Greenhouse Production of Cucurbits Cucurbitaceae Family

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Greenhouse Production of Greenhouse Production of CucurbitsCucurbits

Cucurbitaceae Family– also commonly referred to as the cucumber,

gourd melon or pumpkin familygourd, melon, or pumpkin family– Vine crops

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Cucumbers

1 Beit Alpha (aka mini hydroponic snack1.Beit Alpha (aka mini, hydroponic, snack-size)

2. European (aka Dutch, hothouse, green-house, hydroponic)

BeitBeit--alpha cucumbersalpha cucumbers

• 4-6 in long• 1 in wide• Thin skinned• Seedless• Parthenocarpic• Parthenocarpic• Gynoecious

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• Developed in the 1940’s by self-made breeders in Israelbreeders in Israel.

• Introduced by a member of the Beit Alpha Kibbutz (by which the cultivar is named).

• Originally adapted to intensive• Originally adapted to intensive irrigation and fertilization under field conditions.

• Highly susceptible to PM and virus.

History continued....History continued....

• Original cultivars were not suitable for trellising or did not have multiple fruit set.

• Well suited for pickling industry due to short length and solid core...as well as their delicate taste.

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More recently, short Beit Alpha, parthenocarpic cultivars have taken over the market.over the market.

– Adapted for trellising under protected cultivation.

– Short internodes and set multiple fruit i l t h bitin a cluster habit.

• Middle East – Israel, Turkey, Egypt

Where are miniWhere are mini--cucumbers cucumbers grown?grown?

, y, gyp• China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam• United States, Canada, Mexico• United Kingdom• GreeceGreece• Australia

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Production statisticsProduction statistics• Israel produces >4000 ha

• FL: 2 ha: Beli Farms– Marketed through Publix supermarkets:

• ($3.30 to 4.40/kg or $1.49 to $1.99/lb).

• Beit Alpha cucumber is grown commercially in:– Canada and Baja California, Mexico.

European CucumberEuropean Cucumber

• 12 - 14 in. long12 14 in. long• 1.5 – 2 in. wide• Thin skinned• Seedless• Parthenocarpic• Gynoecious• Wrapped

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• United States

Where are Dutch cucumbers Where are Dutch cucumbers grown?grown?

• Canada• Mexico• Europe• Central AmericaCentral America

Average PricesAverage PricesUS Markets (NY, Atlanta, Miami) 1998-present• Nov-Feb: $1.00 to $1.19/lbNov Feb: $1.00 to $1.19/lb• Mar-Oct: $.81-0.90/lb

Retail: $1 per cuc

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• Cucumbers are high-maintenance…– Training– Pruning– Harvesting every day or every other day

Total marketable number of greenhouse cucumber per plant. Spring 1999, Fall 1999, Spring 2000.

Marketable number per plant Cultivar * Spring 99 Spring 00 Fall 99 Beit Alpha Alexander 52.2 b 39.7 ab 27.6 ab Dishon 52.2 b 42.9 a 32.2 a Sarig 66.8 a 44.2 a 36.7 a Suzan 45.1 b 42.2 a 31.6 a Ilan 46.7 b 34.3 c 33.0 a Rambo 51.0 b 36.2 bc 36.4 a Dutch-type LongJohn 22 6 c 16 8 cLongJohn 22.6 c - 16.8 c Bologna 19.5 c 12.7 d 15.6 c Kalunga 23.8 c 14.3 d 21.2 bc R-square 0.46 0.97 0.79

* Mean separation within each column using Duncan’s multiple range test, P < 0.05.

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Total marketable weight of greenhouse cucumber per plant. Spring 1999, Fall 1999, Spring 2000.

Marketable weight (kg/plant) Cultivar * Spring 99 Spring 00 Fall 99 Beit Alpha Alexander 12 9 6 1 a 5 5 bAlexander 12.9 6.1 a 5.5 b Dishon 11.5 6.1 a 5.8 ab Sarig 12.9 6.1 a 6.0 ab Suzan 10.1 6.3 a 5.7 ab Ilan 12.3 5.9 a 8.6 a Rambo 13.8 5.8 a 8.0 ab Dutch-type LongJohn 11.6 - 4.5 ab gBologna 10.2 4.1 b 6.8 ab Kalunga 10.1 4.4 b 8.5 a R-square 0.46 0.91 0.48

* Mean separation within each column using Duncan’s multiple

range test, P < 0.05.

• Beit Alpha yields: – 25-52 kg/sq.m. or 176-260 frt./sq.m.– 14-30 lbs./sq. ft. or 44-66 fruit/sq. ft.

• Dutch yields:– 40 kg/sq.m. or 80 fruit/sq.m.– 22 lbs./sq. ft. or 16 fruit/sq. ft.

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Important Cucumber Dates

Spring 1999

Planting March 31, 1999

First Harvest May 1, 1999

Last Harvest July 1 1999

Fall 1999

Planting Sept. 30, 1999

First Harvest Oct. 28, 1999

Last Harvest Jan 26 2000Last Harvest July 1, 1999

Total 23 harvests

Spring 2000

Planting Feb. 16, 2000

Last Harvest Jan. 26, 2000

Total 30 harvests

First Harvest March 13, 2000

Last Harvest April 28, 2000

Total 20 harvests

Beit Alpha type Mini-cucumber type

Seed source: Israel Slightly tolerant to powdery mildew

Seed source: The NetherlandsHighly tolerant and/or resistant to powdery mildew

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Fruit numberFruit number and and kg/mkg/m22 and and powdery mildew percentpowdery mildew percent of of 13 mini13 mini--cucumber cultivars. Spring 2002.cucumber cultivars. Spring 2002.

CultivarFruit number per

sq. m.Kg per sq. m.

Powdery mildew %

Aria 204 cde 26 a-e 20 cdDiva 142 f 20 g 10 dDiva 142 f 20 g 10 dDelta Star 208 cde 28 abc 20 cdFigaro 253 a 26 a-e 20 cdManar 239 ab 29 a 20 cdSarawat 225 abc 28 ab 40 bTornac 204 cde 25 b-e 20 cdEx1605 185 e 20 fg 20 cdEx1605 185 e 20 fg 20 cdM-733 221 bcd 27 a-d 30 cMeitav 233 abc 26 a-e 100 aSarig* 213 b-e 23 d-g 90 a9976 191 de 24 c-f 10 cd976 208 cde 23 efg 20 cd

Tornac = 25 kgTornac = 25 kg..mm--22DeRuiter Seed

Manar = 29 kgManar = 29 kg..mm--22

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Hazera Genetics

Sarig = 23 kg.m-2

Meitav = 26 kg.m-2 M733 = 27

kg.m-2

Postharvest packaging and handling

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Snack packs for kids!

Photos courtesy of Richard Blakely, Paramount Seeds, Inc.

Cucumber storageCucumber storageBeit Alpha:• Optimal Storage 10°Cp g• Avg. Shelf Life (cv. Manar) ~21 d

Alfredo & Sargent (2004) (Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 117:368-372)

European:• Optimal storage: 13°C• Avg. Shelf Life (cv. Ventura) ~28 d

This is from a published dissertation (Mattsson, Kristina Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae, Agraria: 21, 1996.

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and other and other specialty melonsspecialty melonsp yp y

• Mediterranean

Other specialty melons…Other specialty melons…

Canary– Amy

– Angel

• Charentais– Charentais– Vedrantais

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• Superior quality

‘Galia’ F‘Galia’ F11 HybridHybrid

p q y• Green-fleshed• Yellow netted• Bold aroma• Sweet flavor

– (13- 15 °Brix)

• Israel • Mediterranean

Where are ‘Galia’ melons Where are ‘Galia’ melons grown? grown?

• Mediterranean• United States, Mexico• Central and South America• Australia, New Zealand• Any place that can grow good melons!• Any place that can grow good melons!

• In US– Specialty markets– $3.50 to $4.00 a melon

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• Time of year• Healthy transplant• Irrigation/fertigation• Pest/Disease control• Train verticallyTrain vertically• Pruning

Pruning and trellising ‘Galia’ Pruning and trellising ‘Galia’ melonmelon

• Use individual strings or suspended net.or suspended net.

• Gently twist meristem to promote vertical growth, use clips every 30 cm.

• Remove all laterals up to the 7th node.

• Female flowers develop at 1st node of lateral, allow fruit set, then prune after.

• Remove aborted fruit.

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PollinationPollination

–Bumble bees (Bombus impatiens)(Natupol, Koppert Biological Systems, Inc.,

Romulus, MI)

Galia MuskmelonGalia MuskmelonTotal Total marketable fruit numbermarketable fruit number per plantper plant

CultivarSpring 1999

Fall1999

Spring 2000

Arava-H 2.2 3.2 a 3.1 bArava-Z 2.5 2.8 abc 3.4 b

Capri - 3.2 ab 2.9 bGal-152 - 3.3 ab 4.7 aGal-52 3.2 3.2 ab 4.9 aGalia-H 2.7 1.8 c 4.4 aGalia-Z 2.9 3.1 ab 4.7 aGalor - 2.3 bc 4.6 aGolan 2.8 1.8 c 4.7 aJalisco 3.6 3.3 ab 4.8 aOmega - 3.8 a 5.0 aRevigal 3.5 3.2 ab 5.0 a

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Cultivar Fruit weight (kg)

Fruit number per square

meter

Fruityield

(kg · ha-1)

FleshThickness

(mm)

Fruit Firmness

(N)

Soluble Solids (°Brix)

Vedrantais 0.9 Z 4.1 34,063 27 2 8.5

Charentais 0.7 5.6 39,644 24 12 11.0

Gala 1.5 2.5 39,158 35 17 11.8

Specialty Melons, Fall 2005Specialty Melons, Fall 2005

Kamila 1.5 5.2 76,272 35 31 15.0

Galia (T) 1.6 3.5 55,526 32 8 9.6

Amy 1.1 4.1 45,646 28 12 14.3

GVS 206 1.4 2.6 36,396 33 24 9.4

GVS 125 1.1 4.0 45,139 31 22 10.3

GVS 205 1.4 3.9 53,674 34 17 9.6

Gallicum 1.3 5.2 65,163 33 13 10.1

Galia (H) 1.3 3.8 50,456 33 18 11.7

A l 1 1 2 9 30 851 30 12 16 3Angel 1.1 2.9 30,851 30 12 16.3

Girlie 1.9 3.9 72,609 34 16 11.5

Vicar 1.2 4.8 59,990 33 30 11.7

Melon 6004 1.7 3.7 64,576 38 20 8.9

Melon 6003-Elario

1.7 4.6 76,917 41 20 8.8

Galileo 1.5 5.5 81,499 36 32 12.4

Melon 96- Nestor 1.1 3.6 38,940 32 23 10.3zLSD (0.05) 0.3* 2.0 28,615* 4* 7* 1.3*

CultivarFinalDSR(%)

SSC(°Brix)

Fall 2005 Yields > 5 fruits m-2

Galileo 15 12.4Elario 14 8.9Kamila 80 15.0Vicar 38 11.7Gallicum 50 10.1LSD 10* 1.3*

Galileo

Spring 2006 Yields > 9 fruits m-2

Gallicum 99 10.4Vicar 74 9.7MG 10098 21 12.5LSD 42* 1.2*

Gallicum

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Potential Yields & Net IncomePotential Yields & Net Income

• Standard production, yields as high as 16.5 kg / sq. m.

• New York Market = $1.50/kg

• $25 / sq. m. per season

• After all expenses, net returns = $10 / sq. m.

Optimal Storage ConditionsOptimal Storage Conditions• 2 to 7 °C with 95% RH (Saltveit, 1997)

– shelf-life: 10 to 14 days (1/2 slip)» 5 to 14 days (full slip)

• Recommended – Pre-cooling to 10 to 15 °C (fruit center T) soon

after harvestafter harvest • delay ripening • retain sugar content

(Kader, 2002)

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Photos by: E. Simonne, Sevilla, Spain, June 2007

Baby SquashBaby SquashBaby SquashBaby Squash

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Baby SquashBaby Squash

• 2-3 in long2 3 in long• Edible blossoms• Variety of color/shape

– Yellow summer– Zucchini– Patty pan/Scallop– Middle Eastern/Cousa

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ZucchiniZucchini--type yields per planttype yields per plantCultivar Avg. ft.

wt. (g) Baby fruit

no.Baby fruit

wt. (g)Fancy

fruit no.Fancy fruit

wt. (g)Cull no.

Bareket 30.1 c 16 c 409.3 d 4 d 204.4 d < 1

Eight Ball 36.5 b 20 bc 546.0 bc 7 c 436.5 c < 1

Gold Rush 24 3 d 21 ab 434 8 cd 4 d 156 3 d < 1Gold Rush 24.3 d 21 ab 434.8 cd 4 d 156.3 d < 1

Goldy 26.4 cd 19 bc 420.1 d 5 d 187.7 d < 1

Raven 34.8 b 25 a 631.4 ab 11 b 592.2 b < 1

Revenue 45.4 a 22 ab 678.8 a 17 a 1026.6 a 3

Sebring 27.2 cd 17 c 379.0 d 5 cd 203.1 d < 1

LSD 3.8 4.1 119.9 2.3 112.5 NS

YellowYellow--summer type yields per plantsummer type yields per plantCultivar Avg. ft.

wt. (g) Baby fruit

no.Baby fruit

wt. (g)Fancy

fruit no.Fancy fruit

wt. (g)Cull no.

Seneca Supreme

26.8 b 48 1015.2 a 22 870.0 1 b

Sunray 27.6 b 40 843.0 a 16 655.3 2 by

Supersett 25.1 b 43 850.4 a 15 592.5 4 b

Yellow Crookneck

24.4 b 42 819.9 ab 14 524.6 17 a

Zephyr 31.4 a 27 588.0 b 14 673.5 3 b

LSD 3.5 NS 247.1 NS NS 8.7

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Patty pan/scallopPatty pan/scallop--type yields per planttype yields per plantCultivar Avg. ft.

wt. (g)Baby fruit

no.Baby fruit

wt. (g)Fancy

fruit no.Fancy fruit

wt. (g)Cull no.

Butter 26 1 b 51 b 960 7 26 a 1048 8 a < 2Butter Scallop

26.1 b 51 b 960.7 26 a 1048.8 a < 2

Patty Green Tint

28.9 a 50 b 1050.0 26 a 1146.7 a < 2

Starship 25.2 b 51 b 1022.4 17 b 682.7 b < 1

Sunburst 22.1 c 67 a 1228.5 15 b 562.9 b < 3

LSD 1.9 8.7 NS 7.1 223.6 NSLSD 1.9 8.7 NS 7.1 223.6 NS

CousaCousa--type yields per planttype yields per plantCultivar Avg. ft.

wt. (g) Baby fruit no.

Baby fruit wt.

(g)

Fancy fruit no.

Fancy fruit wt.

(g)

Cull no.

HA 187 37 7 34 1004 5 13 738 9 < 1HA-187 37.7 34 a 1004.5 13 738.9 < 1

Magda 41.3 27 b 838.4 17 983.1 < 1

LSD NS 4.3 NS NS NS NS

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Recommended cultivarsRecommended cultivars• Zucchini: Raven and Revenue (green) and Gold

Rush, Goldy and Sebring (yellow)• Patty pan/scallop: Butter Scallop, Patty Green

Tint, Starship and Sunburst• Yellow-summer: Seneca Supreme• Cousa: HA-187 and Magda

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• FruitsStore p to 7 da s

Optimal Storage ConditionsOptimal Storage Conditions

– Store up to 7 days:• 5 to 10 °C ( min. chilling damage)

– Store up to 14 days:• 10 °C ( NO chilling damage)

Brew et al., 2006

• Blossoms• Blossoms– Store up to 7 days:

• 2.5 to 5 °C in container to maintain high RH(and protect from crushing)

Villalta et al., 2006

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2 Major Cucurbit Diseases2 Major Cucurbit Diseases

1. Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii)• thrives in moderate/high temperatures (25 to 35 °C) and high humidity (90 %)

2. Downy Mildew 2. Downy Mildew ((Pseudoperonospora cubensis)Pseudoperonospora cubensis)

• angular, yellow spots on leaf surface. – Spots bounded by leaf veins – humid weather: black/gray fungus appears on

the undersides of these spots.• spreads rapidly in moist weather &

wide range of tempsg p

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