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Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) / Dondakaya

Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis), known as dondakaya in Telugu, tindora in Hindi and kovakkai in Tamil, is a perennial dioecious cucurbit native to the Indian subcontinent. Unlike most commercial cucurbits it is grown as a perennial on permanent pandals for two to three years per planting, making it an important long-cycle cash crop for smallholders.

Key characteristics

  • Family: Cucurbitaceae
  • Habit: perennial dioecious climber, vegetatively propagated
  • Optimum temperature: 25-35 degC, with 6-8 h of daily sunlight
  • Improved varieties: Sulabha, Indira Kundru-5, Indira Kundru-35
  • Planting cycle: 2-3 years per planting on a permanent pandal

Cultivation

Ivy gourd performs best on well-drained loamy soils. Because the plant is strictly dioecious, propagation is normally vegetative using stem cuttings to guarantee female plants - seed-grown plants segregate for sex and yield poorly. Growers establish a permanent overhead pandal that supports the vine for the full 2-3 year cycle. Fertilisation is typically by regular split application of NPK with drip irrigation and plastic mulch in commercial plantings. Harvesting is frequent (twice a week) and the crop produces continuously over its productive cycle.

Pest and disease profile

Ivy gourd is susceptible to the cucurbit virus complex transmitted by whiteflies and aphids; severe virus infection can force premature removal of the pandal. Pumpkin caterpillars, fruit fly and mealybugs are recurring insect pests. The 2-3 year continuous-cropping cycle accumulates pathogen and pest pressure over time, eventually triggering replant.

Adoption and use

Improved selections such as Sulabha and the Indira Kundru series from state horticulture programmes and KVKs are distributed alongside local landraces. The crop is sold in regional fresh-market channels at relatively stable prices because of its year-round availability from established pandals.

See also: Bottle Gourd, Ridge Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Snake Gourd, Pumpkin Crop, Watermelon Crop, Teasel Gourd Aakakara, English Cucumber Polyhouse.

References

  1. A Complete Guide to Grow Ivy Gourd. Krishi Jagran.
  2. Step-by-Step Guide to Ivy Gourd Cultivation. Agrifarming.