This document provides information on growing summer vegetables. It discusses suitable climates and soil conditions for various crops like okra, tomato, and cucurbits. It provides details on variety selection, sowing times, seed rates, spacing, fertilizer requirements, pest and disease management, and expected yields for each vegetable. It also discusses multi-tier cropping systems using elephant foot yam and technologies like nursery management, polyhouse cultivation, and fertigation that can increase vegetable yields.

1. Dr. S. S. Solankey
Scientist (Vegetable Science),
Dr. Kalam Agricultural College, Kishanganj
(Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour)
Summer Vegetables
Cultivation
1

2. Climate and Soil • Seed germination best at temperature 25°-30° C and fails
below 16° C.
• Soil=Neutral to slightly alkaline.
• A soil pH between 6.0-6.8 is optimum.
OKRA
Sowing time, Seed
rate, Spacing,
Manures & Fertilizers
• For Spring Summer=18-20kgha.
• For Rainy Season=8-10kgha.
• Spacing = 50 × 20 cm
• Apply 20-30 tonnes FYM, nitrogen @ 100kg, phosphorus @
60kg and potash @ 50kg per hectare.
Yield: 80-85q/ha in summer and 120-140q/ha in rainy season.2

3. Recommended to all zones of the country
Yield : 20 t/ha
Resistant to YVMV
Yield : 18 t/ha
Tolerant to YVMV
3

4. Major Problems:
1. Fungal Diseases
• Damping off
• Powdery mildew
• Fusarium wilt
2. Viral Diseases
• Yellow vein mosaic virus
• Enation leaf curl
Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (Yield loss 32-95%)
Enation Leaf Curl Virus (Yield loss 30% to 100%)
Metalaxyl @ 2g/ lt soil drenching.
Imidachloprid @1ml/ 3 lt
Or
Metasystox @1ml/ lt.
Wettable Sulphur @ 3g/ lt.
Carbendazim @ 1g/ lt soil drenching.
4

5. TOMATO
5

6. High yielding F1 hybrid with triple
disease resistance to ToLCV, BW
and EB. Fruits oblate to high
round, large (90-110g), Deep red,
firm fruits Suitable for fresh
market. Yields 80-85 t/ha. in 140
days
Arka Samrat
High yielding F1 hybrid with triple
disease resistance to ToLCV, BW
and EB. Fruits square round, large
(90-100g), Deep red, firm fruits
Suitable for fresh market and
processing. Yield 75-80 t/ha. in 140
days.
Arka Rakshak
6

7. Kashi Sandesh (F1)
Yield 790 q/ha
Kashi Komal (F1)
Yield 800 q/ha
Swarna Shyamali
Resistant to Bacterial wilt
Yield 500q/ha
Swarna Pratibha
Bacterial wilt resistant
Yield 500 q/ha
BRINJAL
7

8. FLOWER TYPES IN BRINJAL
8

9. Indoxacarb @1g/ lt.
Or
Profenophos @
1ml/ lt.
Or
Coragen @ 0.5ml/ lt.
9

10. ELEPHANT FOOT YAM/ OAL
10

11. 12

12. Elephant foot yam based multi-tier vegetable
cropping system
Source : Singh et al. (2013).
Technology identified for enhanced
productivity, Zonal Project Director
Zone II, Kolkata, W.B., pp. 13.
Vegetables like bitter gourd, ridge gourd and bottle gourd were
cultivated making bamboo structure (machan).
The vacant space below the machan was fully utilized in this method.
Bitter gourd and elephant foot yam - best in respect of average return.
13

13. Sole crop of Elephant foot yam Elephant foot yam + Bitter gourd
Elephant foot yam + Ridge gourd Elephant foot yam + Bottle gourd
Elephant foot yam based multi-layer vegetable cropping system
14

14. Name of Technology
HH/ Area
demonstrated
(ha)
Productivity (q/ha) Income (Rs/ha)
Bitter gourd + Cowpea +
Elephant foot yam
130/35
Bitter gourd 273 q/ha + Cowpea 120 q/ha +
Elephant foot yam 350 q/ha
3,60,000
Pointed gourd + Okra +
Cucumber
80/10
Pointed gourd 195 q/ha + Okra 135 q/ha +
Cucumber 113 q/ha,
2,29,000
Pointed gourd + Okra +
Amaranths
56/7.2
Pointed gourd 203 q/ha + Okra 121 q/ha +
Amaranths 77 q/ha
2,25,000
Traditional method
(Bitter gourd)
- 125-150 45000-50000
Multi-tier vegetable cultivation in Bihar
Source : Srivastava A.P., Rao, D.R., Basade, Y., Singh A.K., Sikarwar M. and Ashar, N. (2013). Livelihood Enhancement through Improved
Vegetable Cultivation in Backward Districts of India National Agricultural Innovation Project Indian Council of Agricultural Research,
Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-II New Delhi, pp. 31-33. 15

15. Turmeric and elephant foot yam as multi-tier
intercrops in medium aged guava orchard
Source : Chandra K.K. (2014). Evaluation of growth and economic parameters of Curcuma longa
and Amorphophallus paeoniifolius intercrops in medium aged Pisidium guajava orchard. Caribbean
Journal of Science and Technology, 2: 392-398.
16

16. Elephant foot yam - a profitable crop for vegetable-based
multi-tier cropping system
Pointed gourd + elephant foot yam + cowpea:
Selection of varieties:
Elephant foot yam : Gajendra, Sree Padma, Kusum
Pointed gourd : Rajendra Parwal-1, Rajendra Parwal-2
Cowpea : Kashi Kanchan, Kashi Gauri, Arka Garima
17

17. Pusa Jamuni
Pusa Gulabi
Shogunmino
Pusa Mridula Palam Hriday 18
RADISH

18. SCHEDULE FOR GROWING RADISH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Variety Sowing time Harvesting time
Pusa Chetki Early April-Mid August Early May- September
Pusa Desi Mid August- Mid October Last week of September-Early
December
Pusa Reshmi Mid September- Mid
November
Last October- early January
Japanese White Mid October- Mid December Mid December- Early March
Pusa Himani Mid October- Mid February Mid February- Mid April
White Icicle Last October-end February Late November- Early March
19

19. Climate Thrives best between 21 and 350C. It cannot withstand heavy rainfall
and water logging.
Soil It grows in all types of well drained soils with pH range of 5.5 to 6.5
Varieties Pusa Komal, Kashi Nidhi, Kashi Kanchan, Kashi Gauri, Kashi Unnati, Pusa
Sukomal, Arka Samridhi, Arka Garima, Arka Suman, Bidhan Barbati-1,
Bidhan Barbati-2.
Sowing time Spring-summer crop: February-March,
Rainy season: June- July.
Seed rate: 12.5-20 kg / hectare.
Spacing 45 cm × 15 cm (bush type),
75 cm × 25 cm (pole types)
Nutrition
Requirement
50:80:80 kg NPK /ha,
Band fertilizer 7-10 cm deep & 5-7 cm away from the seed is good
practice.
Yield 100-140 q green pods/ ha.
Diseases Anthracnose (Copper oxychloride 2g/L), Powdery mildew (Kerathane 1g/L),
Bacterial blight (Streptocycline 1g/L), Mosaic
Insects Aphids, Jassids (Imidachloprid@0.5ml/L), Pod Borer (Corazen@0.5ml/L), Bean Weevil
COWPEA
Kashi Kanchan
Kashi Nidhi
20

20. CUCURBITS
21

21. Varieties/ Hybrids
Cucurbit Popular Varieties
Muskmelon Pusa Sarbati, Hara Madhu, Pusa Madhuras, Arka Rajhans, Arka Jeet, Durgpura Madhu, Pusa
Rasraj
Watermelon Durgapura Meetha, Sugar Baby, Arka Manik, Arka Jyoti
Bitter gourd Pusa Do Mausmi, Pusa Vishesh, Priya
Pumpkin Pusa Vishwas, Arka Chandan, Narendra Amrit, Kashi Harit, Arka Suryamukhi CM-350
Pointed gourd Swarna Alaukik, Swarna Rekha, Rajendra Parwal-I, Rajendra Parwal-II, Narendra Parwal-260,
Narendra Parwal-307, Narendra Parwal-604, IIVR PG-1
Cucumber Swarna Ageti, Swarna Sheetal, Japanese long green
Ridge gourd Swarna Manjari, Arka Sumeet, Pusa Nasdar
Bottle gourd Pusa Naveen, Narendra Jyoti, Narendra Rashmi, Narendra Dharidar, Narendra Shishir, Kashi
Ganga
Sponge gourd Pusa Chikni, Pusa Sneha, Rajendra Nenua-1
Ash gourd CO-1, CO-2, Mudliar, Indu, Kashi Dhawal, KAU Local
22

22. 1.Durgapura Meetha
2.Sugar Baby
3.Arka Manik
WATERMELON
Triploid (Seedless)
watermelon
Arka Madhura
• High yield of 60 t / ha. Grown under protected cultivation
• Fruits are round, Dark crimson red flesh, Very good taste (T.S.S. 14 %).
23

23. 1.Pusa Sarbati
2.Hara Madhu
3.Pusa Madhuras
4.Arka Rajhans
5.Arka Jeet
6.Durgapur Madhu
7.DMDR-2
8. NDM-15
9. IVMM-3
10. GMM-3
IARI
PAU
IARI
IIHR
IIHR
Durgapur
IARI
NDUAT
IIVR
GAU
1975
1975
1975
1975
1975
1975
2002
2003
2006
2008
MUSKMELON
24

24. Major diseases affecting tropical and sub-tropical vegetables
Sl. No. Disease Vegetables affected Management
1. Powdery mildew Cucurbits, Peas Kerathane 1g/L
2. Downy mildew Cucurbits Metalaxyl 2g/L
3. Early blight Cucurbits, tomato Mancozeb 2g/L
4. Late blight Tomato Metalaxyl or Copper oxychloride
@2g/L
5. Mosaic Cucurbits, tomato, chili, cowpea Imidachloprid 1ml/L
6. Root knot nematode Cucurbits, tomato Carbofuron 4G@ 8kg/Ha
7. Damping off Tomato, brinjal, okra, cowpea Metalaxyl 2g/L
8. Leaf curl Tomato, chili Imidachloprid 1ml/ 3L
or Metasystox 1ml/L
9. Little leaf
Phomposis blight
Brinjal Tetracyclin @ 300mg/L
Mancozeb 2g/L
10. Fruit rot Chili Copper oxychloride 2g/L
11. Yellow vein mosaic Okra Imidachloprid 1ml/3L or
Metasystox 1ml/L
MAJOR PROBLEMS IN SUMMER VEGETABLES
25

25. Symptom of downy mildew disease - Cucumber
Initial stages
26

26. Downy mildew
Yield loss is 50-70 %
by Sitterly R.W. (1972) & (Lebeda and Urban (2004)
Powdery mildew
Yield loss is 20 % only in rabi season and
easily controlled
Metalaxyl 2g/L Kerathane 1g/L
27

27. Alternaria blight
c/o: Alternara cucumerina:
Yield Loss is : 25 % in rainy season
Sclerotinia Stem Rot
C/O: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Mancozeb @ 2g/L Carbendazim @ 1g/L
Soil Borne
Seed/ Air Borne
28

28. Nematode infection more in poly house cucumber
Meloidogyne incognita, Yield loss 10-30 %
Root knot nematode
Carbofuron 4G@ 8kg/Ha
29

29. TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGHER YIELD
30

30. BARRIER CROPPING
Maize/ Sweet corn/ Baby corn 31

31. CROP BARRIER TO REDUCE VIRUS VECTORS INFESTATION
The most effective treatment (Seed treatment with Imidacloprid (5 g/kg) + 3 rows of maize + Silver colour
UV reflective mulch + Alternate sprays of Imidacloprid and Thiomethoxam + spraying of Imidacloprid on
bunds + keeping weed free) 32

32. Cowpea and beans – Barrier in transmission of viral diseases.
33

33. Removal of lower leaves
34

34. Fertigation in Vegetables
Scope for giving different ratios of desirable
nutrients which can minimize disease and insect
incidences.
Fertilizer application
through drip irrigation
system
35

35. Yield increase and water saving in vegetable crops trough drip irrigation
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Tomato Chilli & Capsicum Cucumber Brinjal
Yield increase (%) Water saving (%)
36

36. Soil solarization with
polythene
sheets
Seed bed
preparation after
opening of
polythene
cover
37
Seed bed/
Nursery

37. Removal of mulch
After three days, observe the seed beds daily. As and when the white
thread like structure is seen above the ground, remove the mulch
carefully to avoid any damage to emerging plumules. Always remove
mulch in the evening hours to avoid harmful effect of bright sun on newly
emerging seedlings.
38
Covering of seed
bed with paddy
straw
Use of mulch:
• It maintains the soil moisture and
temperature for better seed
germination.
• It suppresses the weeds.
• Protects from direct sunlight and
raindrops.
• Protects against bird damage.

38. Parthenocarpic cucumber under polyhouse
The seedlings are ready for transplanting within 35 - 42 day
(5-6 weeks).
Seed rate is 500 gm / ha.
Varieties- Pant Parthenocarpic cucumber 1,2,3, Kian,
Isatis, Hilton, Satis, Alamir, Nun-9729, Nun-3019, NS-492,
NS-498, Falcon Star, Full Star, King Star, Silzen, Fadia,
Pusa Sanyog
Pusa Sanyog- Fruit 28-30 cm long, cylindrical and dark
green with yellow stripes, crisp flesh. Maturity 50 days.
Harvesting- 200 tn/ha with one crop of 140 days duration
(approx. 50 harvest).
39

39. Plug trays of different cell capacity
Production of healthy seedlings in plug trays 40

40. Net-house nursery to grow plug seedlings
Grower-built nursery at the lowest possible costs. Good for moderate climate
areas.
41

41. Off Season Production
Hybrid Seed Production
Hardening of Transplants
Nursery Production
UTILIZATION OF POLYHOUSE
42

42. Seedling trays are placed on plastic-lined
sloping beds - a low cost option
43

43. Seedling from plug tray to field
• Seedlings grown in plug trays using soil-
less media are healthy and do not
suffer transplanting shock.
• Ideal technology for high value crops,
especially for greenhouses.
44

44. 45

45. 46

46. 47
Low tunnel polyhouse for nursery raising

47. 48

48. 49

49. 50

50. 51

51. Plant protection
Adaptation of plant protection measures in the nursery against the incidence of insect
pest and diseases is very important task to get the healthy seedlings. Damping off
seedlings, leaf curl, leaf blight diseases and leaf miner and borer infect the seedling
in the nursery. The care for controlling them time to time is essential.
52
Damping off (Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, etc.)
Damping off by Pythium sp. Damping off by Rhizoctonia sp. Patchy seedlings in seed bed
Metalaxyl @ 2g/Lt.

52. Raising of virus free seedlings
• Leaf curl of tomato and chilli causes great loss of the crop.
• The leaves show curling, mottling, rolling puckering etc. It can be controlled by the following
ways:
• Treat the soil of the nursery.
• Seed treatment with Imidachloprid @ 2.5 ml/kg seed
• Cover the seed bed after seed sowing by Agronet making a tunnel like structure.
• Spray Imidachloprid @ 0.5 ml/litre of water at 7-10 days interval. Last spray is done 2 days
before transplanting.
• Remove the infected plants if any in the field and burried in with soil or burn.
53
TOLCV Pep. LCV

53. Vegetable Crops response to Azotobactor
inoculation under field condition
Vegetable Crops Yield increase (%)
Potato 3.4 - 11.5
Tomato 11 - 19
Cabbage 20 - 40
Cauliflower 28 - 33.8
Brinjal 2 - 5
54

54. Economics of biofertilizer use (Liquid)
Biofertilizer/ crop Quantity
required
lit/ha
Cost of
application
(Rs/ha)
Amount of nutrient
mobilized kg/ha
Rhizobium in legumes 1.0 lit ~200 25 – 35 kg N
Azotobacter/
Azospirillum in non-
legumes
2.0 lit ~400 20 – 25 kg N
Azoto+Azosp+PSB 2.0 lit ~400 20 kg N + 12 kg P
Mixed inoculants 2.0 lit ~400 25 kg N +15 kg P
Mycorrhiza 2.00 – 5.00
kg
~500 20-25 kg P +
micronutrients+
moisture 55

55. 56