Tunnel farming is not an old concept and it is also becoming popular in Pakistan and
large number of tunnels are being seen in the villages of Punjab, Sindh and
KPK. Here we are presenting an account of types of tunnels, suitable vegetables
for each tunnel type. Sowing dates and P to P & R to R distances are also
given here.
 |
| Cucumber flowering in a tunnel |
On
the basis of height, tunnels can be broadly categorized in to 3 types;
|
Type of tunnel
|
Height (meters)
|
Structure
|
Suitable Vegetables
|
|
High
Roof Tunnel
|
4-5
m
|
T/angle
iron, bamboo, pipes
|
Cucumber,
gourds bittergourd, tomato
|
|
Walk-in
Tunnel
|
~ 2 m
|
Iron / zinc
pipes
|
Bell pepper,
green chillies, bittergourd, cucumber, brinjal, tomato, gourds
|
|
Low
Tunnel
|
~
1 m
|
Iron
rods, bamboo, mulberry or grewia branches
|
Bell pepper,
green chillies, bittergourd, cucumber, brinjal, tomato,gourds, watermelon,
melon
|
Here is a list of most suitable vegetables recommended by Agriculture Department of Punjab Govt. for cultivation in different types of tunnels.
Here we have also presented nursery/transplanting and direct sowing (recommended dates) for different vegetables. Common names of vegetables have been used (Urdu names are written for convenience).
|
High Tunnel
|
|||||
|
Crop
|
Nursery Sowing
|
Transplanting Nursery
|
Direct Sowing
|
Plant to Plant Distance
|
Row to Row Distance
|
|
Cucumber
(کھیرا )
|
-
|
-
|
25 oct – to
-
15 nov
|
22.5 – 30 cm
|
90 cm
|
|
Tomato
(ٹماٹر )
|
1st
to 15 oct.
|
1st
to 15 Nov.
|
-
|
30-45
cm
|
90
cm
|
|
Gourd
(گھیا کدو )
|
|
|
1st
to 15 Nov.
|
30 cm
|
90 cm
|
|
Bitter
gourd
(کریلہ )
|
|
|
1st
to 15 Nov.
|
45
cm
|
90
cm
|
|
Walk-in Tunnel
|
|||||
|
Crop
|
Nursery Sowing
|
Transplanting Nursery
|
Direct Sowing
|
Plant to Plant Distance
|
Row to Row Distance
|
|
Cucumber
(کھیرا )
|
-
|
-
|
15 Nov. to
15 Dec.
|
22.5-30 cm
|
60 cm
|
|
Tomato
( ٹماٹر )
|
1st-15
Oct.
|
15-25
Nov.
|
-
|
30-45
cm
|
90
cm
|
|
Tomato
( ٹماٹر )
|
15-25 Oct.
|
15-30 Nov.
|
-
|
50 cm
|
150 cm
|
|
Gourd
( گھیا کدو )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-10
Nov.
|
30
cm
|
90
cm
|
|
Capsicum/
Bell pepper
( شملہ مرچ )
|
1st-20
Sep.
|
15 Oct. to
10 Nov.
|
-
|
37 cm
|
60 cm
|
|
Green
Chilli
(سبز مرچ )
|
1st-30
Sep.
|
15
Oct. to 10 Nov.
|
-
|
37
cm
|
60
cm
|
|
Bitter
gourd
(کریلہ )
|
-
|
-
|
15 Nov. to
30 Nov.
|
45 cm
|
90 cm
|
|
Brinjal
( بینگن )
|
1st-20
Sep.
|
15
Oct. to 10 Nov.
|
-
|
45
cm
|
60
cm
|
|
Low Tunnel
|
|||||
|
Crop
|
Nursery Sowing
|
Transplanting Nursery
|
Direct Sowing
|
Plant to Plant Distance
|
Row to Row Distance
|
|
Cucumber
( کھیرا )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
22.5-30 cm
|
150 cm
|
|
Gourd
(گھیا کدو )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45
cm
|
240
cm
|
|
Summer
Squash
( چپن کدو )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45 cm
|
150 cm
|
|
Bitter
gourd
(کریلہ )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45
cm
|
240
cm
|
|
Gourd
(Zucchini)
(گھیا توری )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45 cm
|
240 cm
|
|
Pumpkin
(حلوہ کدو )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
50
cm
|
240
cm
|
|
Tomato
(ٹماٹر )
|
15-30 Oct.
|
15-30 Nov.
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45 cm
|
150 cm
|
|
Melon
( خربوزہ )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45
cm
|
150
cm
|
|
Watermelon
(تربوز )
|
-
|
-
|
1st-15
Dec.
|
45 cm
|
150 cm
|
