Broccoli belong to family of Brassicaceae is a cool season crop. It is available in white, green, light green and purple color. Purple and green are common and cultivated on commercial scale. Broccoli is rich source of Vitamin and minerals. It is popular in foreign countries. The United states is major broccoli growing nation in world. Now days its cultivation is becoming popular in India. Hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Nigiri hills are major broccoli growing areas of India.

It can be grown on variety of soil but gives best results when grown on deep loamy fertile soils having good drainage capacity.

It has two types sprouting and heading type. In Sprouting type contain group of green, immature buds with thick fleshy flower stalk. Whereas heading type include curds like cauliflower.

Ganesh Broccoli: Curds are compact, dark green and big size. It is tolerant to downy mildew and bacterial blight. It is grown in Rabi season.

Palam Samridhi: Variety having compact head and it is resistant to yellow eye disease. Ready to harvest in 85 to 90days after transplantation. Gives average yield of 60-80qtl/acre.

Pusa KTS 1: Medium heighted variety.

Other states variety

Pusa broccoli Kt 1: Variety having compact head with light green color and having small buds. Crop is ready to harvest in 85 to 90days after transplanting. Plant grow to height of 40-50cm. Gives average yield of 50qtl/acre.

Punjab Broccoli: Early season variety, ready to harvest in 65 to 70days. Gives average yield of 30qtl/acre. 

Plough land thoroughly for four to six times and bring soil to fine tilth. Then levelled soil and prepared bed of 3mx3m or as per convenient size. Plough land thoroughly for four to six times and bring soil to fine tilth. Then levelled soil and prepared bed of 3mx3m or as per convenient size. 

Time of sowing

August to September is optimum time for nursery sowing for plain areas.

Spacing

For sowing, flat bed or ridge and furrow method is used. Use spacing of 60x45cm.

Sowing Depth

Sow seeds at depth of half inch in nursery.

Method of sowing

Seedlings of 35 to 40days old, are transplanted in main field.

Seed Rate

For sowing in one-acre land, near about seed rate of 150-200gm is required.

Seed Treatment

Before sowing dip seeds in hot water (50°C for 30min). After then dry them in shade and then sow on bed.

Prepared bed of convenient size. In each bed, apply DAP@40gm, Urea@25gm and MOP@30gm and mixed well in soil. Then sow seeds in nursery and apply irrigation, fertilizer dose as per requirement. Seedlings are ready to transplant within 25-30days after sowing. For transplantation use three to four weeks old seedlings. Carry out transplantation in evening.

 Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation, apply 60-80qtl/acre of farm yard manure or well decomposed cowdung and mix well in field. Overall, broccoli crop required, Nitrogen@52kg, Phosphorus@8kg and Potash@12kg in form of Urea@115kg, SSP@50kg and MoP@20kg/acre. Apply full dose of Phosphorus, Potash and half dose of Nitrogen at time of land preparation. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen, one month after transplantation.

Too wet or too dry soil can severely affect growth and thus yield of crop. Always maintained sufficient moisture in soil. Depending upon climatic conditions, provide irrigation at interval of 10-15days.   

Apply Pendimethalin@1Ltr/acre four day before transplantation of seedlings followed one to two hand weeding after herbicide application. As it is shallow rooted crop, avoid deep hoeing i.e. beyond 5-6cm. 

• Pests and their control:

Thrips: These are the small insects which pale yellow to light brown in color and the symptoms are distorted leaves, and silvery leaves are seen.

Treatment: If aphids and jassids harms more, then spraying of Imidachloprid 17.8 SL 60ml per acre in 150ltr water should be done.

Nematodes: The symptoms are reduction in plant growth and yellowing of plant.

Treatment: if infestation is seen then broadcasting of Forate@5kg or Carbofuran@10kg for per acre land should be done.

Diamond back moth: The larva feeds on upper and lower surface of the leaves and as a result it damages the whole plant.

Treatment: if infestation is seen then spraying of Spinosad 25% SC 80ml/150ltr water for per acre land should be done.

• Diseases and their control:

White mold: It is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The symptoms are irregular and grey color lesions are seen on the leaves and stem.

Treatment: if infestation is seen in the field then spraying of Metalaxyl + Mancozeb @2gm/ltr water should be done at the interval of 10 days.

Damping off: It is caused by Rhizoctonia solani. The symptoms are immediate death of seedlings after germination and brown-red or black color rot is seen on the stem.

Treatment: Add Ridomil gold@2.5gm/ltr in roots should be done and after that irrigation is given when required. Don’t let the water stand in the field.

Downy mildew: The symptoms are small angular lesions which are orange or yellow in color are seen on the lower surface of the leaves.

Treatment: If infestation is seen then spraying with Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP @250gm/150ltr should be done.

Ring spots: Small and purple color spots are seen on leaves which turns brown at maturity.

Treatment: If infestation is seen then spraying with Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP @250gm/150ltr should be done.

December to March is harvesting period in plain areas where as November to April is harvesting window for hilly areas.

Early duration variety is ready to harvest in 40-50days, medium duration 60-100days and late duration variety 100-115 days after transplantation.

When heads are compact, green and having 10-15cm stem is right time of harvesting. Avoid delay in harvesting as bud clusters become loose, and open heads have low market value. Harvest head with sharp knife. It gives average yield of 40-60qtl/acre.

After harvesting, carry out sorting and grading. Then packed them in basket and send to market. At room temperature it is stored for only three days where as it can be stored for seven to ten days at temperature of 4oC.