Sponge gourd
Sponge gourd (dhundol) is a light, everyday curry vegetable — Insaf offers 5 varieties.
Sponge gourd is mostly water and very low in calories, which is why it's cooked into thin, light curries. It tastes best when picked young and tender.
Sponge gourd is commonly cooked into a light curry with shrimp or lentils.
Growing it in Bangladesh
- Sowing time
- Asmani and Ananta Plus can be sown year-round, while Daisy, ISL-09, and Menoka are sown from February to November.
- Weather & soil
- Sponge gourd is a sun-loving climber that needs something to grow up. Waterlogging around the roots during the rainy season can bring on fungal rot, so drainage matters.
- Care
- A trellis keeps fruit straight and clean
- Pick fruit while young and tender — older fruit turns fibrous inside
- Regular watering improves yield, but never let water pool at the base
- Keeping the bed weed-free helps the vine stay healthy