Botany

• Annual herb, erect
• Flowers are, self pollinated with very rare chance of cross pollination by insect, hermaphrodite and appear in the axil of each leaf above 6th to 8th leaf depending upon the cultivar
• Anthesis occurs at morning (around 9-10 am)
• The pollen dehiscence starts early morning and completes in late morning (6.00-11.00 am)
• Pollen fertility is maximum in the period between an hour before and an hour after opening of flower
• Stigma become receptive at opening of flower

Climate and soil

• Adopted to tropical climate and requires warm humid weather for best growth and production
• Can not tolerate below 18°C but unless the temperature is above 20°C the seeds do not germinate
• Optimum temperature range of 20-30°C
• Maximum temp. Tolerated without any setback to growth and fruiting is 34.5°C
• Continuous rains are harmful to the crop
• Soil: can be grown in all kinds of soil (Sandy loam to heavy clay), pH 6.0-6.8