Growth Stage, Flowering Pattern, Yield, and Harvest Date Prediction of Four Types of Cucumber Tested at 10 Planting Dates

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a major vegetable crop worldwide. Compared with many crops, cucumber reaches harvest stage rapidly. Computer growth models have been developed to help researchers, growers, and processors predict plant development and harvest date. The objective of this study was 1) to study growth and development of cucumber using both days after planting and cumulative heat units (HU) to determine their value in prediction of harvest date for pickling cucumbers grown in North Carolina, and 2) to study vegetative and flowering patterns from planting to harvest. The experiment was a split-plot treatment arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plantings were made every week for 10 weeks (30 April through 2 July). Four cultigens were chosen to represent a range of types. Data on plant growth stage and weather conditions were collected daily. Main growth stages were planting (direct seeding), emergence, vine tip over, flowering, and fruit harvest. Heat units were calculated from weather data using a model with the daily maximum air temperature, a base temperature of 15.5°C, and a reducing ceiling of 32°C. 'Calypso' was the earliest maturing cultigen, M 21 and Wis. SMR 18 were intermediate, and WI 2757 was the latest. Plantings made early in the season required more days to reach fruiting stage than those made later. Heat units were more stable over planting dates than days after planting. 'Calypso' had more branches per plant and more nodes per branch than the dwarf-determinate cultigen M 21. Early yield was correlated with number of branches/plant and nodes/branch. Additional research is needed to improve the heat unit model so that it predicts harvest date accurately regardless of planting date.

Investigation on effect of time of planting in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under polyhouse conditions in Manipur, India

“…However, only the different varieties V 1 and V 2 had a significant effect on this character. V 1 recorded minimum (6.31) node number of first female flower than V 2 (6.54).Our observation is in agreement with the findings of several other workers like Wehner and Guner (2004) who found out that growth stages like days to flowering and fruit harvest were reached in fewer days (40 days to 100% fruit harvest) when the temperature was higher in cucumber cultigens Calypso. Kishor et al (2010) also observed that cucumber grown during seasons with higher temperature and humidity were shorter by 10 days as compared to others.…”

“…Cucumber is a major cultivated vegetable crop worldwide and was probably originated in India (Hazra and Som, 2006).It develops rapidly with a shorter time from planting to harvest than most of the crops (Wehner and Guner, 2004). Cucumber is grown extensively as a field crop in most areas of the world under frost free conditions (George, 1990) and also regarded as one of the most preferred vegetable grown under protected conditions in the developed countries, on a commercial basis, which sells at a premium price in off -season.…”

Effect of Bio-fertilizer and Chemical Fertilizer on Growth and Yield in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in Green House Condition

“…Correlations between fruit number per node and branch per plant and shoot diameter revealed that an increase in fruit number per node resulted in a decrease in branch number per plant and shoot diameter and an increase in vigor of plant. Although correlation between fruit yield and branch number per plant was weak in this study, however Wehner and Guner (2004) showed that among vegetative traits, number of nodes/branch and branches/plant were correlated with early yield, indicating that early yield was higher when the plants were able to grow longer branches and having more nodes.…”

Studies of phenotypic and genotypic variation in sixteen cucumber genotypes

“…The use of local unimproved stocks for production has resulted in very low cucumber yields in Nigeria (Eneobong, 2001). Cucumber growing time is shorter from planting to harvest than most crops (Wehner and Guner, 2004). This probably contributes to making it the second most cultivated vegetable crop, after tomatoes, in Western Europe and the fourth after tomatoes, brassicas, and onions in Asia and worldwide (Wehner, 2007).…”