Kitchen Gardening - Koval cultivation at home

Kitchen Gardening

A good kitchen garden is a necessity for any home today. We have to plant the needed vegetables. A kitchen garden can be made out in our home itself on the terrace or on the balcony. The vegetables which we buy from the market today may be toxic. These vegetables are grown for commercial purpose by using excessive pesticides. Eating these may lead to various diseases. Growing the vegetables and fruits in the kitchen garden provides health and financial benefits. Fruits and vegetables boost our immune system and provide all the vitamins and minerals.

We have to adopt the organic farming method in kitchen gardening. Organic farming is the practice of relying on organic pesticides, compost, green manure, inter-cropping, and eliminating chemical fertilizers and artificial chemical pesticides. It will lead to good echo-friendly practices by putting an end to chemical pollution and toxic residues.

If we spend some time creatively, we can own a good kitchen garden. It will give financial benefits to the family and better health. You can get acquainted with some of the easy-to-grow plants.

Koval cultivation (Ivy Gourd)

Planting and Caring of Koval plant

Koval is a vegetable that grows in any climate without great care and time spending. Cultivation of Koval is attractive since it is inexpensive. It will grow easily if it is cultivated in good sunlight areas.

The yield from one plant may be upto 8 years in all seasons. Koval’s stalk is the planting material. The stalk of good mature herb should be used for this purpose. The ideal time to plant is the months of May, June, September and October. ‘Sulabha’ is a highly productive breed of Koval. Its fruit is larger than the others.

The Koval stalk should be planted with four leaf-step length. Fill the pot with coconut fibre, cow dung and soil in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. Or you can dig the stalk directly into the soil. 5 ml of Pseudomonas mixed with 1 liter of water and dipping the stalk of the koval for 1 hour after planting is very easy to get root. Since this is a creeper plant adequate support to be given for climbing on. Mix 5 g of pseudomonas in 1 liter of water and spray twice a week for getting plenty of branches with foliage.

Usually one and a half months old plants start to bloom. Once flowering starts, spray twice a week 10 ml of fish amino diluted with 1 liter of water. The tender leaves of koval are edible.

Mosaic disease affects the leaf of a Koval. As a result, the leaves become thin, curved, and the stalk is damaged. Spray neem oil and garlic mixture on the plants to prevent the spread of the disease.

‘Munja’ is an insect pest that affects koval. It sits on the bottom of the koval leaves, and destroys the plant . Sprinkle cold porridge diluted with water or sprinkle neem oil – garlic mixture to prevent its attack.

kovel-adukkala thottam

Kovakka the fruit of Koval can be dried and stored for longer use. It is known as nature’s insulin. Planting of Koval on terrace is a good option for those who don’t have enough space otherwise.

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