Cucumber

1. Introduction
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family,
Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary
vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless.
Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged. The cucumber is
originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents. Many different
varieties are traded on the global market.
In a 100 gram serving, raw cucumber (with peel) is 95% water, provides 16 calories and
supplies low content of essential nutrients, as it is notable only for vitamin K at 16% of
the Daily Value. It has been in cultivation for at least 3000 years. Karnataka is a leading
in production and export of the Gherkins (Hybrid Cucumber) under the Contract Farming.
The genus Cucumis contains nearly 40 species including three important cultivated ones
C. anguria L. [West Indian gherkin]
C. sativus [cucumber]
2.Land selection and Preparation
2.1) Soils
➢ Adapted to a wide-range of soils, but will produce early in sandy soils. Cucumbers
prefer light textured soils that are well drained, high in organic matter and have a pH of
6 – 7. Cucumbers are fairly tolerant to acid soils.
➢ When the pH is too low, add ground calcitic limestone or an equal amount of dolomitic
limestone when the magnesium level in the soil is low, to raise it to a desirable level.
➢ In heavier soils vine growth will be greater and fruits mature
late.
2.2) Land preparation
➢ Plough the field four times and form long channels at 1.5 m
apart.
➢ Land should be thoroughly prepared in order to get fine tilth for
seed bed
➢ The land is prepared by ploughing for three to four times,
followed by planking.A well-pulverized soil promotes good soil aeration and enhances
root formation. Prepare the field as early as possible to give enough time for the weeds
and stubbles of previous crops to decompose. Plough the soil with chisel plough and
harrow 2 to 3 times alternately with intervals of one week. Plough at a depth of 15 to
20 cms. Harrow twice to break the clods and level the field.

➢ Preparation of beds:prepare beds 1-1.5 m width and 10-15 cm height.

 2.21) Mulching: Covering of soil around the root zone of plant with a plastic film is
called plastic mulching. Mulching conserves moisture in the soil.

2.22) Soil Solarization:The soil or root medium can be disinfected in warmer climate
by covering soil with transparent plastic in hot summer days. This will increase the heat
of the soil to a great extent and destroy many soil borne pathogens and insects.
However, solarization coupled with fumigation works better to control effectively a
good number of soil borne insects and diseases. Use of polyethylene film for soil
solarisation 25 micron transparent.

3. Season and Climate

3.1) Season
➢ In North India sowing of cucumber is done from Nov-January when it is grown in river
beds.
➢ For garden crops, it is sown by middle of February.
➢ For rainy crop it is sown in June-July. In South and central India where winter is mild
cucumber is grown almost throughout the year.
➢ In the hills the sowing season starts from April-May.
3.2) Climate
➢ It is essentially a warm season crop but is successfully grown in tropical, subtropical
and temperate regions.
➢ This is very susceptible to frost. Excess humidity promotes disease like Powdery
Mildew, Downy Mildew, anthracnose & pests such as fruitfly. Cucumber prefers
slightly lower temperature than Water melon and Muskmelon.
➢ The optimum temperature is 26.40C. If the temperature goes above 300C, the production
is reduced considerably .
➢ Seeds of cucumber geminates well if the day temperature is 250C.
4. Selection of crop/ variety/ planting material
 1.Pusa Sanyog
➢ (Japanese Gyn. Line x Green Long Naples)

➢ Early maturing and high yielding, fruits long, cylindrical and dark
green with yellow stripes, flesh crisp

Pusa Se Pusa seedless Cucumber-6

➢ First extra early (40-45 days for first fruit harvest) improved variety
of parthenocarpic gynoecious cucumber suitable for cultivation in
protected condition.
➢ Fruits are attractive, uniform, dark green, glossy, cylindrical,
straight, slightly ribbed, non-hairy, non-warty, slightly striped at
blossom end and has tender skin & crispy flesh.
➢ Average fruit length, width & weight are 14.24 cm, 3.45cm & 105
g, respectively.
➢ Average fruit yield is 126 t/ha (1260 kg/ 100 m2) during winter
season (off-season, November-March).
Pusa Uday
➢ Selection from Indigenous material
➢ The plants (vines) are 1 to 1.5 m long. The flowering behaviour is
monoecious.
➢ The fruits are medium in size (13-15 cm long), light green in colour
with whitish green stripes

. Japanese long green

➢ Plants are early, prolific bearing, first picking starts in 45 days after sowing. Fruits are yellowish
green, 30-40 cm long, whitish green with light green and crisp flesh. This variety essentially
requires staking for straight fruts
➢

Fruits thick, green, tasty while brown at maturity. This variety is suitable for cultivation in rainy season.
This variety has yield potential of 100-125 q/ha.
Punjab Kheera-1
➢ Released in 2018. It has dark green color fruits which are bitter less having an average weight
of 125gm and average length of 13-15cm. harvesting can be done after 45 and 60 days of sowing
in September and January month sown crop. It gives an average yield of 304qtl/acre when sown
in September month and 370qtl/acre when sown in January month.

Phule Shubangi
➢ Fruits green, colour of fruit remains after storage, surface smooth with trichoms. Plants are
tolerant to pod borer, anthracnose, leaf spot and leaf under field condition. Fruits are smooth
and attractive green fruits with white strips at apical end.

Phule Priyanka
➢ Fruits dark green, highly prickled, 20 cm long, suitable for rainy and summer seasons, tolerant
to downey mildew, average yield 282.7 q/ha
➢ Hybridization : RHRB-5 x RHRBG4
4.1) Planting
➢ Sow the cucumber seeds during June or January to April. About 1-1.2 kg of cucumber seeds is
required for a acre. Treat the cucumber seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 grams/kg or
Trichoderma viride 4 grams/kg or Carbendazim 2 grams/kg of seeds before sowing.

➢ The cucumber seed is sown by the method of dibbling at a distance of 1.5 m to 2.5 m (row to
row) x 60 cm to 90 cm. (Plant spacing). Two to three cucumber seeds are sown in each pit.
Layout in Ring & basing method is preferred.

5. Water Management
➢ Drip Irrigation is the most effective method for cucumber farming. Install a drip
irrigation system with main and sub-main pipes and place the inline lateral tubes at an
interval of 1.5meter. Place the drippers in lateral tubes at an interval of 60 cm and 50
cm spacing with 4 LPH and 3.5 LPH capacities respectively. For summer crop irrigation
should be given to maintaining moisture and for rainy season crop irrigation is needed.
6. Integrated Nutrient Management
INM refers to the maintenance of soil fertility and of plant nutrient supply at an optimum level
for sustaining the desired productivity through optimization of the benefits from all possible
sources of organic, inorganic and biological components in an integrated manner.
6.1 Organic: Apply 10 kg of FYM per pit, neem cake @ 100 kg before last ploughing
6.2 Bio-Fertilizer:Apply Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @2 kg/acre and Pseudomonas 2.5
kg/acre as a basal dose along with FYM.
6.3 Chemical fertilizer:
· Application of 100:75:50 Kg NPK/ha is found to be optimum for plant growth &
development of fruits.
Full dose of P &K & half of N should be applied as basal dose and remaining 50% N should
be incorporated into the soil during earthing up.

· Spray Ethrel @ 2.5 ml per 10 litres of water after 15 days of sowing and once in a week
after that. This will help increase in yield.

6.4 Speciality fertilizer:

Soil: Apply DNP-G @3-4bags per acre as a basal dose along with 10kg of each PH-50 and
Amino-G

6.5 Foliar application:

Bio- Max: Dissolve 3 ml of “Bio Max” and 5gms of 19:19:19 in 1 litre of water. First spray
after 15days of planting and next @ 30 days of plating.
Total: Dissolve 5 g of “Total” in every litre of water or 1kg in 200 litres of water and : spray
on both surfaces of leaves. Repeat spray at monthly interval.
Drip: Apply Bumper crop kit at 15-20 days of planting which will enhance the yield and also
avoid the soil borne diseases.
 6.5) Nutrient deficiency symptoms

Elements Symptoms Remedies Picture

N Lighter green or yellow coloured Urea contains 46%

leaves (first evident in older leaves) Nitrogen.
- some plants Top dressing with
Nitrogen deficiency symptoms inorganic nitrogen
begin as pale green leaves, often fertilizer @10-20 Kg
smaller than normal; and stunted, N/ha.
weak shoot growth Foliar spray of nitrogen
fertilizers @ 0.5% N.
P Phosphorus deficiency symptoms Correct soil pH by
begin with reduced growth with adding adjuvants.
short, thin shoots. Leaves are small, Apply p 205 @ 40-50
and defoliation follows starting with kg/ha as single or tripl(
the lower leaves. phosphate.
Spray with 1-2%
solutiol) of triple super
phosph;

K Potassium deficiencies are first Normally, about 50 kg

characterized by reduced growth, K2O/ha will be
weak stems, and shoot die-back. adequate for the soil
Early symptoms may be difficult to deficient in potassium.
distinguish. Leaf symptoms include Potassium may be
dull bluish-green discolorations, supplied regularly in the
particularly in the interveinal areas form of potassium
of the leaves, dull, general chlorosis sulphate.
particularly at the leaf tips and
margins; then tip burning and
marginal scorch on the older leaves
with the leaves curling under or
upwards

Ca Calcium deficiency symptoms Calcium deficiency can

appear initially on the young leaves be corrected by liming
and the shoot apex. New leaves are the soil in the
distorted with hooked tips and appropriate quantity.
curled margins, which are irregular Apply calcium
and may show brown scorching or containing fertilizers
spotting. Calcium deficiency can like gypsum or chelates
also cause roots of the plants to etc.
become stunted, translucent, and Calcium Chelate 1 - 4%
bulbous with dead tips.
Mg Magnesium deficiency symptoms Spray of foliage with
begin with chlorosis, sometimes 1% MgSO4 solution to
with red or orange coloration on the correct the deficiency.
oldest leaves. As symptoms
progress the older leaves shrivel and
drop, the veins on the remaining
leaves stay green and the interveinal
areas have an orange chlorotic
mottle. Growth can be much
reduced.
S Symptoms of Sulfur deficiency are Sulphur deficiency can
much like those caused by Nitrogen: be corrected by
reduced leaf size, stunted growth, applying fertilizers
chlorosis, orange to purplish containing sulphur like
pigmentation and delayed maturity Ammonium sulphate,
Sulphate of Potash.
Ammonium Sulphate
24%
Single Super Phosphate
12% paramohos 15%
Fe A deficiency of Iron causes a Apply 10 kg/ha iron
decrease in the size of chloroplasts, sulphate through soil;
reduced chlorophyll and reduced spray 0.5% FeSO4 +
photosynthesis. Symptoms include 0.1%citric acid; add
yellow or white chlorosis between 0.2% urea in the spray
green veins on younger leaves and solution for better
poor vigor leading to death of the results
shoot tips. These symptoms are
most serious in poorly drained,
alkaline soils.
Mn Symptoms of Manganese Apply 10 kg/ha
deficiency start as interveinal manganese sulphate
mottled chlorosis, the leaves through soil; foliar
become yellow and then develop application @ 0.12 kg
small necrotic lesions in the most Mn/ha is useful
chlorotic areas. Reduced leave size
and crimping of leaf margins are
also possible symptoms
Zn Zinc deficiency symptoms begin Apply 15 kg/ha or more
with interveinal chlorosis. The first Zn through soil; spray
leaves in the spring on trees remain 10 kg/ha ZnSO4
small, the stems fail to elongate and
the leaves appear to be in whorls or
rosettes.
Mo Symptoms of Molybdenum Apply 1 kg/ha
deficiency start with the older ammonium molybdate
leaves and progress towards the tip. with NPK fertilizers
The first symptom is yellow-green through soil; spray 200
or pale orange interveinal mottling ppm ammonium
distributed uniformly over the leaf. molybdate before
Marginal wilting, inrolling and flowering
cupping follow the chlorosis and
flower formation is suppressed
Bo Boron deficiency symptoms vary Spray 10 kg/ha borax or
between plants but some general 0.2% borax through
symptoms are injury to plants soil; foliar application
meristem and actively dividing of 0.1 ppm B
tissues and death of the apical
meristem. This can lead to a bushy
plant habit or the death of all buds
preventing new growth

7) Integrated Pest Management

IPM refers to an ecosystem based strategy that focuses on long term prevention of pest
or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat
manipulation , modification of cultural practices and use of resistant varieties.
7.1) Insect pest
1. Fruit fly (Bactrocera Cucurbitae)
This is a major pest of majority of cucurbits especially that of bitter gourd, snake
gourd, pointed gourd, muskmelon, oriental pickling melon, watermelon, tinda
and pumpkin.
Adult fly has reddish brown body with transparent and shiny wings,
bearing yellow-brown streaks. It lays eggs singly or inclusters of 4-12
in flower or developing fruits or ripening fruits with the help of sharp
ovipositor of females. Eggs hatch in 2-9 days and maggots feed
oninternal contents of fruits causing rotting. Pupation is in ground at a
depth of 1.5-15.0 cm. Infestation is more during rainy season.
Adopt following package for manage of fruit fly:
1. Cover developing fruits with paper cover or polythene cover immediately after anthesis and
pollination.
2. Collect and destroy affected fruits by dipping in hot water or insecticide solution. Do not
leave infested fruits on gourd.
3. Use light trap and poison baits during night. Spray a bait solution containing 200 g gur or
sugar and 20 ml Malathion 50 EC in 20 1 of water as coarse droplets on lower surface of leaves.
4. Spraying on under surface of leaves of maize plants grown in rows at a distance of 8-10 m
in cucurbit field is also effective as flies rest on such tall plants.
5. Hang baits containing sex attractants like pheromones or protein hydrolysate with Furadan
granules. Hanging coconut shells with pieces of fully ripened fruits of “Mysore poovan”
banana or toddy or molasses along with Furadan granules also attract and kill fruit flies.
2. Red Pumpkin Beetle (Aulacophorafoveicollis)
Beetle attacks most of cucurbits especially melons, bottle gourd, pumpkin,
cucumber, water melon etc. Bitter gourd is not seen attacked by beetle. Beetles
eat the leaf lamina causing defoliation particularly at cotyledon stage of crop.
Grubs feed on underground stem and root portion of plants causing holes /
galleries and result in drying up of plants. As insects pupate in the soil, deep
ploughing soon after the crop exposes and kills grubs and pupae.
Application of Furadan 3G granules 3-4 cm deep in soil near base of just
germinated seedlings will take care of young seedlings from attack of beetle.

3. Red spider mites (Tetranychus sp.)

Larvae, nymphs and adults of mites lacerate leaves from under surface and
suck sap resulting in production of white patches between veins in
Cucurmismelo. Infested leaves turn yellow and fall of prematurely. In severe
cases, intense webbing occurs giving a dusty appearance to under surface of
leaves.
Management: Mites can be controlled by spray of neem oil garlic mixture or
Kelthane or Dicofol on under surface of the leaves.

4. Leaf miner (Liriomyza Trifolii)

This polyphagous pest causes characteristic white twisting lines in ash gourd,
Cucurmis sativus and Cucurmismelo. Severe leaf mining accelerates leaf drop and
retards growth and yield of plants. Yellow larvae can be seen at the end of mines.
Larval duration is 4-6 days. When larva is ready to pupate, it cuts a semi-circular
slit on leaf surface and fall down on ground. Larvae emerge from leaves during
early morning before 8.00 a.m.
Management: For control of miner, trap adults to yellow cards applied with
adhesives. Burning infested dried leaves will help in reduction of population.
Spraying neem oil garlic mixture early in morning before sunrise will be an
effective control.
7.2 Diseases
1. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum)
Fusarium wilt is a serious disease water melon, musk melon, bottle gourd etc. In
young seedlings, cotyledons drop and wither. Older plants wilt suddenly and
vascular bundles at the collar region show brown discolouration. Being a soil
borne disease, chemical control is very difficult.
Management:Cultivation of resistant varieties and crop rotation with resistant
crops are viable methods for overcoming the disease. To some extent, the disease
can be checked by hot water treatment of seeds at 55oC for 15 minutes and by
drenching soil with carbendazim.
2. Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca Fuliginea)
This disease is more destructive in pumpkin, squashes, bottle gourd, melon and
cucumber, that too, during rain free periods. Symptoms appear as white to dirty
grey spots or patches on leaves which become white powdery as they enlarge.
Powdery coating covers entire plant parts and causes defoliation.
Management: Fortnightly spray of Karathane (0.5%) or Calixin (0.05%) or
Carbendazim (0.1%) are recommended for control of powdery mildew.
3. Downy mildew (Pseudoperonosporacubensis)
 Disease is prevalent in areas of high humidity, especially during rainy season,
on crops like bitter gourd, snake gourd, melon, bottle gourd and ridge gourd.
Symptoms appear as water soaked lesions on under surface of leaf lamina and
angular spots on upper surface corresponding to the water-soaked lesions on
under surface. Disease spreads very fast.
Management: Plucking and destruction of affected leaves and spraying Dithane
M-45 (0.2%) on under surface of leaves giveeffective control.
4. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum Lagenarium)
This disease is endemic in warm and humid conditions where rainfall and
humidity are high. Cucurbits like watermelon, bottle gourd, cucumber and snake
gourd are more susceptible to disease. Different types of symptoms are observed
on leaves, petioles, stem and fruits. Symptoms on young fruits appear in the form
of numerous water soaked depressed oval spots, which coalesce covering large
areas. Under humid conditions, pink masses of spores can be seen in centre of these
spots. Pink gummy exudation may also be seen on lesions due to exudation of
spores. Symptoms on vines occur as brownish specks which grow into angular to
circular spots.
Management:Girdling of affected portion leads to general blight symptoms. Clean cultivation
and crop rotation minimize disease incidence. Treating seeds with Carbendazim @ 25 g/kg of
seed and spraying crop at 10 days intervals with Indofil M-45 (0.35%). Benomyl or
Carbendazim (0.1%) gives effective control.
5. Alternaria blight and fruit rot (Alternariacucumerina)
This is a serious disease under warm and humid conditions in crops like musk
melon, water melon, bottle gourd, snake gourd, cucumber and pumpkin.Severely
affected vines look like burnt charcoal.
Management:Use of disease free seeds, clean cultivation and crop rotation are
effective for control of disease. Spray of 0.25% Indofil M-45 at 10-15 days
interval is effective for disease control.
6. Mosaic
Viral disease are causing extensive damage to different cucurbits like pumpkin
and squashes, water melon, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, ash gourd, melon,cucumber and coccinia.
Viral diseases are becoming serious due to intensive and continuous cultivation of a crop with
indiscriminate use of plant protectionchemicals. Several viruses like
aphid transmitted cucumber mosaic virus, watermelon mosaic viruses
like aphid transmitted cucumber mosaic virus,watermelon mosaic
virus, mechanically transmissible tobacco virus group, non-sap
transmissible but white fly transmissible yellow vein mosaic virus etc.
cause malformation and damage to plants. Symptoms expressed by host
plant vary with virus and crop. Mosaic mottling, curling and twisting
of leaves, shortening ofinternodes, stunted growth are common
symptoms and vegetative growth, flowering and productivity are
adversely affected once crop is infected.
Management:Complete control of the diseases is not possible.
Adoption of practices like collection of seeds from healthy virus free
plants, seed treatment with hot air (70oC for 2 days) or hot water (55oC for 60 minutes), clean
cultivation and removal of alternate hosts particularly weeds, avoiding relay cropping of
susceptible crops, prophylactic spray of organic pesticides, control of vectors by spraying
insecticides, use of biocontrol agents, cultivation of tolerant / resistant varieties, avoiding
cropping during mosaic prone season and areas, either alone or in combination have to be tried
for raising a mosaic free crop. Selection of methods for control of viral diseases should be
based on intensity of infection, mode of transmission, etc.
8. Weed Management
➢ Shallow cultivation can be given during the early stages of cucumber plant growth to
control the weeds.
➢ Herbicides may be used for controlling the weeds.
9. Cultural practices
I) Training and Pruning
➢ Basic principle in developing training system is to uniformly maximize the leaf
interception of sunlight throughout the house.
➢ Staking in cucumber has been found to be very effective in getting maximum yield and
better quality of fruits.
➢ Three training systems having system specific spacing
● V-System (60 X 60 cm)
● Umbrella System (60 X 60 cm)
● Single stem system (60 X 45 cm)
Stages of development for V-SYSTEM

Stages of development for UMBRELLA SYSTEM

Stages of development for SINGLE STEM SYSTEM

10. Harvesting
➢ Cucumber crop matures within 40 - 50 days and harvesting starts 45 - 55 days after

planting.
➢ Harvest during summer to early fall depending on planting time, and variety.
➢ Picking of fruits at the right edible maturity stage is dependent upon the varieties.
➢ White spine colour is indication for edible maturity in slicing cucumber.
➢ Black spine colour for pickling cucumber.
➢ Optimum length of the fruit will be around 20-25cm at edible maturing stage,
depending upon the cultivar