BOTTLE GOURD, LABU KENDIT

This is a very old cultivated vegetable, at present grown all over the world in the tropics and subtropics. The origin is probably the Old World around Africa. It is an herbaceous plant, usually grown as a climber on built pergolas or stakes. They climb by twinning their stems and also with the aid of tendrils. The fruit is the attractive part of this plant. The outer layer is hand and tough so that it can be used as a vessel to hold water and liquor as it retains the smell and taste. When young, the fruit is green and soft. The flesh can be eaten as a vegetable. The beauty of this fruit also lies in its shape which enhances its decorative value. It can also be used as a sound box for musical instruments. Bottle ground grows easily in any garden soil. Propagation is by means of seeds