Durgapura Madhu
A Rajasthan (Durgapura) selection for hot, arid conditions — round, netted, sweet fruit on a hardy vine, grown across the dry north-west and in river-bed plantings.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First harvest ~80–90 days
- Expected yield
- 15–22 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- Hardy in dry heat; standard cucurbit disease watch
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Durgapura Madhu is an open-pollinated muskmelon selected at Durgapura, Rajasthan, for the hot, arid tracts of the north-west. The fruit is round and netted with sweet flesh, and the vine tolerates dry heat and poorer sandy soil better than many types, which suits it to dryland fields and river-bed (diara) plantings where a cheap, hardy open-pollinated variety with saveable seed is wanted. It matures at about 80–90 days.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose Durgapura Madhu if you farm hot, dry or sandy land, or a river bed, and want cheap seed you can save. It is a Rajasthan selection with round, netted, sweet fruit on a hardy vine, ready in about 80–90 days, with a yield of 15–22 t/ha. It has no special disease resistance, so mildews and fruit fly still need managing. Choose Arka Rajhans if powdery mildew is the problem, Pusa Sharbati for a sweeter, aromatic fruit, Punjab Hybrid for uniform commercial fruit.
Sowing & cultivation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Tolerant of dry heat and poorer sandy soil — suits arid and river-bed cultivation
- Sweet, netted fruit; hardy, dependable open-pollinated type
- Seed can be saved; early at about 80–90 days
Things to consider
- Lower yield potential and less uniformity than a modern hybrid
- No special disease resistance — downy and powdery mildew and the fruit fly need managing
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Uttar Pradesh
- Haryana
- Madhya Pradesh
A dry-land crop still needs a water plan
Durgapura Madhu copes with dry heat and poor sandy soil better than most melons, which is why it is picked for arid fields and river beds. It is still a fruiting crop that needs water to fill the fruit.
TNAU's general muskmelon advice is to irrigate before sowing and then about once a week. On very sandy soil that holds little water, plan on watering a little and often rather than one deep irrigation, and keep the leaves dry.
Where water is scarce, put it on fewer plants rather than spreading it thin across the field. A smaller block with enough water gives sweeter fruit than a large block that is always short.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Muskmelon (Kharbuja) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arka Jeet | Small single-serve melon, resistant to powdery mildew | First harvest ~80–85 days | About 17 t/ha | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu |
| Arka Rajhans | Powdery-mildew resistant melon with good keeping quality | First harvest ~90–100 days | 20–25 t/ha | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
| Durgapura Madhuthis page | Hardy open-pollinated melon for dry land and river beds | First harvest ~80–90 days | 15–22 t/ha | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh |
| Hara Madhu | Very sweet melon for nearby markets only | First harvest ~90–100 days | 15–20 t/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| Punjab Hybrid | Uniform F1 melon for the commercial north-west crop | First harvest ~80–90 days | 22–28 t/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| Punjab Sunehri | Netted, transportable open-pollinated melon, north-west staple | First harvest ~85–95 days | 18–22 t/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh |
| Pusa Sharbati | Classic sweet, aromatic melon for north and central India | First harvest ~85–90 days | 15–20 t/ha | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana |
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 Muskmelon (Kharbuja) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Muskmelon (Kharbuja) 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 Muskmelon (Kharbuja) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Muskmelon (Kharbuja) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Muskmelon (Kharbuja) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Muskmelon (Kharbuja) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Muskmelon (Kharbuja) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Durgapura Madhu really drought-proof?
It tolerates dry heat and poorer sandy soil better than many types, which is not the same as growing without water. TNAU's general advice is to irrigate before sowing and then about once a week, so plan water for the vine and for fruit filling.
Can I grow it on a river bed (diara)?
Yes, river-bed plantings are one of its listed uses. Sow only after the soil is firm and the flood risk has passed, and keep a few days of buffer before the water returns.
What diseases and pests should I plan for?
Downy mildew, powdery mildew and fruit fly. For fruit fly, TNAU advises ploughing to expose pupae, destroying damaged fruit and using traps. Avoid copper and sulphur dusts on cucurbits, which TNAU calls phytotoxic.
Durgapura Madhu or Hara Madhu?
Durgapura Madhu is the hardy, dry-land type with netted fruit that travels better. Hara Madhu is much sweeter but has thin skin and must be sold nearby within a day or two. Match the variety to how far your fruit must go.
Can I save Durgapura Madhu seed?
Yes, that is one of its strengths. Keep seed from the sweetest, healthy, typical fruit and keep the plot away from other melons so they do not cross.
Sourced from: TNAU Agritech Portal — Muskmelon. editorial policy.