Sponge Gourd Farming
🌱 How to Do Tori Farming? More Profit with Low Cost
Tori farming is a profitable, low-cost, and fast-growing vegetable crop for Indian farmers. It is also known as sponge gourd or luffa in many places. In rural areas, its cultivation is becoming very popular because its demand always remains good in the market, and by using the right techniques, farmers can earn good profit per acre.
This blog post has been specially prepared keeping rural farmers in mind, so that they can do tori farming using simple language, correct information, and practical methods.
🌿 फसल परिचय | Crop Introduction
Tori is grown as a climber vegetable crop. Its vines can grow up to 30 feet or even more. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, smooth green on the outside, and white with fibrous pulp inside.
In the tender stage, tori is used as a vegetable, while when it fully matures, a natural sponge is obtained from inside, which is used for
• cleaning utensils
• bathing
• table mats
• shoe soles
In India, tori cultivation is mainly done in
Punjab
Uttar Pradesh
Bihar
Haryana
Rajasthan
Delhi
Gujarat
Jharkhand
and similar states.
🥗 1. तोरी के स्वास्थ्य लाभ | Health Benefits of Tori
Tori is not only beneficial for farmers but also very healthy for consumers.
🔹 Major Health Benefits
• Rich in Vitamin A and C
• Improves digestion
• Helps in detoxifying the body
• Useful in diabetes control
• Beneficial in jaundice
• Helpful in skin diseases
• Helps in purifying blood
• Low in calories, so helpful in weight loss
Because of these benefits, its demand in the market remains continuous.
🔬 2. वैज्ञानिक वर्गीकरण | Scientific Classification
🔬 Scientific Information
• Common Name: Tori, Sponge Gourd
• English Name: Sponge Gourd
• Botanical Name: Luffa cylindrica
• Family: Cucurbitaceae
• Crop Type: Vegetable crop
• Life Cycle: Annual
🌤️ 3. जलवायु और तापमान | Climate & Temperature
Warm and humid climate is considered most suitable for tori farming.
🌡️ Ideal Temperature
• Minimum Temperature: 18°C
• Optimum Temperature: 25 to 28°C
• Maximum Tolerable: 35°C
Cold and frost are harmful to the crop.
🌾 4. मिट्टी की आवश्यकता | Soil Requirement
Tori can be grown in many types of soil, but for higher production, selecting the right soil is very important
🌱 Suitable Soil
• Sandy loam soil is best
• Good drainage is required
• Avoid heavy soil
📊 Soil pH Value
• 6.5 to 7.0
• Normal to slightly alkaline soil
Getting soil tested before cultivation is always better.
🌱 5. बीज और किस्में | Seed & Varieties
For good yield, selecting improved and certified varieties is very important.
🌟 Major Varieties and Yield
✔️ PSG 9
• First Harvest: 60 days
• Average Yield: 65 quintals per acre
✔️ Punjab Nikhar
• First Harvest: 43 days
• Average Yield: 82 quintals per acre
✔️ Pusa Chikni
• Average Yield: 35 to 40 quintals per acre
✔️ Punjab Kali Tori 9
• First Harvest: 60 days
• Average Yield: 65 quintals per acre
🌟 Varieties Developed by ICAR IIHR
✔️ Arka Vikram
• First Harvest: 46 days
• Yield: 136 quintals per acre
✔️ Arka Sumeet
• Yield: 200 quintals per acre
• Long and aromatic fruits
🌾 6. बीज दर | Seed Rate
📌 Seed Quantity per Acre
• 2.0 kg seed per acre
🌱 Seed Treatment
• Lightly scratch the seed coat
• Soak seeds in water for 24 hours
• This improves germination
🚜 7. भूमि तैयारी | Land Preparation
Proper field preparation is essential for a good crop.
🛠️ Steps of Land Preparation
• 2 to 3 ploughings
• Make the field loose and fine
• Remove all weeds completely
🐄 Organic Manure
• Well-rotted farmyard manure: 84 quintals per acre
🌱 8. बुवाई विधि | Sowing Method
Using the correct sowing method in tori farming is very important for good germination and strong plants. The main sowing points are given briefly below.
⏰ Suitable Time for Sowing
• First Sowing: February to March
• Second Sowing: May to July
📏 Plant Spacing
• Row to row distance: 3 meters
• Plant to plant distance: 75 to 90 cm
• Sow 2 seeds at each place
🌱 Sowing Depth
• Sow seeds at a depth of 2.5 to 3 cm
✋ Method of Sowing
• Dibbling method is best
• Do light irrigation after sowing
👉 Sowing at the right time and proper spacing helps in better plant growth and increases yield.
🌾 9. खाद और उर्वरक प्रबंधन | Fertilizer & Manure
🔬 Nutrient Requirement per Acre
• Nitrogen: 40 kg
• Phosphorus: 20 kg
• Potash: 20 kg
🧪 Fertilizer Quantity
• Urea: 90 kg
• SSP: 125 kg
• MOP: 35 kg
Apply fertilizers in three stages.
💧 10. सिंचाई प्रबंधन | Irrigation Schedule
• First irrigation immediately after sowing
• Interval of 7 to 10 days in summer
• Less irrigation during rainy season
• Total irrigations: 7 to 8 times
🌿 11. खरपतवार नियंत्रण | Weed Control
For good yield of tori, keeping the field weed-free in the early stage is very important, as weeds take nutrients, water, and space from the plants.
🔹 Effective Weed Control Measures
• Do timely weeding and hoeing
• Mulching reduces weed growth
• Use herbicide after sowing but before germination
🧪 Recommended Herbicide Dose per Acre
• Pendimethalin: 1 liter
• Fluchloralin: 800 ml
👉 Spray herbicides on slightly moist soil and do not plough the field after spraying.
🐛 12. कीट और रोग प्रबंधन | Pest & Disease Management
For higher yield and healthy crop in tori farming, timely control of pests and diseases is very important. Below are the main diseases, pests, and their brief control measures.
🦠 Major Diseases and Control Measures
✔️ Powdery Mildew
Symptoms
• White powder-like spots on upper leaf surface
• Leaves turn yellow and dry
Control
• Spray M-45 @ 2 g per liter of water
• Use chlorothalonil or benomyl as needed
• Spray medicine at the early stage of disease
🐞 Major Pests and Control Measures
✔️ Red Pumpkin Beetle
Symptoms
• Damage to leaves, flowers, and stems
• Plant growth stops
Control
• Timely spraying of suitable insecticide
• Regular field monitoring
✔️ Aphids and Thrips
Symptoms
• Suck sap from leaves
• Leaves turn yellow and curl
• Thrips make leaves cup-shaped
Control
• Spray Thiamethoxam @ 5 g per 15 liters of water
🌿 General Preventive Measures
• Keep the field clean
• Remove infected plants immediately
• Follow balanced fertilization and irrigation
• Practice crop rotation
👉 With timely use of correct medicines and proper care, tori crop can be easily protected from pests and diseases.
⏳ 13. फसल अवधि | Crop Duration
Tori is a short-duration vegetable crop, which helps farmers get early production and income.
⏱️ Crop Duration
• First harvest after sowing: 60 to 80 days
• Total crop duration: 120 to 135 days
• Harvest interval: 3 to 4 days
📌 Special Information
• Early fruiting crop allows early market sale
• Timely harvesting improves both yield and quality
👉 With proper care and management, continuous good production is obtained throughout the crop period.
🧺 14. कटाई विधि | Harvesting Method
• First harvesting starts 60 to 80 days after sowing
• Harvest tender and medium-sized fruits
• Over-mature fruits get lower market price
• Harvest at intervals of 3 to 4 days for regular production
• Harvesting is better in morning or evening
• Pluck fruits carefully by hand or sharp knife to avoid vine damage
👉 Timely harvesting increases yield, quality, and market value.
📦 15. प्रति एकड़ उपज | Yield per Acre
• Normal Yield: 66 to 83 quintals
• Up to 200 quintals with improved varieties
💰 16. बाजार भाव और मुनाफा | Market Price & Profit
📊 Average Market Price
• ₹10 to ₹25 per kg
💸 Estimated Profit
• Cost: ₹25,000 to ₹30,000
• Income: ₹80,000 to ₹1,50,000
• Net Profit: ₹50,000 to ₹1,20,000 per acre
🏠 17. भंडारण | Storage
• Fresh fruits remain safe for 7 to 10 days
• Store in a cool and ventilated place
🇮🇳 18. सरकारी योजनाएं | Government Schemes
• National Horticulture Mission
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
• Vegetable Production Subsidy Scheme
• Seed subsidy from Agriculture Department
❓ FAQ Related to Tori Farming
Q1. What is the best time for tori cultivation?
👉 February to March and May to July are most suitable.
Q2. How much seed is required per acre?
👉 Around 2 kg seed per acre is sufficient.
Q3. How many irrigations are needed in tori farming?
👉 7 to 8 irrigations are sufficient for the full crop.
Q4. When does first harvesting of tori start?
👉 First harvesting starts 60 to 80 days after sowing.
Q5. Which variety gives the highest yield?
👉 Arka Sumeet and Arka Vikram give the highest yield.
Q6. Can tori be grown with low cost?
👉 Yes, it is a low-cost and high-profit crop.
Q7. What are the major diseases and pests?
👉 Powdery mildew, aphids, and thrips are major problems.
Q8. How is the market demand for tori?
👉 It has good market demand throughout the year.
Q9. Is organic tori farming possible?
👉 Yes, it is possible with organic manure and natural pesticides.
Q10. How much profit can be earned per acre from tori farming?
👉 On average, net profit of ₹50,000 to ₹1,20,000 per acre is possible.
✅ निष्कर्ष | Conclusion 🌿
Tori farming is a vegetable crop that gives high profit in a short time. If farmers follow the right variety, right time, balanced fertilizer, and proper irrigation management, they can get excellent production per acre
👉 Adopt tori farming and increase your income.
If you found this information useful, please share it with other farmers. 🌱
👉 For more detailed and practical information on vegetable farming, click here.
Reference Source: