Cucumber cultivation is widely done all around India. Due to its year-round market demand, cucumber is cultivated in both open field and protected cultivation. Polyhouse cultivation of cucumber gives very high return compared to open field. Whether it is polyhouse or open field, cucumber is a highly profitable crop in India.
Crop Overview
| Scientific Name | Cucumis sativus |
| Common Name | Kamal Kakdi in Hindi, Vellarikkai in Tamil, Kakkari in Malayalam, Dosakaya in Telugu, Sosa in Bengali |
| Soil | Well drained fertile loamy soil with sufficient organic matter and pH range of 5.5-6.8 is ideal for growing cucumber. The pH level of soil must be within the range of 5.5-6.8. Soil with high salt concentration should be avoided. |
| Climate | Mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions, it is a fruit for the warm season. Excessive humidity can lead to foliar diseases and attract pests such as fruit flies. The optimum desired temperature level is 16-24 degree Celsius. |
| Plant Population | Sowing can be done during Jan-Feb or June. Consider using 2.5 kg to 3kg of cucumber seeds per hectare for effective growth. Before sowing, seeds need to be treated with Trichoderma viride 4 gm/kg or Carbendazim 2 gm/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 8-10 gm/kg to avoid bacterial infestation. |
| Harvest | Harvesting starts after 45-50 days. 10-12 harvestings/plant can be done in their lifecycle. |
| Yield | Expected average yield is 3.0-4.5 tonnes/acre in open field and . |
| Crop Type | Polyhouse farming |
Popular Cucumber Varieties
Punjab Kheera
With a dark green colour, the species grows with an average length of 12-15 cm and weight of 120-130 grams. You can sow the crop two times a year – Jan and Sept and harvest after 60 days and 45 days respectively. Equally, average yield differs like – 370 QTL/ acre from sowing in January and 310 QTL/ acre from sowing in September.
Punjab Naveen
Fruits grow consistently cylindrical in shape having a light green body and smooth surface. Containing soft seeds they taste bitter-free and crispy and superior to its counterparts. You can expect an average yield of 70 QTL/ acre and can harvest after 68 to 70 days after showing. Due to its greater taste, attractive appearance, even size and texture, it has high demand in the market.
Pusa Uday
A research product developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Fruits grow medium in size with light green colour and length of average 15cm. It offers an average yield of 65 QTL/ acre and can be harvested within 50 days.
Pusa Barkha
The species is a Kharit season crop and has extremely resistive prowess to temperature, humidity, and downy mildew disease. Expected average yield is 78 QTL/acre.
Apart from the above, some commercial varieties also include pusa sanyog, poona khira, balam khira, sheetal and himangi.
Land Preparation:
Land should be thoroughly ploughed to get fine tilth that helps in better aeration and create a weed free land. Consider ploughing the land for a minimum 3-4 times and accordingly form a stretched channel keeping a distance of 1.5 metre.
Sowing Method:
Seeds should be sown in a dibbling method by keeping a distance of 1.5m x 2.5 m (row basis) and spacing of 60 cm to 90 cm depending on the class of seed and availability of land. Sow the seeds on one side of the channel. 2 to 3 seeds are usually sown in each pit. Keep a space of 1.5 m from the channel.
Low tunnel technology:
It has been an innovative sowing method that helps produce faster yield of cucumbers by sowing them in early summer. The advantageous part of following low tunnel technology is that it protects crops from wintry climate when sown during the month of Dec and January. For this, cultivators should prepare beds of 2.5m at the end of December and seeds to be sown on both sides of the bed with a distance of 45cm in the midst. Prior to sowing, prepare tunnels with supportive rods of 48 to 60 cm which should be covered with a plastic sheet of 100-120 gauge thickness after sowing is finished. This looks like a tunnel. The plastic cover should be removed in the month of February when temperature is favourable.
Manure and Fertilisers:
Land should be fertilised with a dose of Urea@90kg/Nitrogen @40kg, Phosphorus @20kg or SSP @120kg) and Potassium@20kg or Muriate of potash@40 kg. Before sowing, apply one third of the entire Nitrogen dose together with Potassium and SSP. The remaining dose of nitrogen should be introduced after 30 days of sowing.
Irrigation/Water Supply:
Following the drip irrigating method is the most efficient way for farming cucumber. Install sprayers which should be attached with the main water pipeline and sub pipes keeping 1.5 metre gap between the watering systems. This helps provide needed moisture for cropping as per water necessity in summer and rainy season. If there’s sufficient rain, there is hardly any need for irrigation, however, if it’s less than the desired level, consider watering crops twice a month. In summer 4-5 irrigation and in winter 2 courses of irrigation is good enough for effective results.
Weed Control:
Apart from manual endeavour, use herbicides to control weed growth.
Disease Control:
Pest Control
Fruit fly– Plants are infested by female flies that lay eggs under the epidermal layer of fruit skin in their growing stage. Afterward the fruits start rotting, drying, and dropping.
Management- if found, first of all, eliminate fruits that are already invaded and thereafter, apply Neem oil@3% as a foliar application that helps plants get rid of the scary fly pest.
Disease Control
Bacterial wilt-Caused by a form of bacteria called Erwinia tracheiphila, bacterial wilt can have devastating effects on the vascular tissues of growing plants and cause fast wilting.
Management – You should consider spraying plants with foliar insecticides to eliminate bacterial wilt. Depending on the extent of infestation, spraying should be done three times in 15 days gapping for an effective result.
Powdery mildew– Notable symptoms are emergence of white powdery grainy spots on the upper surface of leaves causing leaf shrinking and drooping.
Management – Apply carbendazim@2gm mixed with 1ltr of water and spay on the leaves to eliminate powdery mildew. This can be also effectively controlled by fungicidal sprays like Chlorothalonil or Dinocap.
Anthracnose – Symptoms are found on the older leaves that become yellowish in colour with circular spots. Delayed treatment will cause sunken and circular spots on the fruits.
Management -Consider applying fungicidal Chlorothalonil or benomyl to defend the crop from disease.
Mosaic– prominent symptoms are sluggish or even stunted development of plants while leaves typically start dropping and fruits become yellowish in colour.
Management- Faster treatment is the key to saving plants. Apply Diazinon or Immidachloprid- 17.8%SL @7ml mixing with 10 litre of water to have a productive result.
Harvesting
By far, after sowing, plants start producing yield in nearly 45-50 days while you can expect 10-12 harvestings from most plants in their lifecycle. Harvesting should be done when the seeds are relatively soft, watery and fruits are green and lively. Use a sharp knife for harvesting.
Yield
Expected average yield is 30-45 QTL/ acre