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SQUASH MELON
SQUASH MELON
- RABI/FEBRUARY-MARCH
- TYPES OF VARIETIES
- FERTILIZERS
- TYPES OF VARITES
GENERAL INFORMATION
Squash melon also known as round melon, round gourd, Indian squash. It is important summer vegetable of north India. In punjab it is called as “tinda”. Squash melons origin is present in India. It belongs to family of Cucurbitaceae. Its raw fruits are used for vegetable purpose. 100gm of Immature fruits contains Proteins@1.4%, fat@0.4%, carbohydrates@3.4%, carotene@13mg and vitamin@18mg. Fruits also posses medicinal property, they are used against dry cough and also for improving blood circulation.
CLIMATE
Temperature
15-28°C
Rainfall
200-300MM
Sowing Temperature
10-20°C
Harvesting Temperature
20-28°C
SOIL
For good growth and yield it required well drained, rich organic matter contained sandy loam soils. pH of soil in range of 6 to 7 is ideal for optimum growth of crop. It also gives good results when grown on lands having water table near to soil
LAND PREPARATION
Plough land and bring soil to fine tilth. Apply well decomposed cow dung@8-10kg/acre at time of field preparation. Prepared raised bed of 30-40cm width for cultivation. Seeds can be sown on furrow or in Pits.
Tinda 48:Â Its vines are 75 to 100cm longs. Its leaves are light green and fruits are of medium size. Fruits are round having shining light green color. It gives average yield of 25qtl/acre.Â
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Tinda Ludhiana: Fruits are having light green, of medium size and having flat round shape. Each vines bears 8-10fruits. Its flesh is tender, of white color, contains less seeds and having good cooking quality. Ready to harvest in 60days after sowing. It gives average yield of 18-24qtl/acre. Â
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Patty Pan:Â Ready to harvest in 75-80days. Fruits are white color. Gives average yield of 22ton per acre.
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Early Yellow Prolifilic :Â Early variety. Its fruits are medium size and changes its color to yellow on ripening.
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Australian Green:Â Early and bushy type variety. Fruits are greenish white. Suitable for late sowing.Gives average yield of 60qtl/acre.
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Pusa Alankar:Â Very early high yielding variety. Its fruits are dark green. Its flesh is tender with delicious flesh.
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Other States Variety
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Arka Tinda:Â Developed at Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore.Â
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Anamalai Tinda
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Mahyco Tinda
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Swati :Â Fruits are of dark green color. Ready to harvest in two month.Â
Seed Rate
Sow two seeds per spot. Seed rate of 2.0 to 2.5 kg is sufficient for one acre land.Â
Time of sowing
In North India, it is sown in month of February-March.Â
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Spacing
Keep 1-1.5meter distance between two beds. Sow seeds on both side of bed and use spacing of 60-75cm.
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Sowing Depth
Seeds are sown at depth of 2-3cm.Â
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Method of SowingÂ
Seeds are directly sown on bed or ridge.
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Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)
| UREA | SSP | MOP |
| 70 | 150 | 40 |
Organic Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)
| BIO DAP | NPK | MIX FERTILIZERS |
| 150 | 100 | 100 |
Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)
| NITROGEN | PHOSPHORUS | POTASH |
| 32 | 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, two to three week before 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.
It need frequent irrigation as it is short duration crop. If seed are sown on pre-irrigated furrows, apply first irrigation on second or third day after sowing. Depending upon climate, soil type, in summer season provides irrigation with interval of 4-5days. Squash melon responds well to drip irrigation and it improves yield by 28%.
After sowing it requires one or two irrigation. Apply first irrigation during pre-flowering and second at pod formation stage. Heavy irrigation leads to the yellowing of plants and thus reducing the yield.
PLANT PROTECTION  
Anthracnose:
Anthracnose: Anthracnose affected foliage appears scorched appearance. Â
As a preventive measure, treat seed with Carbendazim@2gm/kg of seed. If infestation is observed in field, take spray of Mancozeb@2gm or Carbendazim@0.5gm/liter of water.
Aphid:
Aphid and Thrips:Â They suck the sap from the leaves resulting in yellowing and drooping of leaves. Thrips results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.Â
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If infestation is observed in field, To control spray the crop with Thiamethoxam@5gm/15Ltr of water
Powdery mildew:
Powdery Mildew: Patchy, White powdery growth appear on upper surface of leaves also on main stem of infected plant. It parasitizes the plant using it as a food source. In severe infestation it causes defoliation and premature fruit ripening.Â
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If infestation is observed take Spray of water soluble Sulphur@20gm/10Ltr of water 2-3times with interval of 10days
HARVESTING
Depending upon variety fruits are ready for harvesting within 60days of sowing. Carryout harvesting when fruits are tender and of medium size. Carry out picking at interval of 4-5days.Â
SEED PRODUCTION
Keep isolation distance of 800m from other vaieties of squash melon. Removed diseased plants from field. When fruits are mature i.e they changes their color into dull. Then they are crushed with hands in fresh water and then separate seeds from pulp. Seeds which are settle in bottom are collected for seed purpose.