Kankada
Momordica dioica
Vegetables Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
Momordica dioica (spiny gourd or teasle gourd or ‘Kankada’ in Odia, also called Kheksa) is a climbing herb of the Cucurbitaceae family. The plant produces small spiny green fruits eaten as a vegetable. The plant is extensively cultivated in eastern India and is drought-tolerant.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun
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Water
Regular; moderately drought-tolerant
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Humidity
Moderate
🌡️
Temperature
15-38°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining loam
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Fertilizer
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian Subcontinent
- 📏 Max height
- 10-20 m
- 📐 Spread
- 4-6 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 40+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Leaf spot, caterpillar defoliation
💡 Care tips
- Plant in well-draining soil with appropriate light. Tolerates Indian tropical conditions.
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