Spiny or Karol ,Kantol Germination Care Use and its Health Benefits

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Description:

Spiny Gourd or Kantola is a vegetable, also popular as Teasle Gourd. It is mostly cultivated in the mountain regions of India. Spiny Gourd is comes from “Cucurbitaceous”.  It has tiny spines all over its body. These are dark green in color and change color when get ripe from light green to yellow. Size of Spiny Gourd is normally 2-3 cm diameter. One cannot deny the health benefits of this vegetable.

Seed Sowing and Germination

Kantola does not need much effort, in a 20 liter pot you can grow 3-4 plants. The distance between plants needs to be approximately 4-5 inch, so that roots of all plants can spread well in all directions. For sowing the seeds it is a good idea to soak the seeds over night with warm water . Soaking seeds helps in faster germination, but is is not a compulsory step. Mark your spots where you’ll be sowing your seeds in the pot. Now make 3/4 inch to 1 inch holes in the soil using one of your fingers. Place the seeds on their side in the holes and them cover them loosely with the potting soil. Water the pot gently. Be careful not to disturb the soil. Check the moisture in the soil everyday. Don’t let the soil dry out any time. In about 3-5 days you should see happy seedlings looking out from the pots.

An optimum temp. of 27 to 33 ‘C is considered as the best temp for better development of Kantola plant.

Sowing Season

In India, Spine gourd or Kantola farming can be done in summer and also in monsoon. 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 for better farming.

However, keep proper spacing to obtain a good result in any commercial crop. Row to Row distance about 2 m and Planting plant 60 to 70 cm apart from each other is supposed to be the best spacing for commercial spine gourd farming.

Irrigation for Spine Gourd Cultivation

Timely and proper irrigation in Kantola farming helps you to raise your production. After sowing of seed, give water immediately with  any diluted fungicide water.

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.

Organic fertilizers

Cow dung manure is  very  ideal. 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

Removal of weed in Spine gourd farming is should be done on the regular basis like at an interval of seven days.

Pest in Spine gourd Cultivation

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

Health  Benefits:-

1. Spiny Gourd is great source of phytonutrients and low in calories. Spiny Gourd contains only 17 cal per 100g. It also contains other nutrients like dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins & anti-oxidant.

2.  One of the causes of cancer is presence of excess toxic free radicals in our body. Fresh dark green pods of spiny gourd are source of vitamin-C, which is itself known as the excellent natural antioxidant. Vitamin-C hunts down excess toxic free radicals from our body to reduce the chances of cancer.

3.  As we know this vegetable is high in phytonutrients, polypeptide-P, plant insulin and charantin that boost the glycogen synthesis in the cells of liver, muscle and adipose tissue.

4. If a pregnant mother include fresh green pods of Kantola in her meals during the pregnancy period, then it reduces the chance of neural tube defects as Kantola has about 72 mcg/100g of folates.

5. Spiny gourd also has different benefiting flavonoids such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthins that are known as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species. All these compounds will help you to look younger by working as the anti-aging compound. It helps you to keep your skin healthy.

6. Coughing is the common problem that seen in the children and adults due to instant change in climate or due to virus and bacteria. If you are suffering due to coughing, then you can take 3 grams of powdered kantola thrice in a day with water to control the non-stop coughing.

7. It contains high amount of Vitamin A that is very necessary for better eyesight. You can also eat spiny gourd in their season to improve your eyesight.

8. Daily drinking of 10 g of spiny gourd power and 1 glass of milk or water can also decreases kidney stone of kidney and bladder.