield a high amount of production and always buy it from well-known seed company or agent.

Sowing Season

In India, Spine gourd or Kantola farming can be done in summer and also in monsoon. Basically, as a summer crop, in tropical season, spine gourd are sown from Jan-Feb. And as monsoon crop, it is sown in the month of July to Aug.

Sowing and spacing

Sow seed 2 cm deep inside the prepared bed, 2-3 seeds per bed is a good idea for Kantola farming.

However, keep proper spacing to obtain a good result in any commercial crop. Row to Row distance about 2 m and Planting plant 70 to 85 cm apart from each other is supposed to be the best spacing for commercial spine gourd farming. Take care spacing and density of any crop are sometimes also responsible for the amount of yield.

Irrigation in Spine Gourd Cultivation

Timely and proper irrigation in Kantola farming helps you to raise your production. After sowing of seed, give water immediately. After that, give water on the basis requirement of Kantola plant.

But, give water as they need and is also vary from region to region and climate condition. In summer, frequent water is necessary and there is no need of water in monsoon. However, give water if required.

NOTE: Always avoid over watering, it will lead to a bad result in your farming and sometimes complete loss of crop.

Training in Spine Gourd Cultivation

Hey, friends! As this vegetable plant are vine type plant so requires a support for good vegetative growth. So, train those vine plant by giving support to them. Use bower system or stake system to give support those vine plant.

Application of Manures and Fertilizers in Spine Gourd Cultivation

In Kantola farming, application of manure and fertilizer in proper dose to the plant are the key factors to increase the yield. So, here is a guide for you on the application of manure and fertilizer to it.

Organic fertilizers

It is a good idea to apply about 15 to 22 tonnes of ordinary manure like cow dung manure. Apply it at land preparation time or at last plow.

Inorganic fertilizers

To achieve maximum yield, your soil should have sufficient nutrition and also have a good fertile power. However, in Kantola farming, application of N, P, K with a ratio of 120:80:80 kg per hectare before sowing seed or planting with the help of tubers on the field is considered as the best soil treatment.

But take care while application of it. Phosphorous and Potassium should be applied at the single time and apply nitrogen in two equal doses; half at a flowering time and the remaining at vining.

Weed Control in Spine Gourd Cultivation

If you are following a commercial crop as business and not taking care weed, then it will be harmful to you. Since weed in any commercial crop lead to low yield as it reduces the good growth of the crop. So, removal of weed in Spine gourd farming is should be done on the regular basis like at an interval of seven days. For controlling weed in Kantola farming, you can choose any; Hand Hoeing method or Manual weeding method. Currently, weed controlling chemical is easily available in the local market. You can use on the basis of your need for a particular crop.

Pests and Diseases in Spine gourd Cultivation

Pest in Spine gourd Cultivation

Nematodes & fruit flies are the common pest that is found in the Kantola farming.

Controlling measures of Pest

Mechanical ways like the fly catcher are used to control the fruit flies. However, Organic liquid pesticides have a good result to control them.

Nematodes can be controlled by using neem cake at land preparation time in the soil. Also, to prevent this, intercrop your Spine gourd cultivation.

Disease in Spine gourd Farming

Downy mildew, anthracnose, powdery mildew, mosaic and angular leaf spot are some common disease that is found in the Spine gourd cultivation.

Controlling measures of Disease

Here below are some points to consider for controlling the disease in the Kantola farming. Learn them and try it!

1. Always remove and destroy the infected plant to control the viral disease
2. Use of Fungicides is the best way to control these diseases
3. A proper seed treatment is also another factor as it controls all type of seed borne disease.

However horticulture is the best source of a good guideline, please contact them for more guidance on controlling measure.

Harvesting of Spine Gourd (Kantola)

For any commercial crop, harvesting at the proper time is also responsible for the amount of your yield. After about two to three month, Spine gourd will ready to be used as a vegetable purpose and has great demand in the market of fresh, healthy and small sized Kantola. After a year, they are ready to harvest at about a month later, pick them as possible and earn a lot.

In the market, there is a greater demand for the quality Kantola. So, must careful while harvesting Kantola vegetable. Usually, picking at the tender stage is a good thing to get good profit. If you want to harvest Kantola for seed and not for the vegetable purpose then give some time to become mature. When they become mature, their color change from green to yellow and pulp became red. There are variously improved varieties that have large no. of seed content.

Yield of Spine Gourd

Hey, guys! Since this crop is popular among the farmers due to its nutritional value and its shelf life. If Kankoda seeds are once sown in the field, tubers sprout at the onset of monsoon every year. A good green yield can be harvested every year and up to five-six years from the same tubers or plants.

However, one can easily achieve a production of 75 to 100 quintals per hectare Spine gourd by good farm management skill and timely harvesting.

Bottom line of Spine Gourd Cultivation

Hey, friends! This crop is popular among the farmers due to its nutritional value and its shelf life. If Kankoda seeds are once sown in the field, tubers sprout at the onset of monsoon every year. A good green yield can be harvested every year and up to five-six years from the same tubers or plants. Farming spine gourd is also a low maintenance crop.

Produce quality Kantola as small size, a green and fresh product have greater demand in the market, pick them as possible and earn a lot.

HAVE A GREAT SUCCESS IN SPINE GOURD (KANTOLA) FARMING!!!

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