Growing Gotu kola in a container is really a joyful activity. It grows very rapidly and within a few days it covers whole container and its branches & leaves will hang from the edges of the container. Gotu kola (Centella Asiatica) is also known as Thankuni plant in West Bengal & Bangladesh.
Gotu kola leave, drinks & medicines
People use its leaves to make various drinks. Gotu kola drink or bai bua bok drink is very popular in Thailand and some other parts of that region. Thankuni pata er juice is also popular in Bengal. It is said that Gotu Kola leaves have many medicinal values. Ayurvedic medicine practitioner use those plant to make medicine.
But I am not expert on that matter. But as many people use this to make various dishes in Bengal so I started growing Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica or Thankuni plant). Here in Bengal, it is a very common plant. I grows particularly in those places where the soil does not dried up normally. I mean it needs moisture to grow. That is why it is often found near pond & river.
Caring & growing gotu kola plants
I have collected some plants from such place and planted it in a container. I do not even apply any fertilizer. But I often water gotu kola plants from a pond near my residence. Such pond-water is a natural fertilizer for gotu kola plant. I never observed any issues till now. My Gotu kola (thankuni plant in Bengali) is healthy and leaves are green and large in size. It is growing & spreading rapidly even during these summer days.
I use these leaves to make Gotu kola juice (Bai Bua Bok drink), traditional Bengali dish shukto and even I often use it to make Bengali style sabzi daal. Gotu kola juice is very healthy, so if you are growing Gotu kola plant in a container or in your backyard then you can get plenty of fresh & healthy leaves to make such drink.
Fresh green healthy plenty of Gotu kola leaves
Gotu kola plant branches are ganging from edges of the container
Rapidly growing Gotu kola plant (Centella Asiatica), it covers entire container within few days. I use those fresh & naturally growing Thankuni plant (Centella Asiatica) to make Gotu kola juice.
I placed the container under direct sunlight where sunlight reaches atleast for 5 hours. In case it is summer days then you should keep this plant under a shade where direct sunlight does not reach normally.
I often collect Gotu kola (Thankuni pata) plant leaves to make Gotu kola drink.
Healthy & refreshing Gotu kola drink
Note: I have shared this post to share my personal experience in growing Gotu kola (Centella Asiatica) plant. But at the same time, I am expecting comments from your end too. If you are also growing Gotu kola then you can share your experience too. Your comment will help us who always enjoy vegetable gardening and love greener world.
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