TIPS FOR PROTECTED CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLE CROPS

AT THE TIME OF STRUCTURE FABRICATION

Construct polyhouse in sunny, ventilated and well drained location along the wind direction

Ensure availability of electricity and water supply to the polyhouse

Construct an ideal polyhouse with the basic essential features

Get the soil health status determined (nutrients/ soil microorganisms/ nematodes) prior to installing the polyhouse

AN IDEAL POLYHOUSE FOR HILLY REGIONS

Double door

Side Vent

Shade net

Top vent

MEDIUM- TECH NATURALLY VENTILATED POLYHOUSE

Get the soil tested for macro- and micro-nutrients, pH and organic carbon every year and apply fertilizer on soil test basis

Time of planting is most vital for success of the crop and polyhouse growers are advised to follow recommended package

Tall growing high value vegetables offer potential by using

vertical space efficiently Grow high value vegetables viz. capsicum, tomato and

parthenocarpic cucumber Produce during off-season

Don’t use space between two doors as store or for growing plants in plug trays or protrays

PRIOR TO PLANTING

PRIOR TO PLANTING……. Grow hybrid varieties only and procure

quality planting material from reliable source Select appropriate crop/variety as per

location and season Grow resistant hybrids especially against

bacterial wilt Prefer plug/ pro tray raised seedlings for

raising the crop Avoid relay cropping/ staggered planting for

checking pest incidence Grow filler crops like exotic vegetables,

garden pea, leafy vegetables, coriander and cauliflower etc. during lean period/ as per market demand

plug tray/ polytube raised seedlings

AT THE TIME OF PLANTINGMake raised beds (85-90 cm wide &

at least 20 cm high) at 50-60 cm distance especially for tall vegetables

Use vermicompost (1 kg/ m2) or well rotten farm yard manure (2 kg/ m2)

Apply neem cake @ 30 g/ planting pit one week before transplanting

Install low cost yellow sticky traps for mass trapping of flying insects one week before transplanting @ 1 trap per 10 m2

Raised beds

Plastic mulch

AT THE TIME OF PLANTING……. Apply 10-12 g complex fertiliser

(12:32:16) per m2 ( 2 g per plant) Apply as a soil drench imidacloprid 17.8

SL by mixing 5 ml of the insecticide in 10 litre water. Apply 100 ml of the solution per planting pit one day after transplanting

Use yellow sticky traps and yellow water traps in between double door

Use shoe disinfectant at entry

YELLOW STICKY TRAP AND WATER TRAPS

water traps

Sticky Trap

DURING PLANT GROWTH PERIOD

Environment Management Regulate average temperature (20-25°C) & relative

humidity (60-80%) during the cropping period for high yield & quality produce especially for growing high value summer vegetables

For winter/filler crops, maintain average temperature (15-20º C) and relative humidity (60-80%)

Avoid temperature to rise over 35°C by using 50% UV stabilized agro shade nets, frequent fogging/misting and increased ventilation

Foggers/ misters should be run for about quarter (3/4th ) to one (1) minute only for regulating temperature & humidity

IRRIGATION AND FERTIGATIONStart fertigation 21 days after

transplanting & withhold 15 days before final harvesting

Apply liquid fertilizer 19:19:19 or 18:18:18 @ 2-2.5 g/m2 once or twice a week depending upon crop growth

Irrigate beds preferably during forenoon through drip twice or thrice a week

DURING PLANT GROWTH PERIOD……

PRUNING, PINCHING, TRAINING AND OTHER OPERATIONS Follow timely and need based pinching,

pruning and training Proper training ensures high yield, uniform

produce and improved quality fruits Capsicum: Four stems

(one flower & two leaves) Tomato: Two stems

(deshooting the auxiliary branches) Cucumber (parthenocarpic ): Single stem

(deshooting the auxiliary branches)o Gentle shaking of tomato plants twice in a day

ensures sufficient pollination and high fruit set

DURING PLANT GROWTH PERIOD…….

Adjust sticky traps as per height of the crop

Take preventive and need based curative plant protection measures

Spray neem based insecticides at 15 days interval for minimizing insect pest and disease incidence

Apply pesticides during morning and late afternoon hours

DURING PLANT GROWTH PERIOD…….PLANT PROTECTION

HARVESTING Harvest the crop at appropriate time

preferably in the evening hours Send the produce to market after grading

and proper packaging Sell the produce in card board/ thick

paper boxes for getting lucrative price Store the produce in zero-energy cool

chamber, if required

MAINTENANCE OF SOIL HEALTH AND STRUCTURE In low hills, practise soil solarization during

June by using 30 micron thick plastic sheets to combat soil borne pathogens and nematodes

Practise pressure cleaning of UV stabilized sheet and net of the green houses every year for removing dust deposits

“Protected cultivation – Everyday farming”