VARIETIES AND CULTURAL PRACTICES

VARIETIES AND CULTURAL PRACTICES

VARIETIES
Green Globe:
  • Cultivar is typical fresh market cultivar with long and slightly pointed buds.
Magnifico:
  • Only one new cultivar which is developed in recent years and it is grown in relatively few acres.
Traditional Cultivars (propagated Vegetatively)
  • Green, big: Camus de Bretagne and Castel (France), Green Globe (USA).
  • Green, medium-sized: Blanca de Tudela (Spain), Argentina and Española (Chile), Blanc d'Oran (Algeria), Sakiz and Bayrampasha (Turkey).
  • Purple, big: Romanesco and C3 (Italy).
  • Purple, medium-sized: Violetto de Provenza (France), Brindisino, Catanese and Niscemese (Italy), Violet d'Algerie (Algeria), Baladi (Egypt).
  • Spined: Spinosa Sarda (Italy), Criolla (Peru).
  • Cultivars Propagated By Seeds:
  1. For industry: Madrigal, Lorca, A-106 and Imperial Star
  2. Green: Symphony Harmony
  3. Purple: Concerto, Opal and Tempo
     
     
15.2c
PROPAGATION AND PLANTING
  • It is propagated by suckers or off-shoots from the old root stock and also by dividing the old crown into pieces with a portion of stem.
  • Seeds are also used to propagate the crop but it produces highly variable plants and therefore not popular.
  • The suckers or off-shoots are removed when they are 30-45cm high.
  • For seed propagation, raised seed beds are prepared, and seedlings of 10-12.5cm height are used for planting.
SOWING TIME AND SPACING
  • The sowing time is August-October for plains and March-May for hills.
  • Spacing is maintained at 120×90cm at the time of transplanting.
FIELD PREPARATION, MANURING AND IRRIGATION
  • The field is brought to fine tilth by repeated ploughings and beds or ridges are formed at a spacing of 2.4m. being a perennial crop, it requires abundant quantity of nutrients.
  • Incorporate 200-30q Farm Yard Manure per hectare in the soil at the time of field preparation.
  • Besides, add 120-140kg nitrogen, 80-100kg phosphorus and 300-400kg potash per hectare should be applied to harvest higher yields.
  • The whole dose of farm yard manure, phosphorus and potash should be applied at the time of land preparation but nitrogen should be applied in three split doses during the season.
  • Prior to planting the soil must be ploughed deeply, working in substantial amount of organic matter.
  • Liming should be done if the pH falls below6.5.
  • About three to five irrigations are sufficient to raise the crop.
  • Avoid water logging conditions.
  • After each irrigation, inter spaces between the rows are hoed for weed control.
  • Since the crop stands in the field for 6-7years, after each harvest the leaves and stems are cut off below the ground level and allowed to decompose in the soil.
WEED CONTROL
  • Weeds are controlled with diuron or simazine applied prior to weed emergence and by cultivation.
  • An application of Triflunalin (1.2kg/ha) + diuron (1.5kg/ha) before planting successfully control the broad leaved grassy weeds.
HARVESTING
  • The sowing of crop through suckers or off-shoots is very popular and yields (in 6-7 months after planting) earlier than seed crop (about 8 months).
  • The harvest season starts from September-October.
  • A native plant produces 12or more stems and 40-50edible buds and harvest continues throughout the winter.
  • Average yield is 100-120q/ha.
POST HARVEST HANDLING
  • Each bud is cut along with 2-2.5cm long stem.
  • The buds can be stored at 0oC with 90-95percent relative humidity for a period of 3-4 weeks.
  • Pre cooling of buds at 5oC is practiced to achieve lesser weight loss, discoloration and incidence of decay than buds that are not pre cooled.
Last modified: Thursday, 21 June 2012, 9:54 AM