By Junaid Abbas

1. Presented By :
Junaid Abbas (12-Arid-374)
And
Zeeshan Khan (12-Arid-437)
Course : Hort – 503

3. Group Name : Cole crops
Name : Cauliflower
Botanical Name : Brassica Oleracea

4. CAULIFLOWER originated from Europe, spread
to other countries and at present is cultivated in
many parts of the world.. In Pakistan, it was
grown on 1,697 hectares and its production in
2004-05 was 17,277 tones. This crop is developed
from broccoli, and is considered as one of the
refined and delicate vegetables and is cultivated
for its white and tender head or curd.

5. The curds are short and thick parts of the flower
buds. Cauliflower when utilized green is a good
source of protein and vitamin B, as compared to
other leafy vegetables. Cauliflower is free of fat
and cholesterol and very low in sodium and
calories and rich in vitamin C, potassium and fiber.
It is an excellent vegetable for diabetics.

6. Proper climatic conditions are almost essential
according to the variety of the cauliflower.
Cauliflower thrives best in a cool and moist climate.
Cauliflower withstands so low temperature or so
much heat as cabbage does. Dry weather and low
humidity are not suited from it. For good seed
germination, temperature of 50 to 70 0 F is required.
High temperatures produces poor quality curds via
leafy, fuzzy, loose and yellow curds.

7. Temperature below the optimum during growing
period delays maturity and undersized, small
unmarketable heads or buttons may be formed.
Dry hot weather may give rise to small hard heads.

8. It can be grown on a wide range of sold provided
they are rich in nutrients and have adequate soil
moisture, possess a good drainage and also
contain plenty of organic matter. Sandy loam soil
are preferred for early crops, while loam and clay
loams for late crops. Cauliflower grows best on a
neutral to slightly acid soils i.e. at PH 6.0 to 7.0. If
the soil is below PH 5.5 liming at the rate of 5 to
10 quintal per ha should be done for successful
raising of cauliflower.

9. Higher PH than 7.0 decrease the availability of
boron. The soil must be thoroughly prepared to
make it loose and friable, and retentive of
moisture. Basic organic manures should be
applied during the field preparation. It requires
better prepared soil than cabbage. That is why
it has been humorously referred to as ‘a
cabbage with a college education.’ 1 to 2
corrosive ploughing by a soil turning plough
followed by 3 to 4 ploughing with disc plough
are enough for it.

10. The seed are sown in nursery bed in May- June
for early, July – August for mid season (main
crop) and September – October for late varieties.
In cauliflower seed rate for early crop is 600 to 750
gm and for late crop 400 to 500 gm /Ha

11. Ridges and furrow type of layout is used for crop.
Before that seedlings are prepared in nursery bed
(Raised bed) and transplanted in main filed after 3
– 4 weeks. Spacing for early crop is 45 X 45 cm and
late crop it is 60X 60 cm.

12.  In cauliflower various varieties are grown. They are
season bound. Therefore, almost care should be
taken while sowing the seeds. There are early mid
season and late varieties, according to maturity in
particular season.
 Varieties suitable to be grown in rainy season (June
– July) are Pusa Katki, Early Kunwari. The curds
are available in Sep- Oct. Afghani matures in Nov,
Possi in Dec and maghi in Jan. Early cultivars
produce short plant. The leaves are bluish green
and produces small to medium and loose curd.

13.  Pusa synthetic is another variety suitable
for planting in Sep and curds are available
in Dec – Jan.
 The late cultivator is snow ball which can be
planted in October – November and curds
are available in February- March. The curds
are white, compact and therefore yield is
more. They also fetch more prose in the
market for all these varieties optimum
temperature ranges for curd initiation and
development varieties

14. For best result 15 to 20 tons of FYM or compost
should be incorporated into the soil about 4 weeks
before transplanting. In cauliflower 100 kg N, 50
kg P2O5 /ha, should be given.

15. It may be given to the crop every 5 – 6 days to the
early planting and 10- 15 days for late crop.
At the time of head formation, there should be
enough moisture in the field, so irrigate at this
time and when cauliflower is raised late in the
season, it should be watered closely.

16. Shallow frequent cultivation should be given in
the cauliflower field by khurpa or hoe to kill
young weeds and provide soil mulch. Avoid deep
cultivation, for it may destroy the plant roots
located top 3 to 6 mater in the soil. Weeding
should be started as soon as plants are set in the
field. Four to five weeks after transplanting, the
plants should be slightly earthen up in the field

17. Cauliflower should be harvested when the head has
developed the proper size and is at right stage of
maturity. The head should be compact but it should
not be broken into segments. The plant is cut off well
below the head so that the stub has left the head from
damaging during transporting to the market. The
plants are cut as and when curds are well developed.
As curds do not develop uniformly, so only those
which are full developed are removed but not over
matured ones after inspecting the whole filed each
second or third day. Harvesting the filed during
morning or evening so that the produce may be kept
cool for the market.

18. In case of early cauliflower crop 200 to 250 quintal
/ ha yield is obtained. While in case of later crop it
is 250 to 300 quintal / ha.