Package of Practice for Cultivation of Cauliflower
Achieving a high-quality cauliflower crop requires a disciplined "Package of Practices" centred on selecting the right variety for your specific planting season and ensuring the crop is grown in well-drained, fertile soil. Success hinges on consistent moisture management to prevent physiological disorders like buttoning, alongside a balanced nutrient program—particularly monitoring for Boron and Molybdenum deficiencies. By implementing timely transplanting, regular weeding and earthing up, protecting developing curds through blanching, and harvesting at the peak of firmness before "riciness" sets in, growers can maximize both yield and market value.
- Selection of the field/land preparation practices
Select medium to sandy soils for cauliflower. It should have excellent drainage. Soils with good nutrients help cauliflower cultivation. Land should be levelled and have a low weed flora history.
- Seed Treatment-rate of timing/ chemical
Seeds are treated with Carbendazim 2g + Thiram 2 g per Kg of seeds.
- Sowing Time
Summer, Rabi, Kharif as per product segment.
Summer: Tropical - March to May
Kharif: Tropical / Sub-tropical - Mar to June & July to Aug
Rabi: Temperate - Sept to Mid Dec
- Seed Rate/ Sowing method- line sowing with row to row and plant to plant distance/ direct sowing
Seed Rate: 100 - 120 g per acre.
Sowing: Sow the seed in the nursery. After 21 days, seedling gets ready for transplant.
Spacing: Tropical - 60 x 30 cm, Sub-tropical - 60 x 45 cm, Temperate - 60 x 45 cm
- Fertiliser dose with timing
It needs balanced and adequate fertiliser supply.
Put FYM
- 5 ml + 50 kg SSP + 50 kg mop as basal dose.
- Apply 50 kg urea just before ridge making.
10 days after transplant, apply 100 kg urea.
20 days after transplant, apply 50 kg DAP + 50 kg 10:26:26 + 800gm Boron.
30 days after transplant, apply 75 kg 10:26:26 + 25 kg urea
- Weed Control- Chemicals with doses and timing
Timely weed removal is very important; need-based hand weeding can be done to ensure a healthy crop.
- Diseases & Pest control- Chemicals with doses and timing
In summer, use recommended insecticides to control DBM and leaf-eating caterpillars.
- Irrigation Schedule
Cauliflower needs optimum irrigation at all stages.
Light soils and summer season need more frequent irrigation. It is advised to have running (light) irrigation in winter and the rainy season
- Harvesting
Curd maturity depends on product segment. Tropical cauliflower matures at 55- 65 days after planting; sub-tropical and temperate mature at 60-75 and 75-85 days, respectively.
- Expected Yield of the variety
Average yield: 12 -13 MT; Sub-tropical -14-15 MT, Temperate - 16-18 MT per acre.
