Cauliflower

Climate	Requires cool, moist climate for seed production. The optimum monthly average temperature is 15 to 20 C. the early varieties, however, require high temperature and longer day lengths. It is less tolerant to extreme high or low temperatures, or strong winds. It is also susceptible to cold injury after the curds have appeared. Excessive rains and snowfall, after curd formation, cause rotting in curds. Periods of low temperature are not essential, but cool conditions are required. Therefore, these conditions must be given due consideration in selecting suitable areas for seed production. In India, the seed production of early and mid-season varieties can be done in the plains. However, the seed of late varieties can only be produced in temperate regions of the country. Lately, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the major producer of quality cauliflower seed of late varieties.
Land Requirements	Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants. The soil ;of selected field should be deep, fertile, well-supplied with organic matter with a pH value 5.5 The field should be well-drained.
Isolation Requirements	Cauliflower is mainly cross-pollinated. Pollination is mainly done by bees. The seed fields must be separated from fields of other varieties, fields of the same variety not conforming to vareital purity requirements of certification, and from all ther kinds ofcole crops, at least by 1600 metres for foundation seed class, and by 1000 metres for certified seed class.
Method of Seed Production	There are two methods of seed production: In situ method (seed to seed method) Transplanting method(head to seed method) For seed production, seed to seed method is recommended since the head to seed method in India has not been very successful. In seed to seed method (in situ method) the crop is allowed to over-winter and produce seed in the original position, where they are first planted in the seedlings stage.
Cultural Practices for in Situ method	Main season and late varieties (seed production in hills) Time of sowing and transplanting: In the hills, the sowing time of cauliflower should be so adjusted that the plants put up the maximum leafy growth by the fifteenth of December, when the temperature goes down and the plants become almost dormant. The last week of August is the optimum sowing time for the crop. The seed is sown in a nursery. Transplanting of seedlings should be completed by the end of September. The mean temperature of 6.5 to 11 C during February to March is very conducive to curd formation which is completed by the first fortnight of March. Early sowing in June to July result in curd formation during October to November. The curds, being very susceptible to cold injury, rot during winter and hence fail to flower the following summer. If sown late, the crop starts ;curd formation late in the spring and consequently flowering is delayed. It starts when the temperature is high and humidity is low, with the results that pollination and setting of seed is not normal. Method of owing in nursery: Seeds may be sown on raised nursery beds (15 to 20 cm high from the ground), in rows 5 cm apart. Cover the seeds with fine leaf mould and water with a sprinkler. Twenty-five nursery beds of 2 to 2.5 metres long and 1 to 1.25 metres wide will raise enough seedlings to plant one hectare. A spray of four tofive handfuls of ammonium sulphate or C.A.N. dissolved in 30 to 35 litres of water at 10 to 15 days after ;germination will be helpful in producing healthy and vigorous seedlings. Wash out the fertiliser immediately by spraying simple water. Thin sowing should be done to avoid “damping-off” disease. Source of seed: Obtain breeder’s /foundation seed from source approved by a seed certification agency. Seed rate: Main season and late varieties – 375 to 400 grammes per hectare. Preparation of land for transplanting :the field should be prepared to fine tilth by deep ploughing, three to four harrowing followed by levelling. Fertilisation: the cauliflower seed crop required heavy manuring as it removes large quantities of major nutrients from the soil. For best results apply 50 to 60 tonnes of farmyard manure at the time of land preparation. Normally 25 to 30 tonnes of farmyard manure is applied per hectare due to limited availability of farmyard manure in hills. Apply 200 to 300 kg superphosphate and 100 kg potassium sulphate sufficiently before sulphate, or calcium ammonium nitrate, during growing period (one application during October to November, another in February to March is essential). Still higher doses of nitrogen may be applied it deemed necessary. A cauliflower crop often shows boron and molybdenum deficiency symptoms when grown either on an alkaline or highly acidic soil, or two sprays with 0.3 per cent borax applied on the seedlings may correct the boron deficiency. Molybdenum deficiency symptoms occur in highly acidic soils and can be corrected by liming, or application of about 1 to 1.5 kg per hectare of sodium molybdate. Spraying of 150 ppm ethrel at the time of emergence of flowering stalks increase seed yield. Transplanting: Transplant the seedlings when 12 to 15 cm long, prefereably at evening time, and irrigate immediately afterwards. Spacing: Row to row 60 to 90 cm, plant to plant 45 to 60 cm. Irrigation: Irrigate the field according to the soil requirements and climatic conditions. A crop after transplanting may need irrigation twice a week and later once a week. At later stages, irrigation may be given if there is a long gap between rains. Adequate moisture supply during flowering and seed maturation are necessary to obtain high yields. Interculture: Frequent shallow cultivation should be given to the soil to kill weeds and provide soil mulch. Earhting-up of plants four to five weeks after transplanting is highly desirable. Disease control: Adopt IPM method.
Roguing	Selection of curds is done when the curds are well developed. Off-type plants, and those forming poor curds, should be removed at this stage. Subsequent roguings for off-types, and diseased plants affected by black-leg, black rot, leaf spot and phyllody should be done from time to time as required.
Harvesting and Threshing	Harvesting can be done when pods brown. Too ripe pods dehisce. Seed should not crush or split when rubbed between the hands. The harvesting maybe done in two lots. Generally the early plants are harvested first, when about 60 to 70 percent of the pods turns brown and the rest of the crop changes to yellowish-brown. After harvesting it is piled up for curing. After four to five days it is turned upside down and allowed to cure for another four to five days in the same way. It is then threshed with sticks and sifted with hand sifters. After thorough drying of seed in the sun (seven percent moisture content) it is cleaned and stored.
Seed Yield	Average seed yield varies from 250 to 400 kg per hectare.