Two weeks ago, I discussed the seed-sowing methods and germination process of the apple gourd vine. The apple gourd fruit is locally, and more commonly, referred to as tinda.

This fruit has many health benefits and it is common for it to be recommended to patients, including those facing cardiac complications. It is frequently recommended to diabetic patients in their suggested food plan. Locally, nutritionists also recommend it for weight-management.

The apple gourd is not only rich in vitamins, minerals, water and fiber, but it is low in calories, and has minimal fat content and no cholesterol. This nutrient combination also makes it a must for those suffering from constipation. Indeed, it is extremely helpful in the maintenance of digestive health.

Finally, most of the gourds, including apple gourds, are considered beneficial for detoxification of the body, with special emphasis on the kidney. The vegetable is useful in the elimination of unwanted, toxic by-products through urination.

Having its roots in the Subcontinent, the apple gourd routinely features in Ayurvedic medicine. From the management of simple fever, jaundice and arthritis, to the treatment of alopecia, thyroid issues and lack of sleep and everything in between, consumption and application of different forms of apple gourd is considered beneficial in one way or another. Even its paste is used as a shampoo!

The apple gourd plant should ideally be planted in a permanent location that receives ample sunlight exposure from morning to noon

While we still don’t know the complete extent of the health benefits of the apple gourd, even then it remains one of the best meal options for almost everyone.

Growing the apple gourd at home is not a difficult task either. Once the seeds have germinated and the plant develops three to four true leaves, along with a tendril or two, it’s time to transplant it from the cup or seedling tray. The seedlings are segregated and transferred permanently into a single, 12-inch container. Ideally, it should be planted into the ground. The shape of true leaves is quite contrary to the first two leaves (cotyledons) that signal germination. Moreover, the apple gourd leaf has five lobes and toothed edges, which make it quite unique and different from leaves of other vegetable plants and vines.

One thing that should be ensured before the shifting of the seedlings is to prepare and install a vertical trellis at the intended location. The creeping vine of the apple gourd quickly adheres to anything that comes in its way, with the help of its coiling, clingy tendrils. A trellis will not only help to keep the vine gathered at one place, but it will also help it to occupy vertical space. Vertical growth will help the vine with aeration and will also provide you with ground space availability for other plants.

The permanent location should ideally be at a place where there is ample sunlight exposure from morning to noon. The ground or container space should be dug up at least a couple of days before the actual transplant and watered frequently.

The dug-up space can be lined with a basic potting mix, comprising nursery soil along with compost. Make sure that it is deprived of any pebbles and stones and that it has proper drainage. The seedling can then be gently transferred. It should go into the soil till the depth of the first two germination leaves that grew on its stem. These two leaves should ideally be removed at this time.

After transferring, the plant should be watered enough, so that it starts to drain from the drainage hole of the container. This will reduce the chances of the probable transplantation shock occurring in the newly transferred apple gourd seedling.

Initially, the young vine should be supplemented with any of the organic nitrogen fertilisers, as per availability. I usually opt for fully decomposed manure.

The boosting of the vine with nitrogen helps in augmented growth and increased speed of foliage, with more leaves, branches and tendrils growing out of the vine. Typically, the plant should be fertilised after four weeks, but in hot weather, consider extending this interval to six weeks to minimise the risk of “burning the plant,” which leads to leaf damage and root injury.

Initially, in a few cases, the vine and its tendrils might not readily cling on to the vertical trellis. In this case, one may drop a few small ropes from the trellis on to the tendrils, to help the vine with the intended creeping direction.

One may also need to frequently put the vine on its course, sometimes even by manually coiling the tendril around the rope or trellis. In a matter of a few weeks, the entire trellis will be completely covered with the characteristic green leaves of the apple gourd vine.

In my next article, I will focus on the flowering, fruiting and harvesting stages of the apple gourd vine, along with the pesticides that you may need when encountering unwanted pests and insects visiting your plant.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, July 7th, 2024