• There are many edible vegetables belongs to Cucurbitaceous family, many of which are commercially grown in the field for domestic and international market. • Most Cucurbitaceous vegetables are propagated by seeds while few are propagated by cutting, grafting etc. • Some Cucurbits seeds sown in situ as they cannot tolerate transplanting shocks while some do tolerate transplanting shocks at Introduction
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There are many edible vegetables belongs to Cucurbitaceous family, many of which are commercially grown in the field for domestic and international market.
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• There are many edible vegetables belongs to Cucurbitaceous
family, many of which are commercially grown in the field for
domestic and international market.
• Most Cucurbitaceous vegetables are propagated by seeds
while few are propagated by cutting, grafting etc.
• Some Cucurbits seeds sown in situ as they cannot tolerate
transplanting shocks while some do tolerate transplanting
shocks at particular stages of growth
Introduction
Cucurbits are generally propagated on a large scale by seeds.
the seeds are either sown in nursery or directly in field
depending on the capacity of the species to tolerate
transplantation shocks.
The process of propagation can be divided into 3 parts namely,
1.Pre-sowing seed treatment
2.Sowing
3.Post sowing Care.
Propagation:
• Cucurbits Seeds are effectively treated before planting for
better germination and improved yield.
• Germination of Bitter gourd seeds enhances by soaking in
low concentrations (100-200 ppm) of IAA, GA3 and CCC.
• Treatment of spine gourd tubers with thiourea 1.0% for 12 hrs
is recorded best for breaking the dormancy of tubers.
• Treating seeds with Azotobacter and Phosphate Soluble
Bacterial (PSB) formulations is recommended for almost all
cucurbitaceous crops.
Pre sowing seed treatment :
• Cucurbits is a tropical group of vegetables grown in summer
and rainy season. Cucurbits are grown throughout the year in
mild climate of south and central India. In south and central
India. Melons require dry and warm climates at the time of fruit
development and It is grown in summer seasons.
• In rainy season, cucurbits crops are sown at the beginning of
monsoon that is in June – July months. In south and central
India, sowing can also be done in October -November and the
crop matures in March –April months.
Sowing and Sowing Time
• Most of the cucurbits are propagated by seeds by in situ
sowing. In some cases where early crop is desired, seeds can
be sown in polythene bags and germinated under cover to
protect from low temperature.
• Cucurbits seedlings are transplanted from bags at two leaf
stage into the main field. Normally, the cucurbits do not stand
transplantation shocks beyond this stage due to injury to tap
root. Nursery sowing of seeds in poly bags can save nearly 50-
60 percent of seed material as compared to in situ sowing.
Method of Sowing
• Watermelon : 3.5-5.0 kg/ha
• Round melon : 3.5-5.0 kg/ha
• Musk melon : 2.5-3.5 kg/ha
• Cucumber : 2.5-3.5 kg/ha
• Bottle gourd : 3.0-6.0 kg/ha
• Bitter gourd : 4.5-6.0 kg/ha
• Ridge gourd : 3.5-5.0 kg/ha
• Sponge gourd : 2.5-3.5 kg/ha
• Snake gourd : 5.0-6.0 kg/ha
• Ash gourd : 5.0-7.0 kg/ha
• Red Pumpkin : 6.0-8.0 kg/ha
• Bush squash : 8.0-10.0 kg/ha
Seed Rate of Cucurbits
• In cucurbits, number of fruits per plant increases with
increasing plant density while fruit number per plant
decreases with increase in plant density .
• A spacing 60cm between plants has been recommended
in muskmelon. Usually, the sowing is done on top or
sides of furrows and vines are allowed to trail on the
organic mulched ground, especially in summer season.
• In hilly areas, where sowing is done are spaced at a
distance of 0.5 to 0.75 m between two plants.
Sowing: Spacing
Recommended spacing for in situ planting of cucurbits are:
• L. acutangulla cv. Pusa Nasdar : 2 x 4 m
• Pointed Gourd cv. Fp-4 : 1.5 x 1.5 m
• Bottle Gourd cv. Aroka Bahar : 3 x 0.45 m
• Red Pumpkin cv. Mariucha : 3 x 2 m
Sowing: Spacing
• In the in situ sowing, bed orientation should be designed
in such a way that irrigation water should not spoil the
developing fruits in future.
• In places of heavy ill drained soils, the seeds are sown in
the middle of raised bed to facilitate drainage. Such
system is also practiced in areas receiving heavy rainfall.
• Pits are dug out, filled with manures and growth media
and then seeds are sown in such pits especially in
monsoon.
Sowing: In situ Nursery
• Emergence of seeds of cucurbits varies with the species. It
ranges from 2-3 days in cucumber to around 1 week in gourds.
• The sown area must be watered regularly using a rose can
depending on the season and soil conditions.
• Other activities such as weeding, plant protection should be
undertaken as per requirement. The plants must be protected
from diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew and