Season and Field preparation

Soil

Well drained soil with rich organic matter content and warm humid climate is best suited for the cultivation of vegetable cowpea.

Season

June – July (Rainfed), February – March (irrigated)

Seed rate

20 kg of seeds/ha is required.

Seed treatment

Treat the seeds with Rhizobium bacterial culture 600 g before sowing.

Preparation of field

Plough the field to fine tilth and form ridges and furrows at 45 cm apart or beds of convenient sizes.

Sowing

Dibble the seeds on both sides of the ridges or in lines in the beds at 45 x 15 cm spacing.

Irrigation

Give irrigation immediately after sowing and on 3rd day, thereafter once a week.

Application of fertilizers

Apply FYM 25 t/ha, Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria 2 kg /ha and N 25 kg and P 50 kg/ha for irrigated crop. Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha and N 12.5 and P 25 kg/ha for rainfed crop.Fertilizers can be applied in several split doses at fortnightly intervals.

Pinching

Before flowering, the tendrils should be pinched thrice for getting bushy plants.

After cultivation

Give one hoeing and weeding on 25th day after sowing.

Plant protection

Aphids

Aphids can be controlled by spraying Dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/lit or Methyl demeton 25 EC 1 ml/lit.

Pod Borer

Pod borer can be controlled by spraying Quinalphos 25 EC 2ml/lit.