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

CO 2

A TNAU selection from a Coimbatore local type, notably shorter-duration and smaller-fruited than CO 1 — fruit weighing about 2–3 kg each — while giving a considerably higher yield.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity period~120–130 days
Expected yield~34 t/ha
Suitable soilLoam

Quick facts

Crop
Ash Gourd (Petha/Kumbh)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
~120–130 days
Seed rate
2.5 kg/ha for varieties (open-pollinated); dibbled 2 seeds per hill
Expected yield
~34 t/ha
Suitable soil
Loam
Release
Released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), 1982

About this variety

CO 2 is an ash gourd variety released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in 1982, selected from a Coimbatore local type. It is a deliberate contrast to the university's earlier CO 1 release: its fruit is small, oblong and considerably lighter at about 2–3 kg each, and it matures faster (120–130 days versus CO 1's 140–150), yet it delivers a notably higher yield of around 34 t/ha thanks to setting more, smaller fruit per vine. This makes CO 2 a useful choice where a grower wants a quicker turnaround and a fruit size more manageable for smaller households or quicker vegetable-market sale, rather than the large fruit CO 1 is known for.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    Maturity~120–130 days
    Yield potential~34 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

~120–130 days

Expected yield

~34 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

  • Shorter crop duration than CO 1, freeing land sooner.
  • Notably high yield (~34 t/ha) thanks to setting many smaller fruit per vine.
  • Smaller, more manageable fruit size suits smaller households and quicker vegetable-market turnover.

Things to consider

  • Smaller individual fruit are less suited to the large-format petha trade than CO 1 or Kashi Dhawal.

Suitable regions

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

  • Tamil Nadu