February-March is the season of cucumber. It can be continued till May if the land is water permeable. Kanivellari is prepared ahead of Vishu season. Harvested paddy fields and sandy soil in river banks are ideal to cultivate Kanivellari (golden cucumber/golden melon).
Planting
First, the field is tilled well before making flowerbeds. Seeds are soaked overnight and then sowed after sprouts emerge. Saplings grow within a few days and the flowerbed should be made larger. Apply cow dung and ash as fertilizer.
In scientific farming method, 3 gram of seed is required for farming in one cent of land. Add 2 kilogram of lime in the land before sowing seeds. Then add cow dung powder, neem cake and bone manure after 2 days. Adding Trichoderma with cow dung will help reduce diseases.
Caring
Cow dung and groundnut cake solution, biogas slurry, chicken manure and vermicompost can be applied as fertilizer in different phases of plant’s growth. Sprinkling Pseudomonas solution every 15 days will improve plant growth and yield. Chemical fertilizers can be added, if necessary.
Plants should be watered on alternate days. Mulching the roots will protect the plant from decay. Spreading coconut fronds on ground will be useful for the vines to grow. Pheromone fly trap, neem emulsion and pseudomonas solution can be applied for controlling pests.
Seeds
Cucumber seeds can be collected from instructional farms of Kerala Agricultural University, Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) in Mannuthy (0487 2370540), Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) agri business centres in Ernakulam (0484 2881300) and Thiruvananthapuram (0471 2740480).
Cucumber varieties
- Mudikkode Local: Seed developed by Kerala Agricultural University. Cucumber can be harvested within 56 days.
- Arunima: Seed developed by Pilicode Agriculture Research Station. Cucumbers weigh upto 2-3 kilogram.
- Saubhagya: Seed developed by Kerala Agricultural University. Suitable for kitchen garden and commercial farming. Medium-sized cucumbers can be harvested within 55-60 days.
