Bottle Gourd

Cultivate versatile Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)—also known as lauki, dudhi, or calabash—with Souq Garden's quality plants. A summer staple in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African kitchens, lauki produces continuously throughout the UAE warm season. Delivered across Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.

Why Bottle Gourd Thrives in the UAE

Lauki is exceptionally heat-tolerant, growing vigorously from March through October when other vegetables struggle. The plant adapts to UAE sandy soils when amended with compost, and consistent drip irrigation keeps fruits growing rapidly to harvestable size in 60-80 days.

Key Features and Specifications

• Botanical name: Lagenaria siceraria
• Type: Annual climbing vine
• Vine length: 5-10 metres
• Fruit length: 30-60cm, light green
• Maturity: 60-80 days from transplant
• Yield: 10-20 fruits per plant
• Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours
• Variants: Multiple sizes available

Care Guide

Trellising

Build a strong trellis or pergola 2.5m+ tall. Vertical growing keeps fruits straight, clean, and prevents rot from ground contact.

Soil

Loamy, compost-rich soil; pH 6.5-7.5. Mix UAE sandy soil with aged manure and bone meal before planting.

Watering

Drip irrigate deeply 4-5cm weekly. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.

Pollination

Bottle gourd flowers open in the evening and are pollinated by moths. Hand-pollinate at dusk for assured fruit set.

Feeding

Feed every 10 days with balanced fertiliser; add potash during fruiting stage.

Best Uses

• Lauki ki sabzi and curry
• Dudhi kofta and stuffed bottle gourd
• Bottle gourd juice (Ayurvedic favourite)
• Lauki halwa (traditional Indian sweet)
• Soups and stews

Common Problems and Solutions

• Bitter fruit: Old or stressed fruit—discard; never eat bitter gourd that tastes intensely bitter.
• Fruit fly damage: Hang pheromone traps; harvest before maturity.
• Powdery mildew: Spray neem and sulphur weekly.
• Poor fruit set: Hand-pollinate at dusk.
• Misshapen fruits: Inconsistent watering or pollination—maintain moisture and pollinate by hand.

Why Buy Bottle Gourd Plants from Souq Garden

Souq Garden delivers strong lauki seedlings across all seven Emirates—Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain—with same-day Dubai delivery. Plants are climate-acclimatised for UAE growing success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: When should I plant bottle gourd in UAE?
March through August for harvests through October.

Q2: How much space does a plant need?
1.5m between plants, with vertical trellising essential.

Q3: Why are my fruits bitter?
Cucurbitacins from stress or genetic mutation—discard bitter fruits.

Q4: Can I grow lauki in containers?
Yes—use 50L+ pots with sturdy trellis support.

Q5: How do I know it's ready to harvest?
Skin is tender, can be pierced with a fingernail, and the fruit is full-sized.

Q6: How long does the plant produce?
4-6 months of continuous harvest with regular feeding.