'Giant' sized cucumber grown by Haryana farmer

Hisar, Sep 29 (UNI) A young progressive farmer of Rawalwas Khurd villag in the district has the unique distinction of harvesting a 'giant' sized cucumber at his farm.

Rattan Verma, noticed a cucumber of extraordinary length and weight in his field. It was the only fruit on one of the plants of cucumber.

When it ripened after forty days he measured it and to his astonishment he found that it was 2.2 feet long.

Instead of feasting on the cucumber with his family and neighbours he brought it to the scientists of Haryana Agricultural University.

Dr S K Arora, Head of the Vegetables Department of the university was surprised to see the 'giant' sized cucumber and told the farmer that he had never seen anything like it before.

"We are keeping the cucumber here for research and its seeds will be tested further", Dr Arora said when contacted.

"It is surprising that the farmer did not use any insecticide or fertilizer for its growth and used just simple manure", he added.

Now this cucumber is adorning the vegetable laboratory of the university and has come under the 'scanner' of the scientists who are thinking of developing a hybrid seed from this extra ordinary cucumber.

UNI XC-HS VN1024