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CUCUMBER
CUCUMBER
- KHARIF/FEBRUARY MARCH
- TYPES OF VARIETIES
- FERTILIZERS
- TYPES OF VARITES
GENERAL INFORMATION
The botanical name of cucumber is Cucumis sativus. Cucumbers are originated in India. It is a climbing plant which is used as summer vegetable throughout in India. The cucumber fruit is eaten raw or is served as a salad or cooked as a vegetable. The seeds of cucumber are used for oil extraction which is good for body and brain. Cucumbers contain 96% water which is good in summer season. The plants are large sized, leaves are hairy and are triangular in shape and flowers are yellow in color. Cucumber is an excellent source of Mb (Molybdenum) and Vitamin K. Cucumber is used to cure skin problems, kidney and heart problems and is used as alkalizer.
CLIMATE
Temperature
25-35°C
Rainfall
120-150CM
Sowing Temperature
20-30°C
Harvesting Temperature
30-35°C
SOIL
It can be sown in variety of soils ranging from sandy loam to heavy soil. But a loamy soil which is rich in organic matter and has well drainage system is best for the cucumber farming. The pH ranging from 6-7 is suited best for cucumber farming.
LAND PREPARATION
For cucumber plantation, it requires well prepared and weed free field. To bring soil to fine tilth, 3-4 ploughings must be done before planting. FYM or cow dung is mixed with soil to enrich the field. Prepared bed of 30cm width and of convenient length. Keep distance of 1.5m to 2m between two beds.
Arka shital : Fruits are light green color. Gives average yield of 80qtl/acre.
Lucknow Early: Fruits long, and shiny. It is popular in Lucknow and nearby areas.
Local Varieties : Nasdar, Sikkim Kakadi etc.
Pant sankar khira 1: Fruits are long and cylindrical. Gives average yield 80qtl/acre.
Pant Khira – 1: Fruits are long, cylindrical with white strip. Fruits are ready for first harvest in 50-60days. Gives average yield of 60qtl/acre.
Pant Parthnocarpic khira 2: Suitable for poly house cultivation. Gives average yield of 843qtl/acre.
Parthenocarpic khira-3: Suitable for poly house cultivation. Gives average yield of 800qtl/acre.
Swarna Ageti: Fruits are long, cylindrical. It is tolerant to powdery mildew. Ready for first picking in 45-50days after sowing.
Swarna Sheetal: Fruits are cylindrical, long and of medium size. Ready for first picking in 60-65days after sowing.
Swarna Poorna: Cylindrical long fruits. Ready for first picking in 55-60 days after sowing.
Other state varieties:
Poona Khira: Early growing variety. Fruits are of light green color with delicious, crispy, juicy and sweet flesh. Gives good yield in hot and arid climate.
Himangi: High yielding, medium heighted variety with cylindrical fruits. Skin color is creamy with crispy flesh.
Poinsett: Deep green color fruits, 15-20cm long, first harvesting is done after 60 days and gives an average yield of 50-52qtl/acre. It is suitable for growing in low and intermediate areas.
Pusa Uday: The variety is developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). The fruits of this variety are light green in color, medium sized and are 15cm in length. Use 1.45 kg of seed in per acre of land. The variety gets mature within 50-55 days. It gives an average yield of 65 qtl/acre.
Pusa Barkha: The variety is developed for Kharif season. It is highly tolerant to humidity, temperature and downy mildew disease. It gives an average yield of 78 qtl/acre.
Cucumber Hybrid-2: New hybrid variety. Suitable for cool areas, 5m long plant height, green fruits, 20-30cm long and gets ready in 40 days. It gives an average yield of 230-250qtl/acre.
KH-1: F-1 hybrid variety. Soft fruits, 12-14cm long and light green in color. It is an early maturing variety which matures in 65 days and gives an average yield of 145-166qtl/acre.
Seed rate:
Seed rate of 0.8-1.2kg is sufficient for one acre of land.
Seed treatment:
Before sowing treat seed with Carbendizim@2gm/kg of seeds. After chemical treat seeds with Trichoderma viiridi@4gm per kg of seeds. Dry seeds in shade and then do sowing immediately.
Time of sowing:
In UP, February to March is optimum time for cucumber cultivation. For hilly areas, sowing is done in month of March to April.
Spacing:
Depending upon sowing method spacing may get vary. For sowing use row to row spacing of 1.5m and plant to plant spacing of 30-45cm.
Sowing depth:
Seeds are sown at the depth of 2-3cm.
Method of sowing:
- Low tunnel technology: This technology is used to produce early yield of cucumber in early summer. It helps to protect the crop from cold season i.e. in the month of December and January. Beds of 2.5m width are sown in the month of December. Seeds are sown both sides of the bed at the distance of 45cm. Before sowing supportive rods of 45-60cm length are fixed in the soil. Cover the field with plastic sheet (100 gauge thickness) with the help of support rods. Plastic sheet should be removed mainly in the month of February when temperature is suitable outside.
- Dibbling method
Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)
| UREA | SSP | MOP | |
| Rainfed | 110 | 100 | 35 |
| Irrigated | 182 | 150 | 40 |
Organic Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)
| Bio DAP | NPK | MIX | |
| Rainfed | 200 | 100 | 100 |
| Irrigated | 120 | 150 | 100 |
Nutrient Requiement (kg/acre)
| NITROGEN | PHOSPHORUS | POTASH | |
| Rainfed | 50 | 16 | 20 |
| Irrigated | 84 | 24 | 24 |
Crop required well decomposed cow dung @8-10ton/acre, Nitrogen@32kg (Urea@70kg), Phosphorus@ 24kg (SSP@150kg) and Potash@24kg/acre (MOP@40kg). Apply well decomposed cow dung, full dose of Potash and Phosphorus, and one-third of Nitrogen, at the time of seed sowing. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen in two equal splits. Provide first dose 25-30days after sowing and second dose 40-50days after sowing (i.e. before flower emergence).
Keep bed weed free during early stage of growth. In absence of proper control measures, weed can cause yield loss of 30%. 15-20days after sowing, carry out intercultural operations. Depending upon severity and intensity of weeds, two to three weeding are required.
In rainy season, it does not require any irrigation. In summer season, it requires frequent irrigation. Provide irrigation at interval four to seven days. Two days before harvesting, apply irrigation. It will keep fruits fresh, shiny and attractive.
PLANT PROTECTION
 
Anthracnose:
Anthracnose: It attacks almost all parts of the cucumber which are above the ground. The symptoms are yellowish color circular spots are seen on the older leaves and the circular and sunken spots are seen on the fruit.
Treatment: Fungicidal application of Chlorothalonil and benomyl is given to protect the crop from disease.
Downy mildew:
Downy mildew: The symptoms are appearance of purplish-brown spots observed on lower side of leaves along with grayish white mold on leafs underside.
Treatment: Application of Chlorothalonil or Mancozeb @2-3gm/ltr is twice a day at the interval of 12 days.
Bacterial wilt:
Bacterial wilt: It is caused by Erwinia tracheiphila. It affects the vascular tissues of the plant which result in immediate wilting.
Treatment: Spraying of foliar fungicide is done to cure the bacterial wilt.
Powdery mildew:
Powdery mildew: The symptoms are appearance of white powdery spots on upper surface of leaves which causes leaf withering.
Treatment: Application of carbendazim@2gm in 1ltr of water will help to cure powdery mildew. It can also be controlled by fungicidal sprays of Chlorothalonil, benomyl or dinocap.
Fruit fly:
Fruit fly: It is serious pest found in cucumber. Females fly lay eggs below epidermis of young fruits. Later on maggots feed on pulp afterward fruits starts rotting and get drop.
Treatment: Foliar application of Neem oil @3.0%is given to cure the crop from fruit fly pest.
Yellow Mosaic:
Yellow Mosaic: Light and green patches observed on leaves. In early stage plant growth get stops. Yellowing, chlorotic ring spots on leaves and fruits. Select healthy and disease free seeds for cultivation. Avoid monocropping in chilly crop. Raise two rows of maize or sorghum for every five rows of chilly against wind direction. Uproot and destroyed infected plant away from field.
Recommendations given for aphids may be adopted. (take spray of Acephate 75SP@1gm/Ltr or Methyl demeton 25EC@2ml/Ltr of water. Soil application of granular insecticides viz Carbofuran, Phorate@4-8kg/acre on 15 and 60 days after transplanting.
HARVESTING
Plants start yielding in about 45-50 days after sowing. Mainly 10-12 harvestings can be done. Harvesting is mainly done when the seed of cucumber are soft and the fruits are green and young. Harvesting is done with the help of sharp knife or any sharp object.
SEED PRODUCTION
Brown color fruits are best for seed production. For seed extraction, fruit pulp is taken out in fresh water for 1-2 days for the easy separation of seeds. The seeds are then rubbed with hands and as a result heavy seeds will settle down in water and then they are preserved for further use.