Ivy gourd can be grown from seeds but it takes time before the plant starts to produce fruits. One of the popular ways to propagate Ivy gourd or Tindora is through cuttings.
You’ll need ivy gourd cuttings, well-drained fertile soil, 6-7 hours of sunlight, adequate watering and regular fertilizer to grow ivy gourd at home.
Packed with exceptional health benefits, ivy gourd vine can easily grown in container with supporting trellis.
Ivy gourd is a member of the cucumber family, and this fruit slightly relates cucumber in flavor and appearance.
The sole variation is only in the size of the fruits, and they are nearly two inches high, much smaller than cucumbers.
The young leaves of the ivy gourd are also safe to eat and are regarded as an excellent substitute for spinach in Thailand.
Ivy gourd native to the Indian subcontinent plus is generally raised as a vegetable in tropical and subtropical climates of Southeast Asia, South Asia plus Africa too.
Classification
- Scientific name– Coccinia Grandis
- Common names in India– Ivy Gourd / Coccinia Grandis (English), Tindora / Tondli (Hindi), Dondakaya (Telugu), Kovaikkai (Tamil), Kovaykka (Malayalam, Tondekai (Kannada), Tendli (Marathi), Tendle (Konkani), Kundru (Oriya), and Telakucha (Bengali).
- Plant class– vegetation
- Required all-day sunlight and soil must be well-drained plus rich in organic.
How to Grow or Plant Ivy Gourd?
It is simple to cultivate with the right knowledge about the environment, and also it needs proper care.
Soil and place
Ivy gourd best grows in well-drained, well-manure and sandy soils too. Be sure to avoid heavy soil, acidic plus alkaline soil.
A soil pH of 6.0–6.5 gives an extraordinary production of Ivy gourd. This prioritizes the appearance of the full sunlight, and you must hold sufficient area for poles or trellis throughout the creeper.
Plant it near the support structure so that your cyphers can climb vertically. Ivy go grows in acidic, neutral or alkaline soil till it gets nutrients plus intense sunlight or you can keep it well in your open garden area and a wide container too.
Temperature and climate
Tindora is most preferred in humid weather situations. As of it, the ideal temperature is must be 68F to 89F, as it can give you the best production and quality.
You can do cultivation of this vegetable throughout the year. Although, the proper season for its fruiting is moderate rain and summer season. USDA hardiness zones can be grown well at nine or above.
Propagation
Ivy gourd (kundru,) can be simply propagated with the help of seeds or pruning too. If you want to make seeds from the fruit then, use ripe fruit which is red in colour in its entirety.
Separate the seeds from the gelatinous centre, and spread it well on the paper in the dry hot sun. It might need some days to dry up correctly.
Separate the dried pulp plus clean the seeds well, and put them in a shaded and dry place. It is simple to propagate by cutting.
Cut with a strong and 6-inches long from the climbing vine. Then keep it into a container and filled it with growing medium. Water it after planting, and your plant will grow within about a week.
How to Harvest Ivy Gourd?
- Under the right climatic situations, about 11-14 weeks after plantation, it starts producing determined fruits plus flowers. The production of fruits will be such high that you have to harvest them daily.
- You can either consider taking off the fruits or you can snipping off the fruits by making use of a sickle. Be assured you are not waiting too long for it. You must harvest the fruits when they are young, green and bulbous.
- The fruits of the ivy gourd plant usually harvest during they are young, while the fruits are crisp, firm and two inches in size. You can further taste them unprepared to know the best time for harvest. If you neglect them to over riping for a lengthy period, their condition will be fine, while the taste will be poor.
- Growing ivy gourd will not only give you fruit but, you will also be able to harvest leaves that are youth and supple. You can use them as a side dish with soup, bread, rice or naan and also it works well for an Indian curry or a gourmet Thai preparation.
How to Grow Ivy Gourd from Cutting & Seeds?
You can easily purchase the seeds online or simply take a mature, scarlet-coloured Dondakaya(Ivy gourd) to extract seeds from it for sowing.
You can begin with seeds anytime especially if you live in a tropical or subtropical atmosphere, besides in top summers.
If you are growing ivy gourd from seeds in a cold climate, do so in the spring and summer, when the weather in your area is hot. The perfect germination temperature is within 60–80 F.
Planting Seeds
- If you are living in a hot climate season, do transplant seeds when the temperature is maximum, besides in extreme summer. In colder areas, wait for the last frost to pass by before transplanting seeds.
- Select a place that gets complete sunlight. Add lots of manure or well rotten compost to the soil well and to the planting site too. Plant mature plants the way you do at your own. Each seed must be adequately separated. Fix a pole or frame near the plant at the moment of planting seeds.
Check this: Can I Put Old Potting Soil in My Compost?
Ivy Gourd Growing from Cuttings
Grow Ivy gourd from cutting is too simple and ensures you that your ivy gourd will give fruit, which is why it is often normal and successful too.
You only need to cut semi-hardwood from the fresh stem of the individual-fertile plant, that is approximately eight inches long. Make assure you to go for a strong cutting that is well-trimmed.
Ivy Gourd Shortcomings Growing from Seeds
The main disadvantage of growing ivy gourd from seeds is that it cannot grow quite well and begins as a dioecious plant.
In this matter, it will nevermore produce fruit except you grow a male and a female plant mutually. It takes time for seed gourd-grown ivy gourd to begin production. It may take another year for this vegetable vine to bear fruit.
Check this: Growing Bunching Onions in Containers
How to Grow Ivy Gourd at Home in Pots?
If you live in a cold climate and want to grow Ivy gourd, then growing ivy gourd in pots or containers is the best opinion.
If you want to grow it in your balcony in pots or containers, or you do not want to spread it in your yard, then plant it in pots.
- Begin growing Ivy gourd in a common-sized 5-gallon pot from 12-inches deep. Once it grows into something larger, it can grow with a rate of four inches a day and when this happens then, transfer it to a very large pot. Pick a sunlight area. The afternoon shade is good for this plant.
- Use a normal potting soil and add one-fourth manure or aged compost in it. Water it on daily basis and in the beginning stage, keep the soil evenly moist. It likes a somewhat moist growing medium. Sides dress the plant with manure or aged cow compost. If it is not performing properly, feed the plant with a stable liquid fertilizer.
- Furthermore, feed the plant infrequently with potassium-containing fertilizer. Give it proper care so that it can climb. This will use your vertical space. Maintain its height among 6-10 feet. All other growing suggestions are the same.
Also Read: Can You Mix Epsom Salt With Fertilizer?
Ivy Gourd Plant Care
Ivy gourd is a less carrying plant and does not require much maintenance. Nevertheless, pay attention to the points of care of these ivy gourd plants for a plentiful harvest of it in just a few points.
Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) is also known as scarlet gourd or tindora, it is a tropical vine that is primarily grown as veggies.
1. Sunlight
This veggie thrives in warmer tropical and sub-tropical climatic regions. It requires 6-7 hours of sunlight, so you must choose the location that gets ample amount of sun exposure.
2. Ideal Temperature for Growing Ivy Gourd
As mentioned earlier, this plant does well in warmer climatic conditions; you must provide ideal temperature of 70F-90F for healthy growth of the plant.
Ivy gourd can’t tolerate temperature below 50F. Also, you should protect the plant from temperature fluctuations, as it can impact the plant growth.
3. Soil Requirements
Growing medium for Ivy gourd should be well-draining with rich organic matter. Choose a loamy soil with 6.0 and 6.5 pH.
Before planting ivy gourd cutting, add old compost to the soil to make it more fertile and improves its drainage ability.
4. Planting Ivy Gourd
You can grow Ivy gourds from seeds or cuttings.
Extract seeds from ripe Ivy gourd and dry its seeds. Soak dry seeds in water overnight before planting.
Sow the seeds in potting soil about 1 inch deep. Space the seeds about 2-3 feet apart to provide enough room for spreading.
Within few weeks your seeds start to germinate and you can notice new seedlings appearing from the potting soil mix.
Once the seedlings reach certain height, you can transplant them to big container or your backyard.
5. Watering Ivy Gourd
Veggies are heavy feeders, they need consistent moisture.
But, you should avoid overwatering and underwatering this vegetable plant.
Depending on climatic conditions in your region, water Ivy gourds deeply twice in a week. Check the moisture levels in the potting soil by inserting your index finger.
Remember that, overwatering can often result in fungal growth and root rot. Avoid watering on leaves; best way is to water at the base of the plant.
6. Mulching
Mulching restrains weed growth and it locks moisture for longer time. It ensures the plant gets enough time to slowly uptake water along with nutrients in the soil.
You can use wood chips, dry leaves, straw or organic mulch around Ivy gourd.
It also helps to maintain ideal soil temperature.
7. Support and training
As you know these plants are climbers and need support to grow properly. You can build wooden trellis or use sturdy stakes near this vine to allow the climbers to grow.
Most people use wires to build supporting structure for this vines.
8. Fertilizing Ivy Gourd
As mentioned, vegetable plants need to be regularly fertilized to produce fruits.
Use a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to encourage healthy growth of the plant. Slow-releasing or liquid fertilizer ensures the plant gets consistent nutrients.
Apply organic fertilizer after every 2-3 weeks.
Also Read: Are eggshells good for tomatoes?
9. Pruning
The ivy gourd overgrows plus can become invasive if left neglected. Therefore, you must prune the stems of it that are growing out of bounds.
Be assured of the pruning shear is sharp and properly-oiled. Following pruning, dispose of the fallen stems.
When the production of the ivy gourd plant stops following the fruiting season then, you can stop pruning it, left behind only three feet thick of its stem.
The development will resume again. You can skip the pruning process of the plant if you living in a warm climate and let them grow.
10. Pests & Diseases
Ivy gourd is a hard and strong vegetable that is not influenced by any severe pests and diseases.
However, maintain a close watch for general garden pests like aphids, mites, thrips plus whiteflies too. Check this article to know how to get rid of aphids and flea beetles.
If the disease is severe, you can use pesticides to get rid of them or go for some medications too.
Check this too: White Lines on Tomato Leaves
11. Harvesting
You can harvest Ivy gourds once they reach about 2-3 inches long and appear in green color. Don’t let them overripe or turn red, as they become too fibrous.
Use sharp knife or shears to harvest the fruits from the vines.
Conclusion
You can grow ivy gourd from cuttings and seeds. These two are viable methods to cultivate this perennial vine plant in your backyard or container.
Growing ivy gourd from seeds offer you hands on experience to notice the complete life cycle, from germination to maturity.
However, propagating Ivy gourd from cuttings takes faster route to produce fruits. Take healthy Tindora cuttings and plant it in the potting soil or coco-peat to promote root growth. Once enough roots emerge within few weeks, you can transplant it into a container or backyard.
Ensure to provide adequate amount of water and sunlight. Avoid excess watering, as it eventually rots the plant root.