Origin

• Cucumber originated in India and is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables.
• It is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and has been cultivated for over 3,000 years in Asia.
• Later, it spread to the Mediterranean region, Europe, and the Americas.

Area of Cultivation

• Worldwide Distribution:
  • Grown in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
  • Major producers include China, India, USA, Russia, and Turkey.
• India:
  • Leading states include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
  • Widely cultivated as a summer vegetable and under protected cultivation (polyhouses).

Climate

• Seasonality: Cucumber is a warm-season crop that thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. It cannot tolerate frost or extreme cold.
• Temperature Range: Optimal Temperature: 25–30°C (daytime), 18–21°C (nighttime). Growth slows below 15°C and above 35°C.
• Rainfall: Requires moderate rainfall but cannot withstand waterlogging. Excessive humidity predisposes it to fungal diseases like downy mildew and anthracnose.

Soil Requirements

• Preferred Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soils with high organic matter. Loamy or sandy loam soils are ideal.
• pH Range: 6.0–7.5 is optimal; acidic soils (<5.5) require lime application.
• Drainage: Avoid heavy clay soils prone to waterlogging.

Improved Varieties

Open-Pollinated Varieties (OPVs):

1. Pusa Uday Fruits are medium-dark green and cylindrical. Suitable for spring-summer and rainy seasons.
2. Punjab Naveen High-yielding with crisp, tender fruits.
3. Arka Manik Suitable for processing and fresh market.

Hybrids:

1. Pant Hybrid C-3 High-yielding, resistant to downy mildew.
2. Arka Sumeet Resistant to leaf spot and powdery mildew.
3. NS 404 Popular for polyhouse cultivation with uniform fruits.

Parthenocarpic (Seedless) Varieties:

1. Pusa Seedless Cucumber High-quality seedless fruits. Suitable for protected cultivation.
2. Carmen F1 Hybrid Uniform, seedless fruits under greenhouse conditions.

Cultivation Practices

Time of Sowing

• Open Field:
  • Spring-Summer Crop: February–March.
  • Monsoon Crop: June–July.
  • Autumn-Winter Crop: October–November (frost-free areas).
• Greenhouse/Polyhouse Cultivation: Can be grown year-round.

Seed Rate

• Open Field: 1.5–2.0 kg/ha.
• Greenhouse: 200–300 g/ha.

Nursery and Transplanting

• Direct Sowing: Most common practice in open fields.
• Transplanting:
  • Raise seedlings in trays/polybags.
  • Transplant 2–3-week-old seedlings (3–4 true leaves) in the main field.

Planting Distance

• Open Field:
  • Row Spacing: 1.5–2.0 m.
  • Plant Spacing: 30–50 cm.
• Protected Cultivation:
  • Row Spacing: 1.0–1.5 m.
  • Plant Spacing: 30–40 cm.

Land Preparation

• Plough and level the field thoroughly.
• Apply 15–20 tons/ha of farmyard manure (FYM) during the last ploughing.

Fertilizer Requirements

• Basal Dose: NPK: 50:30:30 kg/ha. Apply phosphorus and potassium before sowing.
• Top Dressing:
  • Nitrogen in two splits:
    • At 3–4 weeks after sowing.
    • At flowering/fruit setting.
• Micronutrient Management: Apply boron (2 ppm) and zinc (3 ppm) as foliar sprays to improve yield.

Irrigation

• Frequency: Regular irrigation is essential, especially during flowering and fruit development.
• Methods: Drip irrigation is preferred for water efficiency and disease prevention.
• Critical Stages: Germination, flowering, and fruit setting. Avoid waterlogging as it causes root rot.

Weed Management

• Manual Weeding:
  • Perform 2–3 hand weedings during the early growth stages.
• Mulching:
  • Apply organic mulch (paddy straw) or plastic mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Chemical Weed Control:
  • Pre-emergence herbicide like Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha effectively controls weeds.

Physiological Disorders

Bitter Fruits Cause: Cucurbitacin accumulation due to water stress or temperature fluctuations. Management: Maintain consistent irrigation and balanced fertilization.

Misshapen Fruits Cause: Poor pollination or nutrient deficiencies (calcium, potassium). Management: Ensure adequate pollination (introduce honeybees) and supply calcium nitrate.

Fruit Cracking Cause: Sudden moisture availability after drought. Management: Regular irrigation to maintain consistent soil moisture.

Blossom-End Rot Cause: Calcium deficiency and irregular watering. Management: Apply calcium nitrate (0.2%) as a foliar spray and irrigate uniformly.

Common Pests and Diseases

Pests

• Aphids, Whiteflies, and Thrips: Controlled using neem-based insecticides or imidacloprid.
• Fruit Flies: Use pheromone traps or bait sprays.

Diseases

• Downy Mildew: Use fungicides like mancozeb or metalaxyl.
• Powdery Mildew: Apply sulfur-based fungicides.

Harvesting

• Harvest Maturity:
  • Fruits are harvested when they are tender, crisp, and green.
  • Harvest before seeds mature and fruits lose quality.
• Harvest Frequency:
  • Every 2–3 days, especially during peak fruiting.

Yield in Open-Field Cultivation

• Normal Varieties: Average Yield: 15–20 tons per hectare.
• High-Yielding Varieties: Average Yield: 25–30 tons per hectare.

Yield in Protected Cultivation (Polyhouse/Greenhouse)

• Parthenocarpic Varieties: Average Yield: 50–60 tons per hectare. Higher yields due to controlled environment and seedless fruit production.