1. The document provides information on the protected cultivation of cucumbers under polyhouse conditions. It discusses the botanical details, economic importance, varieties used, cultivation practices including soil and climate requirements, nursery preparation, planting, training, fertilizer management, irrigation, pest and disease management, harvesting and post-harvest handling. 2. Key aspects covered include the use of parthenocarpic varieties for polyhouse cultivation, drip irrigation, fertilizer scheduling, training of cucumber vines, and management of major pests like fruit flies. Yields of 150-180 tonnes per hectare can be achieved with proper cultivation practices. 3. Post-harvest, cucumbers require cooling storage between 10

1. 1
PROTECTED CULTIVATION OF
CUCUmbER
Name of the Student :ANANDA MURTHY HC
ID No. : UHS17PGM981
Course : Protected cultivation of vegetabl crops
VSC 508(1+1)
Degree Programme and
Subject : Jr. M.Sc., (Hort.)
Vegetable Science
College : College of Horticulture, Bengaluru.

2. CUCUMBER
2

3. INTRODUCTION
Botanical name : Cucumis sativus L.
Chromosome no. : 2n=14
Origin : India
3

4. Cucumber Production Under Hi- Tech
Polyhouse
4

5. Economic importance and Composition
• Fruits are good for people suffering from constipation, jaundice
and indigestion.
• It is rich in vitamin B and C as well as minerals such as
calcium, phosphorous, iron and potassium.
• Fruits contain 0.4mg protein, 2.5mg CHOs, 1.5mg iron and 2
mg of vitamin C per 100g fresh weight. Immature fruits of
cucumber and gherkin are used as salad and for pickling.
• Tender leaves are also used as a vegetable. 5

6. • In temperate countries it is extensively grown in glasshouse.
The fruits & seed possess cooling properties.
• The fruit is also used as an astringent and antipyretic.
• The seed oil is also used as antipyretic.
• Cucumber is characterized by the presence of bitter principle
called cucurbitacins, which are tetra cyclic triterpenes.
6

7. Scope and importance
Immature fruits are used as salad and for pickling.
 The fruits fruits are also used as vegetable.
It is the seconf widely cultivated cucurbit after watermelon.
The fruits is also used as astringent and antipyretic.
 The seed is also used as antipyretic.
Fruits are good people who suffering from contipation,jaundice
and indigestion.
7

8. From NHB data 2015 -16
state in India are Karnataka(Bengaluru, Mysuru,), Tamil
nadu,AP,MH(Pune),Hariyana,Jaarkand(ranchi),.
Area and production
Area (mha) Prod(MT/ha) Productivity(t/ha)
INDIA 78 114 14.6
KAR 8.66 146.02 30.8

9. Semi-tropical vegetable, grows best under conditions of high
light, RH, moisture, temperature and fertilizers.
The optimum temperature for better development of fruits is
14-20 C⁰
Well drained sandy loam soils. Heavier, wet & poorly drained
soils should be avoided.
It can tolerate strongly acidic soils but best results obtained
with pH of 5.5-6.8
9
SOIL AND CLIMATE REQUIREMENT

10. Greenhouse cucumbers are more sensitive to low temperature than
tomato.
The min. temperature should not be lower than 18 C for sustained⁰
production.
Maximum fruit production is achieved with a night temperature of
about 19-20 C⁰ & day temperature of 22-24 C⁰ .
10

11. SEASON AND SOWING TIME :
In north india , sowing of cucumber is done from November –
january when it is grown in river beds. For the garden crops ,
it is sown by middle of february.
For rainy season -sown in june july.
In soth and central India where winter is mild cucumber is
grown almost through out of the year.
In hills – april may
11

12. Selection of Varieties
• The main criteria in selecting the best cultivars are as follows:
• Select the variety suitable to the season, good yielding and suitable
to the Green house production ( Parthinocarpic).
• Overall productivity
• Plant growth habit and vigour
• Fruit quality i.e. length, diameter, shape, colour and smoothness
• Fruit shelf life
• Disease resistance
12

13. Type of Cucumber varieties
On the bases of flowering habit:
1.Gynoecious:- Which produces only female flowers.
2.Pre-dominantly gynoecious :-Also bears some male
flowers.
3.Monoecious:- Which produces both male and
female flowers.
The first two types produce fruits parthenocarpically
,whereas, monoecious types require pollination.
13

14. Monoecious Varieties
Monoecious varieties can be grown inside the
greenhouses,but pollination is required for fruit
setting which are:
1)Japnese Long Green
2)Pusa Sanyog
3)Priya
4)Poinsett
5)Malini Hybrid
14

15. Separate male and female flowers
15Requires Bee pollination
Male Female

16. Cucumber green house pollinations
16
By using Brush Manually by Hand

17. Pollination and fruit setting in monoecious
cucumbers under polyhouse conditions
17
Pollination is done by breeder Fruit setting

18. Fruit setting in cucumber
18

19. Parthenocarpic Cucumber
The parthenocarpic cucumber is a type of cucumber vine that
produces only female flowers and produces cucumbers with out the
need of pollination.
The seed for parthenocarpic cucumbers costs more than ordinary
cucumber seed but the germination or sprouting rate is higher and the
chance for disease or pest problems is greatly less.
If pollination does occurs, the fruit will form seeds, the shape of the
fruit will be distorted and a bitter tasting fruit will develop.
 It is therefore essential to prevent bees and other pollinators from
entering the greenhouse and carrying pollen from outdoor gardens.
19

20. Parthenocarpic Varieties
The important parthenocarpic varieties available in
India are:
i. Satis
ii.HILLTON
iii.Nun-9729
iv.Clodia
v.Kian
vi.Mansour
A few important parthenocarpic varieties of cucumber
from Europe and Israel are:
Hasan and Sarig (for summer crop),
20

21. Parthenocarpic Cucumber
Muhasan and Dinar (for winter season),
 Mustang and Bronco (for spring crop),
21

22. Land preparation
After deep summer ploughings beds are prepared with the
help of tractor rotavator, Bed size : 1m width, 5-10cm height
and convinient length Bed is prepared. 0.5 m space is
maintained between the bed.
Well decomposed FYM(25t/ha) is mixed with soil. soil
application of 4% formaldehyde, for raising of disease free
seedlings.
Soil solarization : bed is covered with 400gauge polythene
sheet ,after 3-4 days remove the polythene sheet, dig the soil
for 2-3 times, and then planting the seedlings. 22

24. Bed preparation (4000m²)
24
50 m
50 cm 100cm 80 m
Total no of beds = 80m / 1.5m
= 53 beds
Total length of mulch required is 53 X 10 m = 530 m
1 k g mulch will cover about 43m² area
total mulch required = 530 m / 43 m² = 12.3 kg

26. Spacing
In green house cucumber plants require generally is 70 to
80cm².
Spacing between the rows is kept 1.4 to 1.5m and 30 cm
between the plants
In summer two rows are planted on a bed with 60cm
spacing between rows and 30 cm amongst plants.
26

27. Drawing of Drippers
•Generally cucumber is grown under drip irrigation system. after
preparation of beds, dripline 16: 2:30 size (20mm diameterof
laterals, 2 litre discharge of water /dripper/hour and 30cm
distance between two drippers )are laid on the beds and two drip
lines are side on each bed at a distance of 60-65cm depending
upon bed size.

28. Mulching & lateral length
• For 4000m²
Total no. of beds : 53
53 Х 10 = 530m lateral length
For two laterals / bed = 530 Х 2 = 1060m length
1060/0.4 = 2650 emitters
2650 x 4= 10600lt/hr.
• we know that,
1kg mulch (30 micron) = 43m².
for 4000m² = 530/43 = 12.3 kg
Thickness is 100 – 200 gauge
28
Crops
Thickness of mulch film
(micron)
Increase in yield (%)
Cucumber 25 45-50

29. Nursery raising and planting
• Cocopeat, vermiculite and perlite is used in 3:1:1 ratio as media.
• 600g seeds is sufficient to raise the nursery for one hactare.
• Seedlings are ready for transplanting within 28-30 days in winter
season and 15-18 days in summer season.
• Raised on soil-less media in plastic protrays having cells of 1.0-
1.5 inch size.
29

30. Preparation of soil Media
30

31. Planting materials
Number of plants = Area / Spacing
= 4000 m² / 0.6m X 0.45 m
= 14814.8 plants

32. Quality seedling Production
Seed rate: 100 - 150g of hybrid cucumber is required to produce
seedlings for 1 ha.
In open field : 2.5 to 3kg /ha
Seed treatment:Seed is treated with carbendazin 2g/kg of seed.
 Seedlings are grow in protected nursery
Nursery area is covered with 50 per cent shade net
The seedlings are raised in protrays with sterilized cocopeat
25 - 30 days old are ready for transplanting
32

33. Filled Protrays and emergence of seedlings
33

34. Management of irrigation water
Frequent irrigation is essential for plant growth, fruiting and yield.
The crop should be irrigated daily.
However during summer more irrigation is required due to higher
surface evaporation.
Drip system is highly economical and produces quality tomato.
34
Crops Water saving (%) Increase in yield (%)
Cucumber 42 60

35. 35
Growth of Seedlings

36. Different stages of plant Growth
Cucumber training view in polyhouse Inspection by Breeder

37. 37
•Basal doze of 50 kg NPK per hectare with straight fertilizers and
fertigation at 450 kg NPK per ha with water soluble fertilizers
•Fertigation should be done once or twice a week depending upon soil
fertility, variety, and stage of crop growth .
•Cucumber is heavy feeder crop.
•Irrigation should be given at weekly or bi-weekly interval
depending upon the season and location.
•19:19:19 is 3kg /acre ,potassium nitrate is 10kg/acre and calium nitrate
is 10 kg /acre
Fertigation

38. Stage Crop stage
Duration
in days
Fertilizer
grade
Total
Fertilizer
(kg/ha)
Nutrient applied % of requirement
N P K N P K
1
Crop
establishment
stage
10
19:19:19
13-0-45
Urea
19.72
8.24
22.11
3.75
1.07
10.19
3.75
-
-
3.75
3.75
-
10.00 5.00 10.00
Subtotal 15.01 3.75 7.50
2
Vegetative
stage
20
12-61-0
13-0-45
Urea
9.21
49.49
95.27
1.09
-
43.91
5.63
-
-
-
22.49
-
30.00 7.50 30.00
Subtotal 45.00 5.63 22.49
3
Flower
initiation to
first picking
20
19:19:19
13-0-45
Urea
29.61
20.61
80.00
5.62
2.62
36.71
5.63
-
-
5.63
9.37
-
30.00 7.50 20.00
Subtotal 45.00 5.63 15.00
4 Harvesting stage 40
19:19:19
13-0-45
Urea
6.13
66.00
77.47
0.73
8.57
35.69
3.75
-
-
-
30
-
30.00 5.00 40.00
Total duration 90 days Subtotal 44.99 3.75 30.00
Total 150.00 18.75 75.00 100 25 100
Fertigation Schedule - Cucumber (Hybrid) Recommended
Dose: 150:75:75 Kg/ha

39. 75% RD of Phosphorus applied as superphosphate = 352 Kg/ha
1. 19:19:19 = 55 kg/ha
2. 13:0:45 = 144 kg/ha
3. 12:61:0 = 9 kg/ha
4. Urea = 275 kg/ha

40. Weeding
At the time of top dressing with N fertilizer, weeding and
earthing up are done. When the vines start spreading, weeding
in between the rows or ridges become unnecessary since vine
growth can smother the weeds.
As mentioned in case of muskmelon flochloralin at 1.20 kg a-
i/ha (pre-plant), flochloralin 0.48 kg + nitrogen at 0.5 kg/ha
(pre-emergence) could be applied to control the weeds in
cucumber.
40

41. Training of Cucumber
• REMOVE FEMALE FLOWERS UPTO 5TH NODE
• ONE OR TWO VINES
• RETAIN ONE FRUIT PER NODE
• DE-SHOOTING
41

42. Plant Geometry
• The cucumber seedlings are planted on the raised beds with
two rows in a bed with row to row spacing of 70 cm and plant
to plant spacing of 30 cm.
• In single stem training , female flowers should be removed or
pinched up to 5th node to ensure sufficient vegetative growth
of the plants to sustain the fruit load.
42

43. TRAINING

44. Training of cucumber Cucumber general view of training

45. 45
Staking of parthenocarpic cucumber on single stem at
70x30cm spacing

46. Harvesting
Time from transplanting to 1st
harvest is
generally 35-40 days in gynoecious
cultivarts .Harvest the fruit with out
damaging the plant.
- After harvest place the produce in the
shade and immediately send to the market.
Yield
Yield will be 40-45q/acr. From 1000m² area
with one crop of 3 to 3.5 month duration
with fruit yield of 150 – 180 tonnes per
hectare.
46

47. To harvest cucumbers, cut (don't pull) them from the
vine.
Pulling or yanking can damage the brittle vines.

48. STORAGE
 During transportation,minimize heat gain and place produce
in cold storage (12°c) as soon as arrives at its destination.
 Fruit stored under ideal conditions i.e. 10 – 13°C temperature
and 90 -95% RH has a life expectancy of 10 – 14 days.
Physiological disorder of cucumber is noticed when fruits are
exposed to temperature below -10°C for prolonged period.
48

49. Post Harvest Handling
There is a well developed cucumber pickle industry in
the USA and specific pickling cultivars have been
developed for processing brine.
Such kind of industrial is not available in our country
for processing cucumber.
49

50. PESTS AND DISEASES
50

51. Major pests of cucurbits
51

52. 1.Fruit fly : Dacas dorsalis
 This is the serious pest of cucurbits. Maggots of this fly cause
seviour damage to young developing fruits. The adult fly lays
egg below the skin of the young ovaries.The egg hatch in to
maggots which feed inside the fruit and cause rotting.
52

53. Control :
The adult flies be controlled by using light traps in the night
and poision baits.
The infestation can be controlled by baits containing sex
attractants like protein hydrolysate 0.5kg+1.25kg of 50%
malathion wp+ 200 g of molasses.
Spray of thiodan @ 6ml per 4.5 litres of water and methy
eugenol is also effective.
53

54. Adult stage of fruit fly
Larval stage of fruitfly feeding on friuts

55. 2.Aphids: Aphis sp.
The Small green insects damage the plants by sucking the leaf
sap. In young stage ,cotyledonary leaves crinkle and in severe
cases the plants wither.
Control:
The aphids can be easily controlled spraying malathion 0.1%
or metasystox 0.1 – 0.2 % 0r rogor 0.2 %.
55

56. 3. Red pumpkin beetle: Raphidopalpa foveicollis
56
It attack the most of the cucurbits at seedling stage ,especially at
cotyledonary leaf stage. They make holes in cotyledonary leaves.
Severe damage caused at this,although they attack the vines in the
grown up stage also.

57. Control :
 Effective control can be done by spraying carbaryl(sevin) @ 0.1
– 0.2% or rogor o.1%
57

58. Major Diseases of cucurbits
58

59. 1.Powdery mildew: Erysiphe cichoracearum
SYMPTOMS
•On leaves Small white/grayish superficial spots on upper surface,
they enlarge & form large patches of powdery growth.
•Defoliation may take place & production of small fruits.

60. Powdery mildew:
Conidial development

61. MANAGEMENT
Chemicals
•Spray Dinocap (0.2%)/Carbendazim (0.1%)/Benomyl(0.1%)
•[Cucurbits are sensitive to sulphur dust]
Biological control
Use of Amphelomyces quisqualis
Resistant varieties
•Musk melon- Diguria, Haragola
•Cucumber – Ashley, Atlantic

62. 2.Anthracnose: Colletotrichum lagenarium
SYMPTOMS
On leaves , Small yellowish spots on leaves which enlarge & turn to
brown color & may be black in watermelon, the spots will coalesce & leaf
drying takes place.
On stem, Elongated lesions are found.
The Lesions on pedicels, which cause the young fruits to darken, shrivel
& die.
On fruit surface circular, black, sunken cankers with blackish centers are
seen & they are covered with gelatinous mass of salmon colored spores in
presence of moisture which is the typical feature & rotting of fruits
because of invasion from soft rot causing organism.

63. Anthracnose
Musk melon
Water melon
Cucumber

64. MANAGEMENT
Cultural methods
•Crop rotation.
•Host destruction.
•Seed treatment with hot water of 57.2°C for about 20 minutes.
Chemical method
• Seed treatment with Thiram or Carbendazim @ 2g/kg.
•Spray Carbendazim @ 1.25g/l or Mancozeb @ 0.2%.
Resistant variety
In water melon – Fair fax, Black kleckley .

65. 3.Angular leaf spot: Pseudomonas syringae pv
lachrhymans
Symptoms
•On leaves water soaked spots on leaves and are confined by veins. They
turn to grey-tan and form exudates on lower surface and it may fall off .
•On fruits brown circular, superficial, form of rotting takes place.

66. Angular leaf spot

67. Management:
Cultural methods:
1.Using disease free seeds.
2. Crop rotation.
3. Avoid sprinkler irrigation.
Chemicals:
1. Seed treatment with mercuric chloride (0.1%)
2. Spraying with streptomycin (400ppm)
Biological control:
•Using Pseudomonas flurescence

68. 4.Cercospora leaf spot / Blotch
Cercospora citrullina – Cucumber,bitter gourd,
summer squash
C.melonis/C.lagenariae- bottle gourd
SYMPTOMS
On leaves mainly affects on younger leaves. Small, black &
circular spots with grayish centers Later causes defoliation.

69. MANAGEMENT
Cultural methods
•Proper plant nutrition.
•Burning of diseased vines.
•Crop rotation.
Chemicals
•Spray Zineb @ 0.2%

70. SOURCE
• A Text book of Vegetables, tuber crops and
spices by Thamburaj and Narendra Singh.
• protected cultivation of vegetable crops –
• Internet source TNAU agriportal
Balraj Singh

71. THANK
U