EFFECT OF SOWING TIMES ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF MUSKMELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.) VARIETIES

The experiment "Effect of sowing dates on the growth. yield and quality of muskmelon varieties" was conducted at Agriculture Research Institute Tarnab, Peshawar during 2016. The experiment was planned in Randomized Complete Block with split plot arrangements. Sowing dates were reserved in main plots while varieties were kept in sub-plot. The seeds of three different varieties i.e. Annanas, Honey Ball and Sweet King were sown at three different dates i.e. 15th March, 30th March and 15th April. Early germination (4.89 days), best germination percentage (89.2) and the longest vine (198.6 cm) were recorded in muskmelon variety "Honey Ball" whereas earlier flowering (28 days), more branches vine(-1) (7.1). increased number of leaves vine' (289.2), heaviest fruit (0.92 kg), thickest fruit (4.2 cm), inaximuin fruit volume (1105.6 cm), more fruits vine(-1) (5.98), fruits plot" (23.9), fruit weight plot(-1) (22.1 kg) and yield ha(-1) (73.5 tons) were recorded in muskmelon variety "Annanas". Early germination (5.8 days) and high gemination (87.8 %) were recorded in muskmelons sown on 15th April. The longest vine (177 cm) was recorded in inuskinelons sown on 30th March, whereas early flowering (27.33 days), more number of branches vine' (6.8), number of leaves vine(-1) (279.3), increased fruit weight (0.74 kg), maximum fruit thickness (3.15 cm), maximum fruit volume (1073.3 cm(3)), more fruits vine(-1) (5.23), fruits plot' (20.9), increased fruit weight plot(-1) (16.1 kg), maximum yield ha(-1) (53.6 tons) were recorded in muskmelons sown on 15th March. It can be concluded that muskmelon variety "Annanas" gave higher yield and better quality when sown on 15' March.