CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
- Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
- Family: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
- Origin: Mediterranean region
- Chromosome Number: 2n = 18
- Fruit Type: Siliqua
- India’s Status:
- Ranks 3rd globally in production
- Covers ~4% of total area under vegetable cultivation
- Hybrids occupy about 30% of cabbage production area
Climatic and Soil Requirements
- Climate: Cool-season crop; best suited for temperate to sub-tropical climates
- Optimum Temperature:
- Vegetative growth: 15–20°C
- Head formation: 10–20°C
- Seed production: Requires temperate regions
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile loamy soil with pH 6.0–6.5
- Saline soil: Increases susceptibility to black leg disease
Special Characteristics
- Seed production: Occurs only in temperate areas
- Flowering Type: Bears seed in bicarpellary pod called siliqua
- Anticancer properties: Due to Indole-3-carbinol
- F1 hybrid popularity: Due to self-incompatibility and cytoplasmic male sterility
- Sauerkraut: Fermented product from white cabbage, used as anti-scurvy food
Growth and Development
- Germination Temp: 20–25°C
- Growth Arrests: Above 25°C
- Crop Duration:
- Early: 60–80 days
- Late: 100–120 days
- Seedling Raising: Thermocol plate sowing; transplanting done at 4–6 leaf stage
- High Temp. Tolerance: Spraying CCC or SADH helps in low temp. resistance
🔹 Nutrient Management
- Boron (B): Essential micronutrient. 50 ppm Boric Acid spray at flowering boosts seed yield
- Deficiency Symptoms: Cracked stems, hollow stems, poor head formation
🔹 Varieties
Introduced Varieties
- Golden Acre – Early maturing
- September – From Germany; suited for Nilgiris
- Glory of Enkhuizen
- August – Early maturing
- Copenhagen Market – Early
Selection Varieties (Developed in India)
- Pride of India – Early, round head
- Pusa Ageti – First tropical variety; heat tolerant
- Pusa Drumhead – F₁ hybrid (Japan), resistant to black leg
- Pusa Mukta – Resistant to black rot
- Pusa Synthetic – Composite variety
- Pusa Sambandh – Synthetic, early maturing, high density planting
Private Sector Hybrids
- Questo
- Sree Ganesh Gol
- Uttam
- Bajrang
- Green Boy
- Green Express (suitable for hot weather, 30–35°C)
Special Types
- Savoy Cabbage: B. oleracea var. sabauda
- Wild Cabbage: B. oleracea var. sylvestris
🔹 Plant Protection
Important Diseases
- Black Rot: Caused by Xanthomonas campestris. Resistant variety: Pusa Mukta
- Black Leg / Dry Rot: Caused by Phoma lingam. Resistant variety: Pusa Drumhead. More prevalent in saline soils
Major Insects
- Cabbage Looper
- Diamondback Moth (DBM)
- Aphids
🔹 Harvesting and Yield
- Head Maturity: Round heads mature earliest. Followed by conical heads
- Yield:
- Open pollinated varieties: 300–400 q/ha
- Hybrids: 500–600 q/ha
CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
Basic Information
- Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Family: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
- Origin: Mediterranean region
- Group: Cole crop
- Chromosome Number: 2n = 18
- Introduced in India by: Dr. Jenson from London in 1822
Climatic and Soil Requirements
- Thermo-sensitive crop
- Ideal soil pH: 5.5–6.5
- Irrigation: Requires 5–8 irrigations during crop growth
Temperature-sensitive growth stages:
Type | Sowing Time | Harvest Time | Ideal Temp. |
Early | Mid-May to Mid-June | July end | 20–27°C |
Mid-Early | July end | September end | 12–16°C |
Mid-Late | August end | September end | 12–16°C |
Late | September end | October end | 10–12°C |
- Yield:
- Early types: 12–15 t/ha
- Mid & late types: 20–30 t/ha
- Seed rate:
- Early: 500–600 g/ha
- Mid/Late: 350–400 g/ha
Unique Features
- Curd Development: Intermediate between vegetative and reproductive phase
- Blanching: Done to protect curds from yellowing due to sunlight. Arrests enzymatic activity
- Self-blanching: Present in most late (Snowball) types
- Scooping: Removal of central curd part to promote flower stalk initiation
- Best curds: White, compact, medium size
- Notable Disease Resistance:
- Pusa Snowball K-2 – Sclerotia rot resistant
- Pusa Snowball K-1 – Tolerant to black rot
- Pusa Shubhra – Resistant to black rot, curd and inflorescence blight
🔹 Varieties
Introduced Varieties; Improved Japanese
Selection Varieties
- Pusa Himjyoti – Self-blanching; grown from April to July in hills
- Pusa Snowball K-1 – Black rot tolerant
- Pusa Ketki
- Pusa Aghani
- Pusa Deepali
Hybrid Varieties
- Pusa Shubhra – Disease resistant
- Pusa Deepali
- Pusa Aghani
Synthetic Varieties
- Pusa Early Synthetic
- Pusa Synthetic
- Pant Gobi-3
Season-wise Varieties
Season | Recommended Varieties |
Early | Early Kunwari, Pusa Deepali, Pusa Snowball K-1 |
Mid-Early | Improved Japanese, Pusa Aghani, Pusa Sharad |
Mid-Late | Pusa Shubhra, Pusa Synthetic |
Late | Pusa Snowball, Pusa Himjyoti, Pusa Ketki, Pant Shubhra |
Memory Hooks for Exams
- Scooping = flower stalk initiation
- Blanching = white curd protection
- Pusa Himjyoti = Only variety suitable from April–July in hills
- Snowball group = Self-blanching habit
- Pusa Shubhra = Triple disease resistance
- Dr. Jenson = Introduced cauliflower to India (1822)
COLE CROPS (Minor Members)
I) KNOL-KHOL (Brassica oleracea gongylodes)
- Family: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
- Origin: Mediterranean Region
- Popular in India: Kashmir Valley
- Edible Part: Swollen stem
- Growth habit:
- For seed production → Annual
- For flowering & fruiting → Biennial
Sowing Time: Best time for planting: October
Varieties:
Introduced Varieties
- White Vienna
- Purple Vienna
- King of North
- Golithwhite (Sadashiv)
Key Points for Competitive Exams:
- Biennial nature for flowering and seed setting
- Early Purple Vienna is common (Verma & Pocha selection)
- Popular in hills and cooler regions
(II) BRUSSELS SPROUT (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
Common Name: Mini Cabbage
- Family: Cruciferae
- Origin: Mediterranean Region
- Protein content: 4.4%
- Vitamin A: Fairly rich
- Nature: Biennial crop
Varieties:
- Hilds Ideal
- Rubine (F₁ hybrid)
- Jade Cross
- Amager Market
Note: Excessive Potash application → Bitterness in sprouts
(III) SPROUTING BROCCOLI (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
- Family: Cruciferae
- Origin: Mediterranean
- Rich in: Sulphoraphane – Anti-cancer compound
- Vitamin A:
- 130× more than Cauliflower
- 22× more than Cabbage
- Inflorescence: Cymose
- Order: Papaverales
Nature:
- Early types: Annual
- Late types: Biennial
- In dry conditions: Becomes fibrous
Disease: Excessive cole crop intake may cause goitre (due to glucosinolates)
Varieties:
- Palam Samridhi – For subtropical regions
- Decicco
- Greenbud
- Sparten Early
- Green Mountain
- Italian Green
Breeding Methods:
- Mass selection: For traits governed by few genes
- Backcrossing: To transfer resistance from dominant/recessive genes
(IV) KALE (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
- Family: Cruciferae
- Origin: Mediterranean
- Growth Habit: Leafy non-heading vegetable
- Hardiness: Hardiest cole crop
- Popular in India: Jammu & Kashmir (Karamsag variety)
Varieties:
- Dwarf Green
- Dwarf Moss
- Hamburger Market
- Karamsag – Tall variety, popular in J&K
Quick Recap Table
Crop | Botanical Name | Nature | Key Varieties | Unique Feature |
Knol-Khol | B. oleracea var. gongylodes | Annual/Biennial | White Vienna, Purple Vienna | Swollen stem; popular in Kashmir |
Brussels Sprout | B. oleracea var. gemmifera | Biennial | Rubine, Long Island, Catskill | Mini cabbages; protein rich |
Broccoli | B. oleracea var. italica | Annual/Biennial | Palam Samridhi, Pusa KTS-1 | Anti-cancer (sulphoraphane), Vit. A rich |
Kale | B. oleracea var. acephala | Hardy Leafy Veg | Karamsag, Dwarf Moss | Cold-hardy, used in hilly regions |
