CROP HUSBANDRY-CAULIFLOWER CULTIVATION PRACTICES IN KERALA

CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)Cauliflower can be grown during winter in high ranges. Well-drained sandy loam to clay loam soils are suited for the crop.

Varieties

Pusa Early Synthetic, Himani, Swathi, Pusa Deepali, Early Patna, 74-6-C

Planting requirements

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.

Manures and fertilizers

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.

Aftercultivation

A continuous supply of moisture is necessary for proper development of curds. Very shallow hoeing should be done to remove the weeds and to loosen the soil for better aeration. In order to produce large curds, earth up the plant one month after transplanting.