INFLUENCE OF THE PLANT DENSITY AND THE SOWING DATE ON THE YIELD OF PICKLING CUCUMBERS

Broadcasted fertilization compared with fertilizer placement resulted in a significant increase of yield. The length of the plants, the length of the internodes, the number of nodes and the number of lateral shoots was affected (not significant) by the population density. A series of different sowing dates resulted in different quantities of yield. The results gained from the two years' experiments were not sufficient for determination of the optimum sowing dates, especially as there were great differences in weather conditions between both years. The time when the first 4 to 5 cucumbers per m2 had a diameter of 45 mm was the more favourable date for harvesting the variety 'Kora', of which - by using a single destructive harvest, particularly if it occurred later - the percentage of oversized fruits is still too high. A secure determination of the optimum harvest date is thought the decisive factor for a single destructive harvest. Even though there are questions that have not yet been solved by the previous results, they are reported on, because in Europe the mechanization of cucumber harvesting is pressing. However, the experiments will be extended and continued in 1973.

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