Development of a Simulation Model to Predict Growth and Yield of Pickling Cucumber
in HortScienceProduction of pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) requires a significant expenditure of labor and money. Those resources could be better managed if both yield and harvest date could be predicted for a given planting date and production area. The objective of this experiment was to develop a model to simulate growth and yield of pickling cucumbers under field conditions in North Carolina. Detailed measurements of leaf area, branching habit, flowering, fruiting, and dry weight distribution were obtained for the cultigens `Calypso', M 21, `Wis. SMR 18', and WI 2757 for 10 planting dates. Light interception, air temperature, and rainfall were also recorded. There were differences among cultigens and planting dates for time needed to reach certain growth stages. Number of days to reach a given stage generally decreased with later planting dates. Addition of nodes over time to the main stem was linear and the interaction of planting date by cultigen was significant. Number of staminate and pistillate flowers was affected by both cultigen and planting date.
