Long, warm growing season, frost free for 4-5 months is ideal. In tropical southern
India the crop is raised during winter months (August – December) with temperature of 21ºC
at night & 27 ºC in day.
Optimum temperature for seed germination is 18-24 ºC.
Prepare 10 -12 beds of 7 m long, 1.2 m wide and 15 cm height. Apply 15 – 20 kg well decomposed compost and 500 g of 15:15:15 NPK complex fertilizer to each bed 15 to 20 days before sowing. Sow the seeds in rows 10 cm apart at 0.5 cm deep.
Seedlings are first hardened by gradually withholding the Water 6-8 days before
transplanting and exposing them to direct sunlight. Water the seedling 12-14 hr before
transplanting
The matured fruits are ready for harvest after 70-80 days of planting. Fruits are
harvested 3 to 6 times in a crop. The harvesting is spread over a period of 3-4 months.