Cauliflower is a popular vegetable belonging to the cruciferous family, known for its cancer-preventive properties. It thrives in moderate climates and requires cool temperatures for optimal growth.

Climate / Temperature:

Cauliflower flourishes in a temperate climate, with ideal growth conditions provided by cooler temperatures.

Water Demand: This crop requires adequate moisture during the growing season. Effective water management is essential, especially in sandy soils, which can drain water quickly.

Soil: Cauliflower prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.5. Rich organic matter enhances its growth.

Major Varieties:

Pusa Snowball 1

• Days to Harvest: 100
• Features: Straight and curled outer leaves; white, snow-like curds.
• Yield: 90 quintals per acre.

Pusa Snowball K-1

• Features: A late-maturing variety similar in leaf structure and curd color to Pusa Snowball 1.
• Yield: 90 quintals per acre.

Snowball 16

• Features: A late-maturing variety with firm, attractive, small curds.
• Yield: 100-125 quintals per acre.

Pantnagar Shubhra

• Days to Harvest: Early maturing, suitable for Northern India.
• Yield: 80 quintals per acre.

Early Kumari

• Features: Early maturing, suitable for Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Yield: 32 quintals per acre.

Pusa Dipali

• Features: Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, this early-maturing variety has medium-sized white curds.
• Yield: 48 quintals per acre.

Sowing of Crops:

Suitable Time for Sowing:

• Early-maturing varieties should be sown between June and July.
• Late-maturing varieties can be sown from mid-August to early September, and then in the first week of October.

Field Preparation: Prepare the field by plowing it thoroughly. Incorporate well-decomposed farmyard manure during the final plowing.

Crop Cycle: The crop cycle typically spans about 100 days from sowing to harvesting.

Water Management: Irrigate plants immediately after transplanting. Depending on soil and climatic conditions, irrigate every 7-8 days in summer and every 10-15 days in winter.

Weed Management: To control weeds, apply 800 milliliters of flucetosulfuron (Basilin) in 150 liters of water immediately after sowing. Spray 1 liter of pendimethalin per acre one day before sowing.

Harvesting: Harvest when the curds are fully developed, preferably in the morning. Store harvested curds in a cool place.

Diseases & Disease Prevention:

Root Rot (Damping Off)

• Prevention: Use Trichoderma bio-fungicide (2.5 kg in 500 liters of water) near the plant roots.

White Rust

• Effective Control: Spray a solution of metalaxyl + mancozeb (2 grams per liter of water) at 10-day intervals.

Leaf Spots

• Remove affected leaves and apply a mixture of mancozeb or copper oxychloride (300 grams in 150 liters of water) for prevention.

Sucking Insects (e.g., Aphids and Thrips)

• Control infestation using imidacloprid (60 milliliters in 150 liters of water). Use triazophos or deltamethrin for thrips.

Diamondback Moth

• This pest lays eggs under the leaves. Control it in the early flowering stage using neem seed extract (40 grams per liter of water).

Caterpillars

• Use BT (10 grams per 10 liters of water) in the evening and follow up with neem extract.