Chow chow
Botanical Name – Sechium edule
Family – Cucurbitaceae
1)Green fruited
2)White fruited.
Soil –
Requires well drained acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 – 6.5 .
Climate –
Chow-chow thrives well in moderate climate with high humidity as prevalent in north eastern region. It does not stand in extreme dry wind during summer and frost in winter. Chow-chow requires loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter for its growth. Chow- chow is slightly tolerant to soil acidity.
Dig pits of 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm at a spacing of 2.4 x 1.8 m.
Fill up the pits with 10 kg of FYM, 250 g of urea, 500 g of superphosphate and 500 g of muriate of potash.
Hills
April – May. Fully matured and sprouted fruits collected from high yielding vines are planted in pits @ 2 –3 per pit.
After Cultivation
Hoeing and weeding are done as and when necessary. At initiation of vine growth,
stake the plants. Provide pandal at a height of 2m. Prune the plants to ground level during
winter from second year after planting. In hills, pruning period is January. Apply 250 g of
urea to each vine after pruning and at the time of flowering.
Plant Protection
Scales, mealybugs and aphids
Spray dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/l.
1)Fruit fly
1. Collect the affected fruits and destroy.
2. The fly population is low in hot day conditions and it is peak in rainy season. Hence
adjust the sowing time accordingly.
3. Expose the pupae by ploughing.
4. Install cucurbit fruit fly trap @ 4/ acre
5. Neem oil @ 3.0 %
Do not use copper and sulphur dust, as these are phytotoxic
1) Mosaic
Spray dimethoate 30 EC @ 1.5 ml/l or methyl demeton 25 EC @ 1.5 ml/l thrice at fortnightly intervals to control insect vector.
25 – 35 tonnes/ha
