27 Apr How to produce quality seed of pumpkin
सीताफल या कद्दू के गुणवत्तायुक्त बीज का उत्पादन कैसे करें Pumpkin is one of the most important crops of family Cucurbitaceae. Pumpkin now occupies a prominent place among vegetables owing to its high productivity, nutritive value, good storability, long period of availability and better transport potentialities. It is extensively grown during rainy and summer months in all parts of the India. Seed production of cucurbits including pumpkin in India is still dominated by locally available open pollinated cultivars. It is estimated that 70% area of different gourds including pumpkin and 60% area of melons is covered by unidentified local varieties, although several improved varieties of pumpkin (Kashi Harit, Pusa Vishwas, Pusa Vikas, CO-1, CO-2, Ambili, etc.) are available. Hence, great scope exists to improve the local cultivars by breeding and replace them with improved varieties and hybrids. The main seed production area of pumpkin in India is West Bengal (West Midanpur and Bankura) and U.P. (Allahabad and Faizabad). Climatic Requirements and Sowing Time Pumpkin is a warm season crop that grows best at 21 to 320C. Freezing kills the plants and cool weather below 160C slows or stops the growth. Pumpkin seeds germinate and emerge within 3-4 days at a soil temperature and from 6 to 12 days at 200C. It has been...