What is Parwal Vegetable | Growing Pointed Gourd in India

If you are wondering about What is Parwal Vegetable then check out our detailed guide on Growing Pointed Gourd in India!

If you too want to know about What is Parwal Vegetable, then this is the article for you! Let’s have a look at all the information on Growing Pointed Gourd in India!

Learn how to grow snake gourd in India here

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What is Parwal Vegetable?

Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, the parwal vegetable in English is popular as Pointed gourd. It can be recognized with white to yellow stripings on the outer skin. The veggie has white and mushy flesh and is used in various cuisines. Its crunchy seeds are also edible. In India, it is stir-fried, used in stews, soups, and meat dishes. With so many uses, Growing Pointed Gourd makes a lot of sense!

Botanical Name: Trichosanthes dioica

Other Names: Parval, Kambupudalai, Potol, Paror, Patolam, Kade padval

Check out our article on growing Methi in the water here

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Best Parwal Vegetable Varieties to Grow

The pointed gourd comes in the following popular varieties in India: Swarna Rekha, Rajendra Parwal 1, Swarna Alaukik, Swarna Suruchi, and Rajendra Parwal 2.

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Parwal Vegetable Cultivation

The pointed gourd is generally propagated through either vine cutting or root suckers. Seed propagation is not considered a feasible option here, as the chances of germination are poor in this case.

From Cuttings

• Snip off a 1-2 feet vine from at least a 1-2-year-old mature vine.
• Ensure that the cutting has at least 8-10 nodes.
• Take a small pot and plant the cutting in a mixture of 70% soil and 30% cow dung manure.
• Mist it regularly. Transplant the cutting into the garden pit during early spring (February to March).

From Root Suckers

For root propagation, dig tuberous roots from the soil during early spring. Plant them directly into the soil and water regularly.

Note: For better chances of fruiting, the planting ratio should be 1:9, which is to grow one male plant with 9 female plants in your garden.

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Parwal Vegetable Growing Requirements

Sunlight

Parwal vegetable loves full sunlight for better growth of its fruit. So, choose a sunny spot in your garden, where it can receive 5-6 hours of direct sunlight.

Water

Water it regularly during summers and dry weather, but reduce the rate during winters. During monsoon, make sure to allow excess water to drain away from the soil. It can tolerate drought to some extent. The best way to keep the soil moist is by watering atleast once a week deeply.

Note: During flowering and fruiting period, water it on every alternate day for better yield.

Temperature

Parwal vegetable loves tropical and temperate climate, where ample sunlight is available. Warm to a hot, humid weather, both are good. The most suitable temperature range for gourd growing is from 30-35° C.

Soil

A sandy-loamy, well-draining soil is best for the plant. It doesn’t grow in heavy or compact soil. Fertile soil with a pH of around 6-6.5 or near-neutral is best. For enriching the soil, you can amend it with leaf mold or other organic matter.

Note: Before planting, plow the soil surface atleast 2-3 times, and mix some cow dung manure.

Spacing

While cultivating parwal vegetable, make sure to keep a distance of atleast 1.5 to 2.0 meters between each plant.

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Parwal Vegetable Care

Fertilizer

Mix cow dung manure in the soil before planting. You can also use 10-10-10 balanced liquid fertilizer occasionally.

Mulching

Mulch the soil with dry leaves, bark, or compost to help it retain moisture and to prevent plants from getting weeds or pests.

Support

Since parwal vegetable is a vine, it requires some sort of support for growth. You can train it on a trellis, fencing, or on the wire boundary of the wall.

Pests and Diseases

The vine can be damaged due to the insects, rodents, or pests like Blister, Epilachna, and Red beetle. Spray neem oil solution around the vine.

It is also susceptible to fungal diseases like Downy and powdery mildew. To prevent this, avoid overwatering and water plants from the base.

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Harvesting Parwal Vegetable

Harvest parwal vegetable before it gets fully ripened, which is usually 3-5 months after planting it from cutings, otherwise, the flesh of the mature gourd will become over ripen, and seeds will become harder, and will not taste best.

Pick gourds when they are tender and immature and wait till the light fuzz across the fruit disappears.

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Health Benefit of Pointed Gourds

Parwal vegetable is highly nutritious and also rich in vitamins and minerals. Including it in your diet is a brilliant way to stay active and fit. Here are some of its popular health benefits.

• It is rich in fiber and promotes good digestive health by treating ailments in the digestive system.
• It improves the immunity of the body and prevents you from catching regular flu, cold and sore throat.
• According to Ayurveda, Parwal vegetable is a natural blood purifier and filters out all the toxins and impurities.
• Its seeds help in controlling blood sugar levels and protect you from the verge of becoming a diabetes patient.