Is anyone growing Pointed Gourd, aka Parwal in the US?
http://www.food-india.com/ingredients/i001_i025/i004.htm
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-397.html
It is my understanding that this plant doesn't generally propagate from seed and is usually started by a vine cutting or tuber. We are trying to find a cutting/tuber of both the male and female plant.
This plant is very popular with the Indian community here in the SF Bay Area. When it shows up in the market it sells out quickly. We'd like to try to grow it locally.
Please let me know if you have the plant or know a source for the plant in the US.
Thanks.
source for Pointed Gourd (Trichosanthes diocia Roxb)?
Wow Mermaid: Never heard of this one. Have you checked the Indian grocery stores in your area?
Maybe the person running the market can tell you who brought the pointed gourd in and you could talk that person into selling you ( and perhaps others) a start of the plant. If it sells that quickly, you can't be the only one interested.
gm,
I know what you can do. Write to the authors of that paper and see if they have any sources for cuttings. Just a thought.
Oooh, great suggestions! Thanks.
The indian market did not want to disclose their source.
Let's see if the folks at Purdue can come up with something.
They just might be able to help. Best of luck! I imagine the people who grow the Pointed Gourds want to keep a corner on the market if they are getting $7 per pound and selling out.