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 and is used as alkalizer.

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.

Japanese Long Green: It is an early maturing. The fruits are 30-40cm long. Fruits are green from outside and light green from inside. It is suitable for whole India.

Straight Eight: It is early maturing varieties which has medium fruit size, long and cylindrical in shape and are green in color. It is suitable for sowing in whole India. The variety matures in 45-55 days.

China: It is late maturing variety. The fruits are long, cylindrical in shape, deep green in color and are hard in nature. White color stripes are seen on the fruits which contains internal white flesh.

Pusa Sanyog: It is a hybrid variety which is released by IARI, New Delhi. It is an early and high yield giving variety, which has 28-30cm long fruits. Fruits are deep green and cylindrical in shape, on which light lines are found. The fruits are ready for first harvesting after 50 days of sowing. Flesh is soft and crispy. The variety is suitable for hilly and plain areas of north India.
 
Pant Sankar Cucumber-1: Released by GBPAU, Pantnagar. The vines are 120cm long. Fruits are 20cm long, green, cylindrical in shape and has light lines on it. The fruits are ready for first harvesting after 50 days of sowing. The variety is suitable for hilly and plain areas of north India. It gives an average yield of 80qtl/acre.

Pant Cucumber-1: Released by GBPAU, Pantnagar. The fruits are long and light white color lines on it. The variety is suitable for hilly and plain areas of north India. Its sowing is done in March-July month and in hilly areas, sowing is done in March-April month. It gives an average yield of 80qtl/acre.

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 or cow dung is 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.

Time of sowing:
In plain areas, sowing is done in February-March month and in hilly areas, sowing is done in April-May month.

Spacing:
Use row to row spacing of 100cm and plant to plant spacing of 50cm.

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 are fixed 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
 

Seed rate:
Seed rate of 0.8-1.2kg is sufficient for one acre of land.

Seed treatment:
Before sowing treat seed with Carbendizim@2gm/kg of seeds. After chemical 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)

At the time of land preparation apply Well decomposed cow dung @42qtl/acre  and fertilizer dose of Nitrogen @14kg (Urea@31kg), phosphorus@3kg (DAP @20kg) and potassium@12kg (Muriate of potash@20kg) as a basal dose. At the time of sowing, apply one third of the Nitrogen dose along with Potassium and DAP. At the early stage of vein production i.e. one month of sowing apply rest of the dose.
 

• DIsease 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.

• Pest 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.

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.