Description
Golden yellow flowers develop in the leaf axils in the early summer, from June to September. They produce spherical fruits after fertilization; the immature fruits are covered in soft, fluffy hairs that gradually fall off and form a waxy covering, giving the fruit a shelf life of up to a year. The fruit includes white or yellow seeds and thick, sweet, crisp, juicy flesh.
Uses
Asia, where it is frequently used into soups, curries, and stir-fries, as well as occasionally turned into a drink.
Nutrition
A piece of raw ash gourd weighing 3.5 ounces (100 g) provides (2 Trusted Source):
13 calories
Less than 1 gram of protein
3 g carbohydrates
3 g fiber
Less than 1 g of fat
14 percent vitamin C
8% riboflavin
6% zinc
Cultivation
It grows best on sandy and well-drained loam soils in warm, temperate areas because it cannot withstand frosts. It is planted in riverbeds or in ruts, and during the growth season, it requires continuous irrigation.
Table
