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Ash Gourd (Petha/Kumbh)All seasonsOpen-pollinatedUpdated 6 September 2026

CO 1

A Tamil Nadu Agricultural University selection from a local Tamil Nadu type. Large, oblong-oval, ashy-coated fruit averaging around 6–7 kg, with good cooking quality and a long crop duration.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity period~140–150 days to full maturity
Expected yield20–25 t/ha
Suitable soilLoam

Quick facts

Crop
Ash Gourd (Petha/Kumbh)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
~140–150 days to full maturity
Seed rate
2.5 kg/ha for varieties (open-pollinated); dibbled 2 seeds per hill
Expected yield
20–25 t/ha
Suitable soil
Loam
Release
Released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), 1971

About this variety

CO 1 is an ash gourd variety released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in 1971, selected from a local Tamil Nadu type. It produces large, oblong-oval fruit — typically 8–10 kg by some records, averaging around 6–7 kg by others depending on management — with the characteristic ashy, waxy coating that develops as the fruit reaches full maturity, giving it excellent cooking quality and long storage life. Its crop duration of roughly 140–150 days is long even by ash gourd's own standards, and full maturity is exactly when this variety's wax coating and rind hardness are best developed for storage or petha-making.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    Maturity~140–150 days to full maturity
    Yield potential20–25 t/ha
    Disease resistanceNo special resistance widely documented
    SoilLoam
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Seed rate2.5 kg/ha for varieties (open-pollinated); dibbled 2 seeds per hill
  • SpacingPits 2 × 1.5 m

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

~140–150 days to full maturity

Expected yield

20–25 t/ha

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

  • No special resistance widely documented

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Large fruit size (averaging 6–7 kg) suits both fresh-market and processing use.
  • A long-established, well-proven standard variety for Tamil Nadu conditions.

Things to consider

  • A long crop duration (140–150 days) ties up land longer than some other varieties such as CO 2.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Tamil Nadu