Seed production in cauliflower
- Cauliflower is much more subjected to freezing injury than cabbage
- Cauliflowers varies from typical annual to biennial
- Biennials are fully dependent on vernalization of curding e.g in Dolpa Snowball variety
- Curd is an early stage of inflorescence development as its formation invariably proceeds floral initiation
- Seeds may be produced in situ or may be transplanted after production of curd.
Methods
A. Insitu Method or Seed to Seed Method
- Plants are allowed to overwinter in their original field/position where they are first planted.
- Spacing for early varieties = 60 c.m×45 c.m and for late varieties = 60 c.m× 60 c.m
- At curd maturity, longitudinal/horizontal half cut of curd surface is made which is called scooping to induce flowering shoots for those cultivars which have compact curd like in Snowball series.
- It makes easier bolting, early flowering and higher yield of seed.
B. Transplanting or Curd to Seed Method
Selection of curds :
- Select true to type mature curds bearing plants.
- Selected plants are uprooted
- After removing the outer leaves, plants are immediately transplanted in a new prepared field as in fresh production.
- The recommended manure and fertilizers are applied. All amount of well rotten FYM/Compost, and 1/3 rd of N2, full amount/dose of P2O5 and K2O and Borax is applied at the time of transplanting of selected plants. The remaining 1/3rd of N2 is applied at crop growth stage and remaining 1/3 rd is applied at commencement of flowering
Spacing : transplanted in wider spacing of 60c.m× 60 c.m