The fruit of the plant is large, weighing up to 20 lbs.

Common names for the plant include fluted gourd, fluted pumpkin, ugu (in the Igbo language), and ikong-ubong (in the Efik and Ibibio languages). After preparing your site, your need to prepare the seed. They are also known for their antimicrobial and hepatoprotective properties. Cassava farming in Nigeria: How to start and succeed? It had been estimated that about 30 – 35 million people in Nigeria consume these leaf.

You will also need some organic fertiliser - it may contain droppings of a chicken, for example. Pumpkin is a crop of commercial importance grown in West Africa. After five days has passed, place a stick of 1m-2m height close to the pumpkin seed. Besides cooking, the seeds are used for soap making. 6. After planting, the next step is to care for your plants. I will advise to go for the seeds as it is less stressful. If you want to start an Ugwu farm in Nigeria, follow the steps outline below. Now, when you have all the needed ingredients, get ready for some planting! One of the most popular plants that are cultivated in Nigeria is the Ugu plant or the fluted pumpkin.

(Fully Booked) Start Farming. Typically, plants begin to germinate after a week or two. The seeds are edible and the oil from these seeds can be used for cooking and soap making.

Ugwu are ready for harvest a month after planting. It is called Ugu in Igboland, Iroko in Yorubaland and Umeke in Edo. Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone are the major producers of the plant. it needs air, free movement, enough space and enough water. Water the soil now and then, especially if there is no stream around or during dry weeks. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

© 2018 Grow Crops Online, All rights reserved. This vegetable can also help prevent kidney diseases due to it high phosphorus content. They are always willing to give away the droppings if you don’t require a lot. Water the seeds every day for at least two weeks.

Fluted Pumpkin is majorly cultivated for its leaves and eaten as potherb. The part looks like an eye, you won’t be confused. Watch out for goats and their likes, they are dangerous to the growth of your farm. After land preparation, we would send a schedule with a time line of activities of what would be happening on your own particular farm to you. Today, small scale farming is becoming more and more popular. When the seed start to germinate, use stick of a meter or two and place it close to the plant. The leaves also have blood sugar reducing effects and can be included in the diet of diabetics. The plant will climb around the stick while growing. READ MORE: Cassava farming in Nigeria: How to start and succeed?

However, it is mainly cultivated among the Igbos in Nigeria. Pumpkin is a crop of commercial importance grown in West Africa. One of the most popular plants that are cultivated in Nigeria is the Ugu plant or the fluted pumpkin. But not all the parts of the plant are used, so let’s discuss them.

The roots of the plant will grow dip into the ground. You need a piece of land with certain features. Make sure that the seed is not too deep in the soil. You can’t eat the fruits of this plant, but you can eat the seeds. After your choice of site, you’ll need to clear the farmland and apply organic manure two weeks before you plant.

The plants will start climbing the sticks, this help prevent them against disease especially during the rainy season. The pH level of soil for ugwu is between 6.5-7. You can ground them into powder and use for cooking or eat them whole. 2. Ugwu may also be interplanted with other drops like yam or cassava in which it uses their stakes for support. It is used in the manufacturing of herbs and as we all know, the leaves is use in preparing popular Nigerian soups such as the egusi soup, ogbono soup and edi kain kong soup. These two factors are very critical factors for the growth of your ugwu plant. Make ridges in the soil. Only recently, new products are being discovered and after processing, products like Ugwu tablets,drinks and chips are being manufactured for health purposes. It has other health benefits too, like: - Lactating properties, excellent for nursing mothers; Since we covered the main points about the fluted pumpkin, it is time to talk about growing and nurturing. Buy Ugu (Ugwu) Fluted Pumpkin Leaves And Seeds ₦ 1,000 Organic, pure, natural and fresh fluted pumpkin leaves and seeds with non-GMOs and no irradiated ingredients at competitive price. The large, dark-red seed is rich in fat and protein, and can be eaten whole, ground into powder for another kind of soup, or made into a fermented porridge. Watch video on how someone made million via ugwu farming in Nigeria, Good day, where can I get ugwu seeds to buy in Lagos area, thanks.