Gherkin

Gherkin (Cucumis sativus L) is an annual plant of the gourd family. The origin of the pickle is the tropics of India, probably in Central Asia and China. The nutritional value of pickle is not large (vitamins C, B1 and B2, and few mineral salts). The pickle is a refreshing and laxative vegetable. In one gram of seed, there are 40-50 seeds. The germination of the seeds lasts 7-8 years. Tadla is the main pickle producing region in Morocco.
Pedoclimatic preferences:
Culture suffer from cold, frost and Chergui, especially during the vegetative and floral periods. The optimum temperature for growth and root development of the plant is of 24- 26 ° C. Vegetation stops below 14 ° C or above 40 ° C. Seeds do not germinate below 12 ° C. The culture is very demanding to heat. The requirements of light pickle are not large. Culture performs well even in low light. The optimum moisture from the air is around 95%. The particular structure of the sheets (thin cuticle) is at the origin of the major requirements of the plant relative humidity in the air. The pickle is very sensitive to the wind during all phases of its vegetation. It is imperative to install windbreaks. The weak root system is causing major soil moisture requirements. Hot, dry weather favors the spread of the red spider and the percentage bitter fruit. The excess soil water is harmful to the culture. Gherkin prefers fertile, deep soil, well drained, rich in humus and nutrients assimilated. The clay-siliceous earths are best suited for cultivation. The heavy soils, very clayey, compact and cold are discarded. The pickle does not support salinity or concentrated nutrient solutions. It is preferred to enrich the soil with manure and not decomposed by high doses of concentrated fertilizer.
Varieties, tillage and seeding:
The varieties used in Morocco are old; it does end Meaux, Levo F1, Pioneer, Bounty, Alvin, Amanda Anka, Arena, and Hocus Calypso. The best previous crops are tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and alfalfa. The pickle may be a good previous crop for these crops for green beans and cabbage. Land preparation begins with deep plowing in which are buried the basal dressing. Soil preparation should end no later than 15 days before planting. Multiplying the pickle is by direct seeding. The production of nursery plants is rare. In Morocco, the sowing is direct. It is ultimately place in the field during the season, from March to May or late season in June-July. The arrangement of plants in the field is as follows: 1 -1.2 m between simple lines, with 0.3- 0.5 m between plants in the row, according to current varieties. For direct sowing, leave 1- 1.2 m between simple lines and 0.6 m between bunches of 2-3 seeds. Thinning place in stage 1-2 true leaves, leaving one plant every 30 to 40 cm in the row. In field crops, seeding can be done by sowing distances 1.2 mx 0.2 m. The amount of seed used in the case of the drill is 10 kg / ha. The one used for direct seeding is 2 kg / ha. The specific dose of seeding nursery is 0.7-1 kg / ha.
Irrigation and tending:
  The needs of the water culture resemble those of full field of cucumber. Irrigating 2-3 times / week to bring the soil moisture to 70-80%, the hoeing are carried out 2-3 times, without damaging the roots. Size is an important operation that involves a topping (for conduct of the plant on a single secondary arm) and a pinch of ramifications on the 3rd node, blinding the third sheet.
Fertilization:
  The base dressing consists of manure 40 t decomposed / ha + 80-120 kg N / ha + 50-100 kg / ha of phosphate and 150-200 kg / ha of potash. The top dressing is to cycle through inputs 3-4 4 T manure / ha, 30 kg N, 20 kg P2O5 30 kg K2O / ha. For driving in fertigation, nutrient solutions should be balanced, not too concentrated, especially in saline conditions (1-0,7-1 balance during startup culture in cold weather, with 30 kg N / ha and 1 -0.3 to 1.5 floral period and fruit magnification with 20 kg N / ha; fertigation may be managed by conductivity, with a EC 1.5-1.8).
Main enemies of culture and Controls:
The fight against pests and diseases must be preventive, especially against the nuile, anthracnose, powdery mildew, spider mites, aphids and cutworms.
Harvesting, handling product and good storage conditions:
The pickle is harvested before the fruit exceeds his caliber requested by canning (5- 8 cm long and 2 to 3 cm in diameter). The pickle is developing very rapidly; it should not be the fruit magnifications in an exaggerated manner. Fruits are firmly attached to the plant; you have to use a knife or pruning shears to cut the stalk. The yield of the crop is generally ten tonnes over a period pickings 3-4 months. When this period is longer, the yield is higher. The same storage conditions cited for cucumber remain valid for the pickle.

Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II