The seed is treated with protectant fungicides such as captan or thiram at 3-g a.i./kg seed for protection against soilborne fungal diseases.

Spacing between rows is 45 cm and between plants 5-10 cm depending upon seed size and season. Two to three seeds are sown in each hill. However, spacing between rows varies with variety and season. Usually seeding (60-80 kg seed/ha) is required to obtain a population of 400,000 plants per hectare.