Cucumbers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. They require little maintenance and produce large yields. In addition, they do not require much space to grow. You can easily find them in your local grocery store.
The botanical name is Citrullus Sativa (L.) Schrad., also known as Cucumis sativus L. It belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae, subfamily Cucumoideae, and tribe Cucumerineae.
Cucumbers grow well like a semitropical tropical plant. They grow best under conditions of high temperatures, humidity, and light intensities and with an uninterrupted supply o water and nutrients. In India, they are an important summer crop. The tender fruits are consumed raw or cooked. Also one may eat them after they have been cooked.
Cucumbers are grown across the world, including in major producing countries such as China, Iran, Turkey, and Russia, but India produces a significant amount of them. Some of
Economic Importance of Cucumber Farming
Cucumber growing has a great impact on the development of agriculture. It is one of the most popular vegetables around the world. In addition, it provides a lot of income for farmers. It is also an easy crop to grow. Organic growers get higher profits than conventional growers. You can expect to make more money if you grow your cucumbers organically. You should choose organic fertilizers and avoid chemical fertilizers.
Health Benefits of Cucumber
- Cucumbers keep you hydrated.
- It keeps us warm by fighting off cold and heat.
- It flushes out toxins
- Cucumbers are rich in vitamins A, B, and c. They boost immunity, give you extra strength, and keep you looking young.
- Cucumbers supply nutrients for healthy, glowing, beautiful-looking skins.
- It helps in the digestive process.
- Cucumbers are an excellent addition to any healthy eating plan.
Things To Consider In Commercial Cucumber Farming
- According to the size of the land craft, including financials and marketÂing aspects.
- Planting at the right time is important.
- Determine the requirements of fertilizers and nutrition by testing the soil.
- Select the best variety for agro-clime.
- You need to water the cucumbers. Therefore, you need to arrange an appropriate irrigation system.
- Be prepared for any potential plant protection issues.
Best Varieties For Cucumber Farming
These are oblong cucumbers. They give good yields and are resistant to diseases.
Pickling cucumber bears smaller fruit with bumpy. Some variety resists bacterial wilts, a common cucumber disease described below. Asian cucumber is long and slender, with a tiny seed cavity. Greenhouse cucumber produces self-fertile female flowers. You can grow many varieties of these slight shade-tolerant types under row covers or in High tunnels.
Other Cucumisspecies includeextraordinary,and‘Armenian‘and‘IndianPoonaKheeracucumber(bothC.Melo),‘WestIndianGherkin’(C.anguria)andjellymelon(C.metuliferousalsocalledAfricanhornedmelons).AlsoJapaneseLongGreen,StraightEightandPoinsetteprobablythemajorcultivars.
There are several improved varieties in India including:
Himani: A hybrid between Poinsettia (Poinsettia pul char) and Kalynpura agent. Its fruits are white in color, grow up to 15cm long, and resist bronzing for about 110 days.
Phule Shubhankar: You will find greenish-yellow colored skins. They are very tolerant to powdery mildew. Moreover, they yield more than var. Poona Khiras and Himangis.
Phule Prachi is an interspecific cross between two species of plants: Arundinaria Alpina (common name: giant reed) and Panicum maximum (common name: foxtail millet). It has been developed by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (
Sheetal: It yields about 250 – 300 quintals/hectares of fruits which are green, cylindric, and long with good storing qualities.
Phule Champa is one of the best varieties for growing fruits in India. You can grow this variety in both open fields and greenhouses. It produces good yields of fruits. These are light green in color and straight in shape. They ripen between mid-June and September.
Read: Profitable Vegetable Farming Business Ideas
Agro Climatic Condition For Cucumber Cultivation
The cucumber is an annual vegetable that belongs to the gourd family. Its fruit is edible, although it is generally used as a garnish rather than eaten raw. In addition to being delicious, cucumbers are also nutritious.
They contain vitamins A, B6, C, K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, molybdenum, boron, iodine, and vitamin E.
Cucumber Cultivation Basic Steps
Land Preparation
Plant seeds 4 times and then plant them 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart. Cucumber seeds need warm soils to germinate. They’re very sensitive to cold weather.
Planting
Plant the seeds at one end of the channel, thinning them out to two plants per hill. Give each plant a spacing of 0.60 meters (1.8 feet) apart. Plant the seeds at a seeding density of 2.50 to 4.00 kilograms per hectare.
Irrigation
Irrigate the fields before sowing the seed and after every seven days. You may also install a water supply pipe network. This crop needs plenty of water during its growth and maturity. But you can also install a rainwater collection tank.
Manuring
Make sure to input enough fertilizer and farm yard manure into the ground. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.
Related: Banana Cultivar Farming Guide For Beginners
Harvesting Cucumbers
Cucumbers usually take between 45 and 55 weeks to mature. Depending on the variety, they may produce up to 20 fruits per vine.
Cucumbers demand low initial capital investment, making them an attractive proposition for small vegetable growers. They last one week when stored at room temperature. Don’t keep cucumbers with apples and tomatoes because they spoil easily.
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