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Kern 373 OP Tinda

Kern 373 is an open-pollinated tinda (round gourd) with round, light green fruit and white flesh. First picking comes at 45–50 days, and it is suited to both summer and monsoon sowing.

Land and sowing window

Spring–summer: February–March
Kharif: June–July
Climate: warm and frost-free, best at 20–35°C
Soil: well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter, pH 6.0–7.5
Land preparation: plough deeply 2–3 times and level to a fine tilth. Make raised beds 1.5 m wide, or ridges

How to sow

Seed rate: 800–1000 g per acre, direct sowing
Seed treatment: Trichoderma viride 4 g per kg of seed, or carbendazim 2 g per kg of seed
Spacing: 1.5 m between rows × 45 cm between plants
Depth: 2–3 cm, 3–4 seeds per spot in moist soil
Thinning: after 14–21 days keep the 2 healthiest plants per spot
Pack size: 250 g

Manure and fertiliser (per acre)

FYM: 4 tonnes at land preparation
Nitrogen (N): 20–24 kg — one-third at sowing, the rest in two splits at 3–4 weeks and at flowering
Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 12–24 kg, all at sowing
Potash (K₂O): 16–24 kg, all at sowing

Water, weeds and pests

Irrigation: irrigate the beds before sowing, give a light irrigation 2–3 days after sowing, then every 4–7 days in summer (about 12–15 irrigations in all)
Weeds: weed or hoe at 15–20 days and again at 30–35 days. Mulch to save moisture
Fruit fly: set up traps, or spray as per label and your state advisory
Aphids and whitefly: neem oil or other safe, natural sprays
Powdery mildew: sulphur dust at 3 g per square metre, or wettable sulphur at 3 g per litre of water
Sanitation: pull out and destroy vines with pests or disease, and keep the field clean

Where it will not do well

Tinda is sensitive to temperatures below 18°C and to frost. Do not sow it in cold weather.

Harvest

First picking: 45–50 days after sowing, when fruits are 40–50 g, glossy and tender
Picking: every 3–4 days for 5–6 weeks; the harvest window runs to about 80–90 days
Full-size fruit: round, 80–85 g
Handle fruit gently and cool it quickly after picking to avoid bruising

सीज़न	बसंत–ग्रीष्म · खरीफ
बुवाई	फरवरी–मार्च · जून–जुलाई
बीज दर	800–1000 ग्राम/एकड़
दूरी	1.5 मीटर × 45 सेमी, प्रति स्थान 2 पौधे
खाद (प्रति एकड़)	गोबर खाद 4 टन · N 20–24 · P 12–24 · K 16–24 किग्रा
सिंचाई	गर्मी में हर 4–7 दिन (कुल 12–15)
तुड़ाई	45–50 दिन से, हर 3–4 दिन, 5–6 सप्ताह तक
पैक	250 ग्राम