The botanical name of cucumber is Cucumis sativus. Cucumbers are originated in India. It is a climbing plant which is used as summer vegetable throughout in India. The cucumber fruit is eaten raw or is served as a salad or cooked as a vegetable. The seeds of cucumber are used for oil extraction which is good for body and brain. Cucumbers contain 96% water which is good in summer season. The plants are large sized, leaves are hairy and are triangular in shape and flowers are yellow in color. Cucumber is an excellent source of Mb (Molybdenum) and Vitamin K. Cucumber is used to cure skin problems, kidney and heart problems.

In Maharashtra, near about 3720 hectare area is under cucumber cultivation.

It can be sown in variety of soils ranging from sandy loam to heavy soil. But a loamy soil which is rich in organic matter and has well drainage system is best for the cucumber farming. The pH ranging from 6-7 is suited best for cucumber farming.

Pusa Uday: The variety is developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). The fruits of this variety are light green in color, medium sized and are 15cm in length. Use 1.45 kg of seed in per acre of land. The variety gets mature within 50-55 days. It gives an average yield of 65 qtl/acre.

Arka shital : Fruits are light green color. Gives average yield of 80qtl/acre. 

Poona Khira: Early growing variety. Fruits are of light green color with deliciuos,crispy, juicy and sweet flesh. Gives good yield in hot and arid climate. 

Pusa Sanyog: Early and high yielding hybrid. Fruits are crisp with yellow strips. Ready for first picking in 45 to 50days. Gives average yield of 100 to 110qtl/acre.

Himangi: High yielding, medium heighted variety with cylindrical fruits. Skin color is creamy with crispy flesh.  

Phule Shubhangi: Developed by Mahatma Krushi Vidyapith. Suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. 

Poinsett: Deep green color fruits, 15-20cm long, first harvesting is done after 60 days and gives an average yield of 50-52qtl/acre. It is suitable for growing in low and intermediate areas.

For cucumber plantation, it requires well prepared and weed free field. To bring soil to fine tilth, 3-4 ploughings must be done before planting. FYM orwell decomposed cow dung@8-10ton/acreis mixed with soil to enrich the field.Prepared bed of 30cm width and of convenient length. Keep distance of 1.5m to 2m between two beds.

To protect crop from white, red ants, treat soil with Carbofuran@10kg/acre.

Time of sowing:

It is cultivated in kharif as well as in summer season. For kharif season, June -July is optimum time for seed sowing. For summer season, January is optimum time for cultivation.

Spacing:

Depending upon sowing method (for sowing bed, furrow or pits are used) spacing may get vary. For sowing use row to row spacing of 1.5m and plant to plant spacing of 30-45cm.

Sowing depth:

Seeds are sown at the depth of 2-3cm.

Method of sowing:

• Low tunnel technology: This technology is used to produce early yield of cucumber in early summer. It helps to protect the crop from cold season i.e. in the month of December and January.Beds of 2.5m width are sown in the month of December. Seeds are sown both sides of the bed at the distance of 45cm.Before sowing supportive rods of 45-60cm length arefixed in the soil. Cover the field with plastic sheet (100 gauge thickness) with the help of support rods. Plastic sheet should be removed mainly in the month of February when temperature is suitable outside.

• Dibbling method

• Transplanting method: Sow seeds in polythene bag containing potting mixture. Seedling are ready for transplantation three weeks after sowing or at two leaf stage.

Seed rate:

For sowing of one acre land, use seed rate of 1 to 1.4kg. 

Seed treatment:

Before sowing treat seed with Carbendizim@2gm/kg of seeds. After chemical treatment, treat seeds with Trichoderma viiridi@4gm per kg of seeds. Dry seeds in shade and then do sowing immediately.

In rainy season, it does not require any irrigation. In summer season, it requires frequent irrigation. Provide irrigation at interval four to seven days. Two days before harvesting, apply irrigation. It will keep fruits fresh, shiny and attractive. 

 Keep bed weed free during early stage of growth. In absence of proper control measures, weed can cause yield loss of 30%. 15-20days after sowing, carry out intercultural operations. Depending upon severity and intensity of weeds, two to three weeding are required.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Crop required well decomposed cow dung @8-10ton/acre, Urea@90kg, SSP@125kgandMOP@35kg/acre. Apply well decomposed cow dung, full dose of Potash and Phosphorus, and half dose of Nitrogen, three to fourth week before seed sowing. 

Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen 25-30days after sowing.

If crop growth is not proper then take spray of Urea@10gm per Ltr of water.

• Diseases and their control:

Anthracnose: It attacks almost all parts of the cucumber which are above the ground. The symptoms are yellowish color circular spots are seen on the older leaves and the circular and sunken spots are seen on the fruit.

Treatment: Fungicidal application of Chlorothalonil and benomyl is given to protect the crop from disease.

Bacterial wilt: It is caused by Erwinia tracheiphila. It affects the vascular tissues of the plant which result in immediate wilting.

Treatment: Spraying of foliar insecticides is done to cure the bacterial wilt.

Powdery mildew: The symptoms are appearance of white powdery spots on upper surface of leaves which causes leaf withering.

Treatment: Application of carbendazim@2gm in 1ltr of water will help to cure powdery mildew. It can also be controlled by fungicidal sprays of Chlorothalonil, benomyl or dinocap.

Mosaic: The symptoms are stunted growth of plant, leaves turn down and fruit knobs become light yellow in color.

Treatment: Application of Diazinon is done to cure mosaic disease. Use of Immidachloprid-17.8%SL @7ml in 10ltr of water is done to cure disease.

• Pests and their control:

Fruit fly: It is serious pest found in cucumber. Females fly lay eggs below epidermis of young fruits. Later on maggots feed on pulp afterward fruits starts rotting and get drop.

Treatment: Foliar application of Neem oil @3.0%is given to cure the crop from fruit fly pest.

Plants start yielding in about 45-50 days after sowing. Mainly 10-12 harvestings can be done. Harvesting is mainly done when the seed of cucumber are soft and the fruits are green and young. Harvesting is done with the help of sharp knife or any sharp object. It gives an average of 33-42qtl/acre of yield.

Brown color fruits are best for seed production. For seed extraction, fruit pulp is taken out in fresh water for 1-2 days for the easy separation of seeds. The seeds are then rubbed with hands and as a result heavy seeds will settle down in water and then they are preserved for further use.