Sow These Summer Vegetables in February-March: Know the Right Time and Technique

This is the ideal time to sow summer vegetables like bottle gourd, pumpkin, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, cucumber, and round melon. Their sowing period extends from mid-February to mid-March. According to agricultural experts, selecting high-yielding varieties can help achieve better production.

High-Yielding Varieties:

1. Bottle Gourd – Pusa Naveen, Pusa Sandesh, Arka Vihar, Pusa Samridhi, Pusa Santushti
2. Pumpkin – Pusa Vishwas, Pusa Vikas
3. Bitter Gourd – Pusa Vishesh, Pusa Do Mausami
4. Ridge Gourd – Pusa Supriya, Pusa Chikni, Pusa Nutan, Pusa Nasdar
5. Cucumber – Pusa Sanyog, Pusa Barkha, Pusa Urd
6. Round Melon (Tinda) – Punjab Tinda, Arka Tinda

Soil Preparation & Sowing Techniques:

Cucurbitaceous vegetables grow best in sandy loam soil with a pH level between 6 and 7.5. It is advisable to use farmyard manure or compost based on soil testing reports. Prepare furrows or raised beds for sowing.

1. Furrow Width – 40-50 cm
2. Furrow Depth – 30-40 cm
3. Row Spacing – 2-4 meters

Seed Rate & Treatment:

1. Cucumber – 2 to 2.5 kg
2. Bottle Gourd – 4 to 5 kg
3. Bitter Gourd – 5 to 6 kg
4. Ridge Gourd – 4.5 to 5 kg
5. Pumpkin – 3 to 4 kg
6. Round Melon (Tinda) – 5 to 6 kg
7. Watermelon – 4 to 4.5 kg
8. Muskmelon – 2.5 kg

Before sowing, treat seeds with Carbendazim + Mancozeb at 2 grams per kg of seed to prevent fungal infections.

Fertilizer & Irrigation Management:

1. Apply 15-20 tons of farmyard manure per hectare at the time of land preparation.
2. Use 80 kg Nitrogen, 50 kg Phosphorus, and 50 kg Potash per hectare.
3. Ensure regular irrigation but avoid waterlogging.

Summer Okra (Bhindi) Sowing & Care: Okra can be sown from February to March. Recommended high-yielding varieties include Parbhani Kranti, Arka Abhay, VRO-5, VRO-6, and Arka Anamika. To prevent Yellow Mosaic Virus, treat seeds with Thiamethoxam 30 FS (10 ml per kg seed) or Imidacloprid 48 FS (1.25 ml per kg seed).

Okra Sowing Techniques:

1. Seed Rate – 20 to 22 kg per hectare
2. Row Spacing – 25-30 cm
3. Plant Spacing – 15-20 cm
4. Seed Depth – 2-3 cm
5. Okra Fertilizer Management

Before sowing, mix 2-2.5 tons of decomposed farmyard manure into the soil. Apply 60 kg Nitrogen, 30 kg Phosphorus, and 50 kg Potassium per hectare for optimal growth.