In this multi-part series Miguel Brazanga, who resides in Goa and is involved in a number of volunteer activities with various groups and organizations, shares some of his knowledge of Goa's little known biodiversity. The following is posted with his permission in connection with GOA SUDHAROP's "YEAR OF THE GOAN VOLUNTEER SPIRIT".
4.Vegetable Diversity in Goa I. CUCURBITS The cucurbits are a family of nine famous sisters: Benincasa, Luffa, Lagenaria, Citrullus, Cucurbita, Cucumis, Sechium, Momordica and Trichosantes. Scientists have dug up the family tree and found 81 other genera. They call this family Cucurbitaceae and its 750 children are known as species.As in any family, some sisters are quite similar. The others are naturally quite different. They have pet names to make them easy to remember. We call Cucumis as Cucumber. It is the coolest one. Cucurbita is short and stout. No better name exist pumpkin or squash. The long slender ones are called Gourds. The Citrullus is green, smooth and round like a Melon. All cucurbits have many seeds except for Sechium. It is different. Since Sechium has only one seed; it is somewhat peculiar. Gardeners call it chow-chow and it is a popular vegetable in neighbouring Karnataka. So the family of cucurbits consists of gourds, melons, cucumber, pumpkin and chow-chow. They grow as vines and have tendrils that grasp anything for support. Their likes and dislikes are similar. Peculiarities about each one are dealt separately. While water melons and musk melons are generally trailed on the ground, it is better to give some live support (trees) or mechanical support (trellis, bower, wire mesh or fence) for gourds and cucumber, specially during the rains. The bamboo trellis or mattov should be strong enough to bear the weight of the plant with the fruits.Cucurbits are insect pollinated. Bees and wasps are beneficial in getting bigger Crops. 1. PUMPKIN or DUDHI The pumpkin is a fruit that we become familiar in childhood with the story of Cindrella. Yet this familiarity breeds confusion. There are actually four species of pumkins, each with its own varieties. All four species do not like excessive moisture but are traditionally grown during monsoons in Goa. A better time to sow seeds may actually be August-September when the soil is moist but the air is comparatively drier. Pumpkins are basically winter squashes. The pumpkin seeds are cream in colour with a yellow margin, about 1 cm long, oval and with hard seed coat. Plant on mounds during monsoons and in shallow basins otherwise. Traditionally pumpkin vines are allowed to trail on cowsheds or rooftops or a trellis that can bear the weight of its heavy fruits. There are a host of local pumpkin strains. Improved varieties suitable for Goa are: Lucknow Round with 2 to 3 kg, spherical fruits. Takes four months to mature. Arka Suryamukhi. The fruits have orange and white stripes from stalk to tip and weigh about 1.5 kg each. It is resistant to fruit fly. It takes 100 days to mature. Fruits are rich in vitamin A and help prevent blindness. It is a diuretic. The seed Kernel is used along with honey to expel worms. To be continued ... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ISSUES BEING DEBATED: In East Africa, despite colonialism, the British afforded the Goan a sliver of a socio-political voice. Read *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho. Soon to be available in Toronto. Pp 290. Via mail-order from [email protected] http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
