Huge April-May demand for these vegetables | summer vegetable cultivation

Summary

• Choose strong soils with pH 6.5-7.5 for summer vegetables; assured water is critical to capture June-July high prices.
• Land prep: deep ploughing followed by 25 kg potash + 40 kg phosphorus per acre at planting, with 100 kg nitrogen split in 3 doses.
• Spray Pendimethalin within 48 hours of sowing for 20-day weed-free window in summer vegetable beds.
• Crop-wise seed rates: ridge gourd/bitter gourd 600-800 g/acre with 2.5-5 m row x 40-80 cm plant spacing; okra 1 kg/acre; tomato 20-40 cm intra-row.
• Pumpkin/Surah at 500-700 g/acre with 2-2.5 m row x 60-80 cm spacing; nursery transplant for tomato.