About the crop
Snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina) is native to southeastern Asia and Australia but cultivated throughout the world for its curved and oddly shaped fruits that appear like snakes hanging on the supports or ground. This subtropical plant grows very fast in warm climates and produces lots of fruits for a long time. It is suitable for growing for home garden and fresh market.
Snake gourd is adapted to wide variety of soil and climatic conditions. It requires a minimum temperature of 18oC during early growth, but optimal temperatures are in the range of 24–27oC. Snake gourd tolerates a wide range of soil but prefers a well drained sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter. The optimum soil pH is 6.0–6.7, but plants tolerate alkaline soils up to pH 8.0.