PUMPKIN

Botanical Name Family : : Cucurbita moschata

: Cucurbitaceae

Chromosome Number : 2n= 40

Origin : America

Area and production:

Pumpkin is grown throughout India. In India, C. moschata or field pumpkin is more Widely distributed
than other species. As it tolerates hotter conditions Than the Other cultivated species of Cucurbita, it is
the most widely grown throughout the tropics of both hemispheres today.

States Area(ha) Production(t)

Assam 3,518 6,266
Orissa 38,645 5,13,980
Punjab 300 9,000
Rajasthan 674 3,533
43,137 5,32,779

Economic importance:
It is an important cucurbitaceous vegetable extensively grown in different parts of
the country for its immature and mature fruits. They are used as fresh vegetable, processed food
and stock feed. Immature and mature fruits are cooked as a vegetable. Their flesh is delicious
when stewed, boiled or baked. They are sweetish when fully mature and fully ripen fruits are
meshed and used for the preparation of a delicacy called halwa, other sweets and jams. They
can also be candied or fermented to give a beverage. The Yerusseri prepared from immature
fruits is very popular in Kerala. Fruit is also mixed with tomato in the preparation of sauce.
Sometimes young tender tops of shoots and leaves are also cooked as vegetable. Pumpkin is one
of the most popular summer vegetables grown all over India on a commercial scale. Because of
its high carotene content and good keeping quality, it is considered as a vegetable of immense
value. There is a good deal of confusion about the identity of the Indian cultivated species.
Many of them are known by the same vernacular names. They are all utilized in the same way
and the methods of cultivation are similar.

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 . The flowers of pumpkin are more nutritive than fruits. The seeds after removing
from seed coats are used in confectionery. This crop is specially known for its low -cost of
production and long keeping quality. The fruits can be kept for several months. The young
leaves, flowers and fruits are rich in carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. Importance of
pumpkin as a potential supplier of carotene has not been exploited till now. Medicinal uses of
pumpkin to reduce tapeworm infection and its use as a diuretic are yet to be explored on a large
scale.

Differences in flavour, consistency and appearance of varieties are related to their

composition which determines their suitability for various purposes. Some varieties are
excellent for culinary use during the early stages of maturity and very poor for the same use at
later stages, while the reverse may be true of other varieties.The varieties show differences in
the composition of their fruits. Varieties with high sugar content contain larger amounts of acid
hydrolysable polysaccharides; those with high total solids are rich in soluble solids and
moderately rich in total nitrogen.

Varieties:
Varieties grown in the country differ in colour, shape and size of fruits, flesh colour etc. Characters of
improved varities development in Indian are furnished below.

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 The distinguishing morphological characters among four cultivated species of Cucurbita are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Key characteristics differentiating the cultivated species of cucurbita

Species Common Habit Skin Stem Androecium Peduncle Fruit flesh Stage of Funic Seed
Name texture colour and edible ular margin
texture fruit attache
ment
of seed
C.moschata pumpkin Annual Hard rind, Moderatel Lind slender Hard, Fine grained Ripe, Obtuse Scalloped
smooth y hard, columnar smoothly asymmetrical strong slightly obtuse
surface smoothly substance sticking angular, long flavour
angled to seed. Yellow to keeping
orange flesh quality
C. pepo Summer Annual Hard, Hard, Short, thick Hard, angular Coarse grained, Immature Obtuse Smooth
squash angular angular deep yellow poor symme obtuse
flesh keeping trical
quality
C.maxima Winter Annual Hard Soft Short, thick Soft basically Fine grained, immature Acute Smooth
squash round columnar round, but without asymm obtuse
enlarged by gelatinous etrical
soft cork substance
sticking to seed
C.mixta Winter Annual Hard Hard Long slender Hard basically Coarse grained, Immature Obtuse Barely
squash angular columnar deep yellow slightly scalloped
flesh asymm acute
etrical

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Varieties

Name Source Remarks

Arka IIHR, A variety of C. maxima. It is a selection from a foreign
Suryamukhi Bangalore introduction. Fruits are small (1-1.5kg) round with flat ends and
deep-orange with streamy streaks on the rind. Flesh is firm and
orange- yellow in colour. Keeping and transport qualities are good.
It is also resistant to fruit fly (Daucus cucurbitae). It yields 36
tonnes/ha in
100 days duration.
Arka IIHR, A selection from Rajasthan collection (IIHR 105).
Chandan Hessargatta Fruits are medium in size (2-3 kg), round with blos-
som end. Rind colour is light-brown with creamy- patches at
maturity. Flesh is thick, firm, sweet (TSS 8-10%), bright-orange
and rich in carotene (3331 iu/100g of flesh) and keeping qualities
are good and has got pleasant aroma. Fruits mature in 120 days and
yield 32.5 tonnes/ha.
CO 1 TNAU, A local collection with late maturing large, sized (7-8 kg) globular
Coimbatore fruits with a characteristic broad proximal end. The distal end will
be slightly tapering to form a tip. Immature fruits are dark-green in
colour and turns to brownish-orange after full maturity. Fruit
number per plant is 7-9 and flesh thickness is 4-5 cm. Yield 30
tonnes/ha and duration 150-160 days.
CO 2 TNAU, A local selection with small flat fruits (1.5-2.0kg). An early
Coimbatore maturing type (135 days) and yield about 23-25 tonnes/ha each
plant produces 10-12 fruits. Fruit colour is green.
Ambili KAU, A pure line selection from a local cultivar of Thrissur. A vigorously
Vellanikkara growing variety having flat round fruits of medium size (5-6 kg)
with shallow grooves. Immature fruits are green and turn tan
coloured during maturity. Leaves are characterized by white spots
on the upper surface of the lamina. Flesh thickness is 4cm and yield
potential is 34 tonnes/ha and matures in 130 days.
Saras KAU, Fruits elongate, orange fleshed, Medium sized, yield 39t/ha.
Vellanikkara
Soorj KAU, Fruits round, Orange fleshed and average yield is 35t/ha

5
 Vellanikkara
Suvarna KAU, Fruits flat round green with white patches and spots at immature
Vellanikkara stage turning light brown at mature stage flesh orange in colour.
average fruit length 13.5cm yield 37 t/ha
Pusa IARI, New A local selection of the line 'CM 10' A vigorously growing variety
Biswas Delhi having dark-green leaves with white- spots veins, Fruits are
spherical medium (5kg) and light-brown with thick golden-
yellow flesh. Matures in 120 days and yield potential is 20
tonnes/ha.
Pusa Vikas IARI, New A small fruited semi dwarf to dwarf type. The fruits are-small
Delhi (2.0kg), round and flat with yellow flesh. Highly, suitable for
cultivation in spring-summer season in North India. Its yield
potential is 30 tonnes/ha.
Solan YSPUH&F. Fruits are small and yield 22.5t/ha
Badami Solan

Arka Chandan

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Soil
Pumpkin is sensitive to acidic soils. A deep well drained loamy soil is preferred.
Sandy loams are good for raising early crop whereas clay loams are good for high yield. Both
should be with ample organic matter content. The long tap root system is adapted to its growth
in river beds. The best pH should be 6.0-7.0.Soiltemperature should not go below 10°C and
maximum beyond 30°C, the optimum range is around 20°-25°C. Soil-moisture should be at
least 10-15% above the permanent wilting point.

Climate
The plants can be grown successfully between temperature ranges of 25°-30°C.
Above 40°C and below 15°C the growth of the plant will be very slow and the yield goes
down. It does not tolerate frost.Pumpkin requires a long and warm growing season. It can be
grown in relatively cooler climates than the other cucurbits. Short-days, low-night
temperature and high-relative humidity is best for pumpkin production.
Season
In Tamil Nadu, pumpkin is sown during June-July and December-January. In Kerala
the best time is October even though it can be grown throughout the year. The mosaic
incidence will be less during this time. The crop is sown in April-May in hills of North
India and June-July or January-March in plains. This crop is grown in summer and rainy
seasons. In south and central India, where winter is neither severe nor long, these are grown
almost round the year.

Preparation of field
The field is ploughed four or five times. Various systems of cultivation have been
adopted depending on the season. In rainy season, raised beds or mounds are made to facilitate
drainage. The pits are filled with a mixture of farmyard manure (20-25 tonnes/ha) and top soil
and basal dose of fertilizers are mixed with the soil. In summer season, pits of 60cm diameter
and 45m depth are taken at a spacing of 2m in rows spaced at 4.5m. Furrows can also be
taken at 4.5m spacing. Along these lines, long channels of 60cm width are formed for
irrigation.
Spacing
The recommended crop spacing in Kerala is 4.5 x 2m. But in Tamil Nadu it is 2.5
x 2m. In Punjab it is 3m x 60cm. In West Bengal, the crop is sown at a spacing of 3.4m x1.8-
2.5m.

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Sowing
The recommended seed rate varies in different states. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu it
is 1.0-1.5kg/ha, while in Punjab it is 3-5kg/ha. Two seeds per hill are sown on both sides
of raised beds or furrows. In pits, 4-5 seeds are sown and pits are pot watered till
germination. The seeds germinate in 7-8 days and after germination 2-3 healthy seedlings
are left in each pit and other seedling are thinned out. After germination of seeds, the pits
can be irrigated through channels once in three days.

Nutrition
The doses of manures and fertilizers depend upon the soil type, climate and system of
cultivation. Various recommendations are furnished below:

Nutrients recommended for pumpkin in diff erent states of India

State Nutrients (kg/ha)
N P K
Punjab 100 50 50
Himachal Pradesh 150 100 50
Karnataka 100 100 40
Madhya Pradesh 60 50 50
Tamil Nadu 32 24 24
Assam 75 80 80
Kerala 70 25 25

The remaining N is to be applied in two equal split doses at the time of vining and
at the time of full blooming. Well rotten farmyard manure is applied as basal dose along
with the full dose of phosphorus and potash and half dose of nitrogen. In general, high N
under high temperature condition promotes maleness in flowering resulting in low fruit set
and low yield. Excessive vine growth can be pruned manually to promote higher female to
male ratio. This is not practiced in commercial growing and the best way to control the vine
growth within reasonable limits is by adjusting fertilizer doses and frequency of irrigation. It
is better to complete all the fertilizer applications just before the fruit set.

Irrigation
. During flowering and fruiting stages, irrigation should be given on alternate days.
During initial stages of growth, irrigation is given at an interval of 3 -4 days Later

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irrigation may be given at 5-7 days intervals. Excessive irrigation at maturity is not
desirable as it may adversely affect the storability.

Weed control
Regular weeding should be done. Herbicides can also be used for this purpose. According
to Khurana et al. (1988), pre-plant incorporation of Besulide @ 4-6kg/ha or Alachlor 2.5kg/ha
as pre-emergence can be used for weed control in pumpkin.
Use of Growth regulators
A growth regulator, Ethrel can be applied to increase the female flower production which
helps to increase the yield. The concentration of the chemical is very important. The
recommended concentration is 250ppm (2.5m1 of Ethrel in 10 litres of water). The first
spray has to be given when there are two-true-leaves (15 days after sowing). This is repeated
once in a week for 3 more times.

Training
For trailing pumpkin, dried twigs are spread on the ground. During the time of manuring,
raking of soil should be done. Then the plants are irrigated immediately.

Harvesting and yield

It is better to harvest at tender stage as a vegetable, this increases the yield. But for
storage and seed extraction, it should be harvested only after full maturity. The pumpkin
crop will reach maturity in about 75-180 days after seed sowing depending on the variety,
season and other conditions. Fully matured fruits have to be harvested after the skin colour
has turned completely brown from green colour and the pedicel (fruit stalk) separates from
the vine or dried. Fully matured fruits have a long storage-life and they can also be
transported easily to distant markets.

Yield
The yield varies from 20-30 tonnes/ha in crop duration of 120-140 days.
Storage
Pumpkin can be stored more than six months at a temperature of 100C and a relative
humidity of 85 per cent. Lower temperature is harmful which may cause blemishes.

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 SUMMER SQUASH

Botanical name :Cucurbita pepo

Family : Cucurbitaceae
Chromosome number : 2n=40
Origin : America probably in north-eastern Mexico
Common name : Vilayatikaddu or Chappan kaddu or Safed
Kaddu

Area and production

This crop is grown in limited scale in Punjab, Delhi and UP. Summer squash or

vegetable marrow or field pumpkin is a quick growing and early yielding cucurbit which is
cultivated throughout India. The fruits however, have many shapes and sizes. Summer squash
is an annual bush or vine often trailing in habit. They produce stem with greatly shortened
internodes and set fruits in close succession.

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Economic importance
The fruits are picked before the seeds and skins become hardened, and used as
vegetable. Generally the fruits are ready for picking in about six weeks and are picked tender
within a few days after pollination. The immature fruits are used as vegetable. These bush
squashes do not store well. They are also used for feeding animals.
Varieties:
Variety Source Remarks
Punjab Punjab It is an inbred selection from the segregating local variety of
Chappan Agricultural Punjab. Plants are bush-type, foliage thick and erect leaves non-
Kaddu University lobed and green without white specks, mild ribbed with flat stem end
and attractive, average fruit weight is 80g and bears 10 fruits per
plant, early maturing and is ready for first harvest in about 60 days
from sowing. It has a predominant female tendency, field resistance
to downy mildew and red pumpkin beetle. It is high yielding and
gives
about 20-25 tonnes/ha.
Patty Pan IIHR, An introduction from USA and recommended by IIHR for
Bangalore cultivation during 1972. A bush type and fruits are disc-shaped,
chalky white, tender and very attractive at edible stage. A short-
duration variety (85-90 days), yield 54 tonnes/ha.
Early Yellow IARI, An early bush type variety. Fruits are medium sized, warted and
Prolific Regional tapering towards stem end. Light yellow skin turns to orange yellow
Station, on maturity. Flesh is tender at the stage it is consumed as vegetable.
Katrain
Australian IARI, An introduction. Very early bush-type variety. Green fruits are dark-
Green Regional green with longitudinal white stripes all over, 25-30cm long, 15-20
station, fruits/ plant and very tender at edible stage. Yield 15-16 tonnes/ha.
Katrain
Pusa Alankar IARI, An F1 hybrid between EC 207050 and Sel 1, PI 8 (a derivative from
Regional cross between chappan and Early Yellow Prolific), early maturing,
station, having uniform dark green fruits with light-coloured stripes, slightly
Katrain tapering towards the stem. The flesh is tender delicious and fruits
mature in 45-50 days. High yield 20-30 tonnes/ha

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Punjab Chappan Kaddu Patty Pan

Climate
It can be grown both in high and low temperature conditions. The plants can be
grown successfully between a temperature range of 24°-27°C. It does not tolerate frost.

Soil
A well drained sandy loam soil with high organic content is considered best. They
are sensitive to acidic soils and alkaline soils with high salt concentration are unsuitable.

Season
It can be grown in Feburary-March and June-July and October-January. In hills the
optimum sowing time is April-May.T he rainy season crop is sown in April to May in West
Bengal. In Tamil Nadu , optimum sowing time of rainy season is July to August.
Preparation of land
The field is ploughed four or five times and bring the soil to a fine tilth.

Spacing
In summer season, pits of size 45 x 45 x 45cm can be dug at a spacing of 1 x lm.
The pit can be filled with a mixture of farmyard manure (20-25 tonnes/ha) and top soil. In
rainy season raised beds or mounds are made to facilitate drainage. In river beds of North
India, summer squash is a direct sown crop and sown in trenches.

Nutrition
Farmyard manure about 20-25 tonnes/ha should be applied at the time of soil

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preparation. No research work has been done in the fertilizer requirement of vegetable
marrow.

Fertilizer recommendation in different states of India.

State N (kg/ha) P (kg/ha) K(kg/ha)
Punjab 100 50 50
Himachal Pradesh 150 100 50
Karnataka 100 100 40
Madhya Pradesh 60 50 50
Tamil Nadu 32 24 24
Assam 75 80 80

Interculture

Weeding should be done frequently in order to keep the weeds under check. First
weeding is done 15-20 days after sowing. Irrigation should be given at an interval of 3-4
days depending upon season and type of soil. Application of ethephon 250 ppm increases the
yield.

Harvesting and yield

The fruits are harvested when they are at one third maturity. Tender fruits are
liked by the consumer. The crop will be ready for harvest in about 60-80 days after seed
sowing. Fruits will become fit for harvest in about 7 days after fruit set. The picking should
be done at an interval of 2-3 days in order to get highest fruit yield.

The yield ranges from 20-30 tonnes/ha in crop duration of 85-90 days.

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 SNAKE GOURD
Scientific name
: Trichosanthes cucumerina
Family
: Cucurbitaceae
Chromosome number : 2n= 22 or 24
Origin : Indian Archipelago

Area and production

Snake gourd is popular vegetable in south India and also grown in Punjab, Delhi,
Utter Pradesh , Bihar and some parts of the country. South-East Asia and tropical Australia.
T. cucumerina is cultivated widely in south and south-east Asia. Wild forms of the species
occur naturally from India to Australia.

Economic importance
It is a monoecious, annual, herbaceous climber. The immature fruit is boiled and eaten. The fruits are slender,
long tapering and 30-150cm long. Occasionally, shoots and tender leaves are also used as vegetable.
Fruit improves the appetite, acts as a tonic and stomachic and cures bilousness. The root and seeds are
anthelmintic and are also used in the treatment of diarrhoea, bronchitis and fever. The fruits are long, narrow,
cylindrical and pointed at both the ends. The fruits are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins A, B
and C.
Varieties
CO 1
An early maturing cultivar, first fruit comes to harvest in 70 days. Fruits are long (160- 180cm), dark-green with
white stripes, flesh light green, 10-12 fruits per vine are borne weighing 4-5kg. Mean yield of fruits per hectare is
18 tonnes. Developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
CO 2
It is a selection, bearing short fruits (30cm long). Fruits are light greenish white. It gives an average yield of 35
tonnes/ha with a duration ranging from 105-120 days. It is suitable for high density planting. Developed by Tamil
Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

PKM 1
It is an induced mutant from H.375 and yields on an average of 25.5 t/ha in crop duration of 145 days. The vines
are vigorous growing. Fruit color is dark green with white stripes on outer side and light green inside, with a mean
1
fruit weight of 700 g. The fruits are extra long (180-200 cm) and suitable for growing all through the year.

MDU 1
It is a F1 hybrid between Panripudal and Selection-1 from Thaniyamangalam. It is an easily flowering type (84
days) with a sex ratio of 1:38. It produces 13 fruits per vine weighing 7.15 kg with an average yield of 31.75 t/ha
in a crop duration of 145 days. The fruits are medium long (66.94 cm) with white stripes under green background.
Each fruit on an average weighs 55g. The fruits are fairly rich in vitamin-A (44.4 mg/100g) and very low in fibre
content (0.6%).

PLR(SG) 1
It is a pure line selection from white long type. This variety is suitable for cultivation under irrigated conditions
only. Excellent cooking quality due to less fibre and high flesh content and does not twist due to maturity. This is
having a yield potential of 35 – 40 t/ha with 30.50 % increase over CO 1. This variety can be cultivated during
June – September, November – March and April – May. It is highly adoptable to Cuddalore, Villupuram, Vellore,
Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Perambalur districts of Tamil Nadu. It thrives best in well
drained, organic matter rich, sandy loam soil.

TA 19
It is new collection recommended by the Kerala Agricultural University. Fruits are
about 60cm long. At immature stage they are light green with white stripes at the stylar end. The average fruit
weight is 600g and the fruits are ready in 65-70 days from sowing.
Konkan Swetha
It is developed by Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli (Maharashtra). The fruits are medium long (90-100cm) and
white in colour. Fruits have good flesh if harvested timely otherwise it becomes hollow. Average yield is 15-20
tonnes/ha. The crop duration is about 120- 130 days.
APAU Swetha
Fruits are long with green strips in white background .Yield is 28 -30 t/ha.
Kaumdhi, Baby and Manusree
These varieties are released from Kerala Agricultural University. These varieties are high yielding, attractive and
suitable for easy handling and marketing.
Climate
Like other cucurbitaceous crops, it needs a warm and humid climate for best growth. High humidity is favourable
for growth and fruit development. It cannot be successfully grown above an altitude of 1500 meters.
Soil
The most ideal soil for snake gourd is rich loamy or sandy loam soil. However, other soils can be used, as long as

2
they are well drained and rich in organic matter.
Season
The summer season crop is sown in December - January and rainy season that of June - July. It is also planted in
October - November where winters are mild. It is grown in both the kharif and summer seasons.
Seed rate Seeds are sown in the hills near the edges of raised beds or pits. Seed rate for snake gourd is 5-6kg/ha
seed.
Spacing
Row to row spacing of 1.5-2.5m and plant to plant spacing of 60-120cm are advocated for snake gourd.
Nutrition
Ten to fifteen tones/ha of farmyard manure should be incorporated during the preparation of field. Besides, 40-
60kg nitrogen, 30-40kg phosphorus and 30-40kg potassium are applied. Half dose of nitrogen (20-30kg/ha)
should be top dressed when the plants start bearing.
Irrigation
For summer crop, regular irrigation at 3-5 days intervals is necessary to maintain the desired soil- moisture level.
At the time of fruit set and its development the frequency of irrigation should be maintained. There should not be
any dry spell during this period. The first irrigation is given immediately after the sowing.
Training
The bower system of training is best for snakegourd. To obtain straight fruits, some growers tie weights to the
bottom end of fruits. This facilitates hanging of the fruits which in turn enables them to grow straight
downwards.The fruits are very long, slender and very soft it is always advisable not to allow the fruits to touch the
ground. In other words, if the fruits are hanged, they generally grow downward straight. Therefore, training is
essential to snakegourd.
Harvesting and yield

Fully mature fruits are lighter, fibrous, and hard and these kinds of fruits are not generally preferred in the
market.Fruit set in snake gourd starts at the beginning of second month. Fruits are hand picked when they are still
tender and about 1/4-1/3 their full size. A vine yields about 20-25 fruits and if it is properly managed, it can
produce as many as 40-
50 fruits in about 2-3 months. As the fruits have short shelf-life they should be sent to market promptly. The fruits
need to be immediately packed in baskets or in other containers to protect them from injuries during transport.
Average yield of snake gourd is 8- 10 tonnes/ha.
Storage and marketing

In Maharashtra, some people cut the fruits into three to four pieces and tie them before sending to market on large
scale. Generally the whole fruits are packed and then sent to the markets.After harvesting the fruits are sent to the

3
markets as they do not have shelf- life more than two days.

4
 POINTED GOURD
Scientific name
: Trichosanthes dioica
Family
: Cucurbitaceae
Chromosome number : 2n=24
Origin : India or the Indo-Malayan region
Common name : Parwal

Area and production

Pointed gourd is a perennial cucurbit extensively cultivated mostly in Bihar, Bengal,
Madhya Pradesh , West Bengal,
Assam and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Trichosanthes dioica
(2n=22) is a dioecious climber with perennial rootstock.
It is found in nature and also
cultivated in south Asia.
Economic importance
It contains 2% protein, 0.3% fat, 2.2% carbohydrates, 153 IU
vitamin A and 29mg vitamin C per 100g edible portion. The
fruits are used in making curry and fried and for making
pickles. A famous sweet by putting the fruits in sugar syrup is
made in India. Immature fruits of pointed gourd are used as
vegetables. It is recommended also for bronchitis, biliousness
high fever and nervousness.The fruit is particularly
recommended during convalescence. It is easily digested and is
a diuretic, laxative, and cardiatonic.

5
Varieties
Not much systematic research work has been done to develop the improved
varieties in pointed gourd. However, some improved strains are developed through selection
from local germplasm in India which are grown in various states. These are as follows:
Madhya Pradesh - Green oval, green long striped and white oval. (In this state
generally pale-white oval cultivars are popular).
West Bengal - Kazil, Bombay and Damodar.
Uttar Pradesh Dandli, Kalyani, Guli, Bihar Sharif, FP 5, FP 4, FP 1 and FP 3.

Swarna Rekha
Elongated green fruits with stripes and soft seeds. Yield 15 -20 t/ ha in 220 -240 days.

Swarna Rekha Swarna Alaukik

Swarna Alaukik
Fruits elongated and light green. Yield 20-25 t/ha in 220-240 days. Suitable for sweet
preparations.

Rajendra Parwal 1
Fruits are green with stripes, long and tapering at both ends. Average fruit weight is 40
g. Yield is 17.5 t/ha.

6
 Rajendra Parwal 1 Rajendra Parwal 2

Rajendra Parwal 2
Fruits are drum shaped, whitish green with light stripes, average fruit weight is 30 g.
Yield is 16 t/ha.

Konkan Haritha
Fruits dark are green, 30-35 cm long tapering at both the ends, yields 10 -12 fruits
per vine.

Climate
Hot and humid climate is best for its development. It is a warm season crop. During
winter, it becomes dormant and sprouts again in summer. Rainfall is considered very well
for pointed gourd but coastal climate is not suitable.

Soil
Both the sandy loam and loamy soils are best for growth and development of this
crop. The soil should be well drained and rich in organic matter. It is also grown in the
riverbeds.
Propagation
In order to plant one hectare area of pointed gourd, about 2,000 -2,500 cuttings are
required. Pointed gourd is vegetatively propagated through vine cuttings and root suckers. Seed
propagation is avoided in pointed gourd because of poor seed germination and since it is
dioecious in nature produces male and female plants in equal proportion if they are planted

7
from the seeds. In other words, 50% plants are non-fruiting (i.e. male plants). In order to
ensure maximum fruit set and yield only 10-12% male plants are maintained in the garden to
ensure the source of pollinizer and remaining plants must be female ones.
Production technology
Vine cuttings are transplanted in August on upland and in November on riverbeds,
with a spacing of 2 x 2m. Vine cuttings are folded in the shape of a ring and planted in pits,
keeping the ends above ground. Also straight vine cuttings are planted in a furrow filled with
farmyard manure and soil, keeping the cutting ends above ground. Since the crop is dioecious,
after every 10 female plants, a cutting from a male plant is planted. In root cuttings, roots from
old vines are separated and planted either in nursery or in the field.
Nutrition
At the time of land preparation 20-25 tonnes of farmyard manure per ha is mixed with
the soil in the furrows or in pits. A fertilizer dose of 90kg of N, 60kg of P 205 and 60kg of K20
per hectare is advocated to the pointed gourd.
Inter cultivation
Water should be given as and when required. Early irrigation should be done more
frequently. During the rainy season, less irrigation is required. Training the crops over
bowers gives high yields. Picking also becomes very easy if the vines are trained. Weeding
should be done only when plants have sprouted and are well set. Shallow intercultural
operations should be followed.
Harvesting and yield
Harvesting should be done when the fruits are immature, tender and still green.
Picking should be done frequently so that maximum fruits could be harvested from a vine.
Pointed gourd is ready for harvest in 80-90 days after planting.Yield varies from 6-8
tonnes/ha in the first year, while it may increase to 14-15 tonnes/ ha during the second year.
Storage and marketing
Fruits after harvesting can be stored under ordinary conditions for about 3 -4 days.
Fruits are sent to the markets in the baskets or gunny bags.

8
 CHOW-CHOW
Botanical name
: Sechium edule
Family
: Cucurbitaceae
Chromosome number: 2n=24
Origin
: Southern Mexico and Central America
Common name
: Chayote

Economic importance
It is grown principally for its pear-shaped fruits, which are cooked in many ways.
The fruits, tubers, seeds, and leaves have long been used by the native Americans. The
seeds are even considered a delicacy. Chayote has now spread throughout the tropics
and subtropics.
The fruits are fleshy and pyriform with longitudinal furrows, about 10-20cm long
and contain a single, large, flat seed about 5x3cm.
Varieties
Variations in fruit shape and colour occur in chow-chow and cultivars like Round
White, Long White, Pointed Green, Broad Green and Oval Green are met with. In
Bangalore region, two types viz., green and creamy-green are grown. In North-East India,
these types are met with besides minor variations in the fruit shape.

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Production technology
Chow-chow grows well in well drained, loose soil rich in organic matter. The
ideal pH is 5.5-6.5. A mature fruit containing a single germinating seed is planted to
a depth of two thirds of its length in prepared planting holes, with the widest end
downwards. Fruit used for seed should be carefully handled, not stored at <10°C, and
planted without much delay. The single seed is located near the broad end of the pear-
shaped fruit. Plant or seeds are placed in hills spaced 2m and rows 3.5m apart. Plant
requires support by poles or a trellis.
Three to four months after planting the vines start flowering and production is
continuous. In Bangalore regions, planting is done all round the year, but preferably in
July. Pits or basins of 45-60cm diameter are dug and planting can be done. Pits are
spaced at 1.8 x 2.4m. The pits are well manured before planting with 10-15kg of cattle
manure per pit and sometimes seedlings raised in pots are transplanted. They are staked
to reach the trellis. Under Bangalore conditions, fruiting is all round the year. A well
grown plant of about one year yields 500-600 fruits per year. The crop is semi-perennial,
lasting 3-4 years. The fruit weighs 200-150g. In North-East India fruits are slightly
bigger. Average yield of 20-25 tonnes/ha has been recorded in different parts of the
country.

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