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CAULIFLOWER
(Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
Cauliflower
is a winter vegetable belonging to the family Brassicaceae.
It is mainly cultivated for its white tender head called
'curd'. It is a rich source of protein vitamin A and
C, minerals like potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus,
calcium and magnesium.
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Pusa
Early Synthetic, Himani, Swathi, Pusa Deepali, Early
Patna, 74-6-C.
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Cauliflower can be grown during winter in high ranges.
Well-drained sandy loam to clay loam soils are suited
for the crop.
Since
it is a cool season crop, sowing is to be done from
Aug-Nov. Seed rate is 600-750 g/ha. Seeds are to be
sown in nursery beds. Three to five week old seedlings
are used for transplanting. Field is prepared by three
or four ploughings. Seedlings are transplanted at
a spacing of 60 x 45 cm.
In order to produce large curds, earth up the plant
one month after transplanting.
Mulching with polythene increases the yield. Paddy
husk can also be used as mulch where as straw mulch
is not good.
Blanching is an important operation in cauliflower
to get good quality curd. Curds are covered and tied
with leaves to protect the heads from sun scorch and
yellowing preventing the loss of flavour and attractiveness.The
duration of blanching should not exceed 3-5 days in
hot weather and 8-10 days in cool weather.
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A
continuous supply of moisture is necessary for proper
development of curds.
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Apply FYM or compost @ 25 t/ha and fertilizers @ 150:100:125
N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha. Apply full dose of P2O5 and half
dose of N and K2O before transplanting and remaining
N and K one month after transplanting.
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Very
shallow hoeing should be dne to remove the weeds and to
loosen the soil for better aeration.
Cabbage aphid,Diamond back moth and cut worms are the
major pests. Spraying malathion at 0.1 per cent will
control the damage. Diamond back moth is another major
pest. IPM involving a trap crop, release of a parasitoid
and application of neem seed kernel extract is recommended
by IIHR against this pest. Bold seeded Indian mustard
is the recommended trap crop. Spraying 4 per cent neem
seed kernel extract once every three weeks is recommended.
The parasitoid, Diadegma semiclausum may be released
10-15 days before or after neem seed kernel extract
spraying and the number of releases have to be decided
based on the degree of infestation.
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Damping off,Phytophthora root rot, leaf spot and blight
are the major fungal diseases affecting the cauliflower.
To control the fungal diseases, treat seeds with ceresan
or bavistin @2 g per kg of seed. Drench nursery beds
with captan 0.1 per cent before sowing. Follow crop
rotation and ensure good drainage.
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Cauliflower
curds are harvested periodically before flower opening.
Other wise flower stalks elongate and loose curds are
formed.
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Average
yield of curd ranges between 20 and 35 tons per hectare.
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