Long Melon

LONG MELON

Climate and Soil:

Long melon is a warm season crop. It can also be grown under protected conditions to get early yield. The crop can be grown in a wide range of soils ranging between sandy loam to heavy soil.

Improved variety:

Punjab Longmelon-1 (1995): Its vines are long, stem pubescent, angled and light green. It is an early maturing variety. Its fruits are long, thin and light green. Average yield is 86 q/acre.

Agronomic Practices:

Sowing time: February-March.

Seed Rate: 1 kg per acre.

Spacing: Seeds are sown on both sides of the bed of width 2.5 m at a distance of 60 cm. Sow at least two seeds at one place to ensure a good stand.

Manure and Fertilizers:

It requires 40 kg N (90 kg Urea), 20 kg of P₂O₅ (125 kg of Superphosphate) and 20 kg of K₂O (35 kg of Muriate of Potash). Apply one-third of N along with the whole of P₂O₅ and K₂O at the time of sowing in two parallel bands 15 cm away from the bed mark and prepare the ridges. Rest of the nitrogen is applied during the early period of vine growth.

Irrigation: Irrigate immediately after sowing the seeds on the beds. Irrigation may be given at 4-5 days interval in the summer season. In the rainy season, apply irrigation whenever required.

Harvesting :

Long melon fruits are ready for picking in about 60-70 days. Fruits should be picked when attaining the marketable size and are tender. In peak season harvest the fruits at 3-4 days interval.

Seed Production:

The long melon field should be minimum 1000m isolated from other varieties of long melon, muskmelon, snap melon and chibber. The undesirable or off type plants are rogued out before flowering, during flowering and fruiting stages. Three field inspections should be conducted, first before flowering, second at flowering and fruiting and third before harvesting of the seed crop. The mature fruits are picked, and pulp is taken out in fresh water. It is kept for one or two days for separation of seed from the pulp. The seed is rubbed with hands. Heavy seeds settle in water and are retained.

Source-Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.