ECHO Asia Seed Fact Sheet
Scientific name – Benincasa hispida
English common name – Wax Gourd, Winter Melon, Fuzzy Melon
Asian common names – (from Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Benincasa.html) Burmese: Kyauk-hpayon Chinese: Dong gua (Cantonese Tung kwa), Bai dong gua, Yin dong gua Hindi: Pethaa (Petha) Japanese: Tougan. Malay: Kundor, Kundur (Indonesia) Nepalese: Kubiindo (Kubindo), Pethaa (Petha) Tagalog: Kandol Thai: Fak khiao. ฟักเขียว Vietnamese: Bí dao, Bí bee
Variety – Local Thai variety
General description and special characteristics – Wax gourd is an annual squash-like vine, with large, soft, hairy leaves. Fruits are large, oblong, 25-120 cm long, usually hairy when young, and with a waxy covering when ripe. Fruit may weigh up to 40 kg, though 10 kg is normal. They have solid white flesh and cucumber-like seeds.
Crop uses (culinary) – The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and can be picked either mature or immature. The immature fruits are said to have a stronger flavor. In China, wax gourds are used as a vegetable, in soups and in beverage-making. The rind is also used as a soup bowl. In India, it is used in curry and pieces of fruit are coated in sugar and sold as a sweet. Young leaves and shoots can be boiled and eaten. Seeds can be roasted. Fruits can be processed into canned soup or dried slices. Mature fruits can be stored for several months to a year in cool, dry conditions.
Crop uses (other) – Because of its resistance to soil-born diseases, wax gourd has been used as a rootstock for other cucurbits in grafting.
Seasons of production – In Thailand, wax gourd is usually planted near the beginning of the rainy season, when rice is planted. It can also be planted in the cool season if irrigation is available. Shorter days and colder temperatures encourage the plant to produce more female (fruit-bearing) flowers.
Length of production and harvest period – Wax gourd requires a growing season of 4-6 months. For local varieties, flowering begins around 3 months after sowing. Immature fruit can be picked as early as 8 days after flowering, while a mature fruit will take 1-3 months before harvesting.
Pollination – Flowers are insect pollinated.
Plant spacing – When grown for young fruit, vines may be spaced 50-70 cm apart. If grown for mature fruit, somewhat wider spacing is advised, at least 60-90 cm.
Production methods – Upland farmers typically plant wax gourd, as with other cucurbits, intercropped with upland rice and maize. It can, however, be planted more intensively. When grown for the immature fruit, it is typically trellised. When grown for the mature fruit, which can be very heavy, it is usually allowed to run along the ground, though strong trellises fitted with slings to hold up the fruit have been observed.
Known environmental conditions for production – Wax gourd is best suited to moderately dry areas in the tropics. Optimum temperature for growth ranges from 23–28ºC. Tropical lowlands and elevations up to 1000 m altitude provide ideal conditions, although upland rainy season production in Thailand may extend to higher altitudes. It is relatively drought tolerant once established.
Known soil requirements – Wax gourd prefers a well-drained light soil with pH 6.0–7.0, but can tolerate pH from 5.8-6.8.
Known pests – Wax gourd is relatively resistant to most insect damage. Insect infestation is rarely severe enough to warrant use of insecticide. It is moderately susceptible to anthracnose (Colletotrichum lagenarium) and gummy stem blight (Didymella bryoniae). It is also moderately susceptible to fruit rot (Fusarium solani) and cavity rot (Verticillium dahliae).
Seed saving – Seed storage behaviour is orthodox.
References –
Benincasa hispida Wax Gourd PFAF Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Benincasa+hispida
Cantwell, M., Nie, X., Zong, R. J., Yamaguchi, M., & Janick, J. (1996). Asian Vegetables: Selected Fruit and Leafy Types. In Progress in new crops (pp. 488–495). ASHS Press. Retrieved from http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-488.html#Fuzzy%20melon
Grubben, G. (n.d.). Benincasa hispida. PROTA4U. Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?h=M4&t=Benincasa,hispida&p=Benincasa+hispida#Synonyms
Herklots, G. A. C. (1972). Vegetables in South-East Asia. London: Allen and Unwin.
Ng, T. J. (1993). New Opportunities in the Cucurbitaceae. In J. Janick & J. E. Simon (Eds.), (Vol. New York, pp. 538–546). Presented at New Crops, Wiley. Retrieved from http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/V2-538.html#Old%20World%20Cucurbits
Purdue University. (n.d.). Melon, Chinese Preserving. Purdue University Center for New Crops & Plants Products. Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/MelonChinesePreserving.html
Sorting Benincasa names. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Benincasa.html