GOURDS

The important cucurbit vegetables grown in Andhra Pradesh are Bottle gourd(Anapakaya) Pumpkin(Gummadikaya) Snake gourd(Potlakaya) Ridge gourd(Beerakaya) Bitter gourd(kakarakaya) Cucumber(Dosakaya) Ash gourd(Boodidha gummadi), covering in area of 4,000 hectares. Climate and Soils These crops are generally grown in hot and warm weather and have almost similar cultural requirements. It can be grown on varied types of soils, garden lands or light loamy soil with good water holding capacity is more suitable for obtaining higher yields. Seasons Bottle gourd Bitter gourd June-July and December-January Cucumber Pumpkin May-July and December-January Snake gourd Ridge gourd June-August and December-February Ash gourd June - July, December - January Varieties BOTTLE GOURD  Pusa Summer Prolific Long, Pusa Summer Prolific Round, Pusa Manjari(Hybrid) Pusa Meghadoot(Hybrid) and Arka Bahar, APAU-LS-21(Rajendra) BITTER GOURD  Pusa Do Mausami, Coimbathore Long-Arka Harit, Pusa,Vivek, UK 1-priya. RIDGE GOURD  Jagtial Long , Pusa Nasdar, Coimbatore Long, Co-1. CUCUMBER  Jyothirmal, Japanese Long Green, Straight Eight, Sanyoue, Pusa sanyog(F, Hybrid) SPONAGE GROUND  Pusa Chikini SNAKE GOURD  Sweta, Co-1 Arka Sheetal In all other gourds types may be grown. Seeds and Sowing  Irrigation channel of 60cm wide is prepared, sowing is done on either side of the channel and seed pits are prepared on the upper side of each ridge. Each pit prepared is about 15-20 cm wide and is filled with FYM and about 50-100 of superphosphate. Then space between rows is as follows: For all these gourds, about 3-5 seeds are dibbled in 45x45x45 cm pit at 1 to 2 cm deep. Give a light irrigation. Seeds germinate in 3-7 days. Keep 1 to 2 vigorous plants per basin.  Between rows in Meters Between plants in Meters Bitter Gourd and Cucumber 1.0-2.0 0.60-0.90 Ridge Gourd 1.0-2.0 0.60-0.90 Bottle Gourd 3.0 0.75-.90 Pumpking 3.0 0.75-.90 Snake Gourd On pendal only (1.5-1.8) 1.50-1.80 1.50-1.80 Manures and Fertilizers Add 15 to 20 tons of FYM/ha and mix well in the soil before planting P2O5 40-50 kg/ha may be applied as a basal dose. Apply 80-100kg of Nitrogen/ha in two equal doses, first 25-30 days after sowing and the second 50days after sowing. The fertilizer should not be applied close to the plant Irrigation immediately after fertilizer application. Intercultivation Weeds should be removed frequently, one or two light hoeings around the plants are to be given after 2 to 3 irrigations. Irrigation Irrigate when the top 3 to 5 cm of the all soil goes dry in the basins and see that the water should not stagnate near the plants for long time. Staking/Trailing Cucumber, pumpkin, ash gourd ridge gourd do not need any staking. The vines may be trailed either on pandal or on brush wood. Snake gourd should are trailed either on pandal or on brush wood. Snake gourd should be trailed on pandal as otherwise the fruits do not grow longer. Plant Protection Name of the Pests/Diseases Symptoms of damage Control measures PESTS Pumpkin beetles (Gummadi Penku Purugu) Aulacophora spp. Grubs damage the plants by boring into roots. Beetle injure the cotyledons flowers and foliage by biting holes. Dust carbaryl 5% or spary Methyl parathion 50EC (0.05% 1ml/lit) or Dimethoate 0.06%(2ml/lit) orMalathion 0.1%(2ml/lit water).Dusting the plants with ash Temporarily repels the beetles. Snake gourd semilooper (Potlaku Purugu) Phusia peponis Defoliates the plants Spray endosulphan 0.07% at the rate of 2ml/lit. Or Monocrotophos at 0.04% v 0.05%(2ml/lit). DISEASES Downy mildew PseudoperronosporaCubensis Purple spots appear on lower surface an yellow spots on upper surface of leaves. Fruits do not mature. Spray Dithane Z-78 0.2% at the rate of 2g/lit or Dithane M-45 0.3% at the Rate of 3 g/lit of water. Powdery mildew (Budida Tegulu) Erysiphe cichoracearum A white powdery growth appears on the leaf surface mostly confined to the upper surface but also found on the Lower surface and the stem. In severe Infections the leaves and stem dryoff And further growth of the plant is Arrested. Spray Sulfe 0.2% or Calixin 0.1% or Karathane 0.2% Bavistin at the rate of 1g/lit. Mosaic virus (Verri Tegulu) The disease is characterized by the formation of streaks in the interveinal regions of the leaves. The entire plant may look stunted and sickly even from a distance. Under severe conditions the Plants show irregular, light and dark green Areas on leaves giving a mosaic appearance. i)Rouge out diseased plants. ii)Spray any insecticide to control the vector.