Pusa Hybrid-2
An IARI F1 hybrid with medium-long, medium-thick, glossy green fruit, suited to pickling and dehydration. The national checklist gives first picking in 55–60 days and 19–20 t/ha, and recommends it for eleven states and Delhi.
Quick facts
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First pick ~55–60 days
- Expected yield
- 19–20 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Disease resistance
- No special resistance claimed
- Release
- Released by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Pusa Hybrid-2 is an F1 hybrid bitter gourd from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. The national checklist describes medium-long, medium-thick, glossy green fruit that suits pickling and dehydration. First picking starts 55–60 days after sowing, and the average yield is 19–20 t/ha. It is recommended for a wide set of states: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi. It needs a bower and a fruit-fly programme to reach its yield. Fresh hybrid seed must be bought each season.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose Pusa Hybrid-2 if you farm in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana or Delhi and will pay for hybrid seed for 19–20 t/ha, with first picking in 55–60 days. Choose Pusa Hybrid-1 if you are near Delhi-NCR and grow in spring-summer. Choose Pusa Do Mausami or Pusa Vishesh if you want open-pollinated seed.
Sowing & cultivation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Listed at 19–20 t/ha, with first picking in 55–60 days
- Recommended for a wide set of states, from Punjab to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh
- Medium-long, medium-thick, glossy green fruit that suits pickling and dehydration
Things to consider
- Fresh hybrid seed must be bought every season
- Needs a bower and a fruit-fly control programme from first flower to realise its yield
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Punjab
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- Jharkhand
- Chhattisgarh
- Odisha
- Andhra Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Delhi
Check your state and your processor before you buy
Pusa Hybrid-2 has one of the widest recommended lists in this crop: eleven states and Delhi. If your state is on the list, you have a variety that was meant for your conditions.
If your state is not on the list, sow a small strip beside the local variety first and compare yield, days to first picking and the price you get.
The checklist describes the fruit as suitable for pickling and dehydration. If a processor is your buyer, show a sample before the first sowing and ask what size and shape he accepts.
Where the planting material comes from
This is a hybrid, so seed kept from your own harvest will not breed true. The next crop comes up uneven in height, maturity and yield. Buy fresh certified seed every season and keep the bag tag until harvest.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Bitter Gourd (Karela) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arka Harit | A thick-fleshed, few-seeded southern karela with glossy spindle-shaped fruit, from ICAR-IIHR | First pick ~60–65 days | About 12 t/ha | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala |
| Coimbatore Long (CO-1) | A long green TNAU karela of 30–35 cm for Tamil Nadu markets that pay for length | First pick ~60–70 days | About 14 t/ha | Tamil Nadu |
| Pusa Do Mausami | An open-pollinated karela for both summer and the rainy season, ready for first picking in about 55 days | First pick in about 55 days from sowing | No separate figure published | Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar |
| Pusa Hybrid-1 | An F1 karela with about 20 t/ha for the spring-summer crop near Delhi-NCR, suited to pickling and dehydration | First pick ~55–60 days | About 20 t/ha | Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh |
| Pusa Hybrid-2this page | An F1 karela recommended for the widest set of states, with 19–20 t/ha, for pickling and dehydration | First pick ~55–60 days | 19–20 t/ha | Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi |
| Pusa Vishesh | A dwarf-vine open-pollinated karela for high-density planting and small plots, suited to pickling and dehydration | No separate figure published | No separate figure published | Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Bitter Gourd (Karela) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Bitter Gourd (Karela) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Bitter Gourd (Karela) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Bitter Gourd (Karela) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Bitter Gourd (Karela) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Bitter Gourd (Karela) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Bitter Gourd (Karela) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Pusa Hybrid-2 yield?
The national checklist gives an average of 19–20 t/ha, with first picking 55–60 days after sowing. That is about the same as Pusa Hybrid-1 at about 20 t/ha.
Is Pusa Hybrid-2 less bitter than ordinary karela?
The national checklist does not say so. It describes glossy green, medium-long, medium-thick fruit for pickling and dehydration. Do not promise buyers a mild taste, and taste a sample first.
Which states is Pusa Hybrid-2 recommended for?
Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi, per the national checklist. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are covered by Arka Harit and Coimbatore Long.
Can I save seed from Pusa Hybrid-2?
No. It is an F1 hybrid, so seed from your crop will not give the same plants. Buy fresh seed every season from a trusted dealer.
Does Pusa Hybrid-2 need a bower?
The summary above says a bower and a fruit-fly programme help it reach its yield. A bower keeps the fruit clean and straight and makes picking easier, which matters when the buyer is a processor.
Sourced from: Checklist of Commercial Varieties of Vegetables (capsicum, carrot, cucumber, bottle gourd, bitter gourd) — TNAU Agritech national bulletin. editorial policy.