Exotic vegetable production technology.

1. Production technology, grading &
packaging of exotic vegetable
Dr. B. N. Sinha
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2. Future Vegetables

3. How to grow healthy exotic vegetables?
• Selecting exotic vegetables is the first step.
• Choosing an appropriate growing site
• Good soil condition - Fertile, well-drained and moist soil suits .
• The ideal time to prepare garden soil is spring time.
• Start sowing seeds indoors in germination trays filled with potting mix.
• Provide heat and moisture uniformly, healthy seedlings will develop very soon.
• Continue to water and care for them, until frosting is over.
• Transplant at correct time and at proper distance.
• Place 1-2 seedlings in each planting hole and slowly backfill soil.
• Water the newly transplanted seedlings and protect them from harsh sunlight.
• A simple tip is to keep the soil well-drained and moist for proper growth.
• Augmenting fertilizers is not necessary for growing healthy vegetables.

4. Vegetable Plants that Need Shade
some vegetable plants are capable of
growing without being subjected to full
sunlight. And hence, if you have a shaded
area in your garden or are planning to grow
them in your balcony, you can include them.

5. EXOTIC VEGETABLES INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES
Exotic vegetables market has undergone the 5 fold increase
in demand and also production in India since 2013
Only 10% Polyhouse were cultivation Exotic vegetables
The open area for Exotic vegetable cultivation was
negligible
Locations : Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand

6. WHY GROWTH IN MARKET?
B2B B2C
The fast food cousin are part of the The health conscious people have
high end, mid size and low cost increased due to lifestyle diseases.
restaurants in India. That has caused change in eating
e.g. Mushroom, Red yellow habits
capsicum, Baby corn, Broccoli, The new items / increased
Zucchini , cherry tomatoes based consumption for following
food items such as • Raw salads
• Pizza • Diet salads
• Pasta • Naturopathy
• Wraps • Smoothies
• Sandwiches • Barbeque
• Chinese / Thai
• Bruschetta
• Barbeque
• Soups
• Lasagna

7. Exotic vegetables - Types
Popular Not so popular
Lettuce – Iceberg Brussels sprouts
Zucchini Artichokes
Broccoli Garlic Chives
Red Yellow Capsicum Golden cherry tomato
Red Cabbage Galangal
Cherry Tomatoes Pok Choy
White Cucumber
Asparagus
Sweet corn and Baby corn
Mushroom
Herbs - Basil
Herbs - Parsley
Herbs - Celery
Herbs - Oregano

8. Uniqueness of exotic vegetables
→The vegetables which are considered under Super
healthy food Category.
→Eaten Raw / semi cooked
→High priced in Retail
→Mostly health conscious people eat
→Super healthy food proven scientifically
→Farming efforts are same as normal vegetables
→In India Pune, Himachal, Uttarakhand & Banglore
→Market Udaipur, Jaipur, Delhi, Chennai, Kalcutta

9. Myths & Reality
Myth Reality
Cultivation only in polyhouse Open, Shade net and Polyhouse all are used
based on crop choice and agronomic condition of
the farmland
Pest attack - Never Pest attack happens on Exotic vegetables and
need same care as the other vegetables
For - 5 star hotels only Every Small restaurant, household and cafes also
use
Cultivation required - High
knowledge & technology
Only basic understanding of the Agriculture
required for good cultivation. For professional
cultivation may need entrant or consultant.
Used in Chinese recipes Used in Indian, Continental, Thai, Chinese
recipes. Also there are fusion cooking with Indian
Recipes. Smoothies, soups and salads has
increased consumption.

10. Types of exotic Vegetables – open /protected
Open Farming
Temp- 16 – 380c
Shed Net Farming
Temp- 38 - 420c
Polyhouse Farming
Temp- Controlled
Lettuce – Iceberg Lettuce – Iceberg Red Yellow Capsicum
Zucchini Red Cabbage
Broccoli Cherry Tomatoes
Red Cabbage Herbs - Basil
Cherry Tomatoes Herbs - Parsley
Asparagus Herbs - Celery
Herbs - Basil Herbs - Oregano
Herbs - Parsley Zucchini flowers
Herbs - Celery
Herbs - Oregano
Sweet corn and Baby corn

11. EXOTIC CULTIVATION PRACTICES
Soil Based
Open
Shade net
Poly house
Kitchen Garden
Hydroponics
Open
Shade net
Poly house
Home unit
Container
Warehouse

12. Type of Exotic vegetables - on harvest type
One time harvest
Plant Harvest End of plot
Multiple harvest
Plant Harvest Re-harvest End of plot
Lettuce – Iceberg Zucchini
Broccoli Kale salad
Red Cabbage Cherry Tomatoes
Herbs - Parsley Asparagus
Herbs - Celery Herbs – Basil
Herbs - Oregano
Sweet corn and Baby corn

13. Cultivation Methodology
Vegetable Nursery days Crop life
Lettuce – Iceberg 21-25 45 days then end.
Zucchini 25 Fruiting 40 days – life 3 months
Broccoli 21-25 75 days then end
Red Yellow Capsicum 30 50-60 days – life 6-9 months
Red Cabbage 21-25 75 days then end
Cherry Tomatoes 21-25 45 days – continue 6 months
Asparagus 30-40 650 days – Life for 7 years
Sweet corn 60 3 corn/ plant life 3 months
Baby corn 60 5 corn/plant life 3 months
Mushroom
Herbs - Basil 21-25 45 days till 1 year
Herbs - Parsley 21-25 40 days then end
Herbs - Celery 45 days then end
Herbs - Oregano 45 days continue 3 years

14. Cultivation – Crop spacing
Vegetables Row to Row Plant of plant
Lettuce – Iceberg 1feet 1feet
Zucchini 2feet 3feet
Broccoli 1feet 1feet
Red Yellow Capsicum 1feet 1feet
Red Cabbage 1feet 1feet
Cherry Tomatoes 2feet 2feet
Asparagus 2feet 3feet
Sweet corn 2feet 3feet
Baby corn 2feet 3feet
Mushroom
Herbs - Basil 2feet 3feet
Herbs - Parsley 2feet 3feet
Herbs - Celery 2feet 3feet
Herbs - Oregano 2feet 3feet

15. Cultivation – Yield per plant
Vegetables Per plant Per acre
Lettuce – Iceberg 150-250 gm each salad 4-5 tons per acre
Zucchini 4 – 5 kg per plant 6 tons per acre
Broccoli 400 – 500 gm per plant 6 tons per acre
Red Yellow Capsicum 150 – 350 gm per fruit
Red Cabbage 200 – 500 gm per plant 5 – 6 tons per acre
Cherry Tomatoes 10-15 gm/fruit
Asparagus 10 -25 gm /Stick 1 – 5 tons per acre
Sweet corn 200- 300 gm
Baby corn 15 – 30 gm
Mushroom
Herbs - Basil 500 gm
Herbs - Parsley 2 -3 bunches
Herbs - Celery 200 – 300 gm
Herbs - Oregano 30 – 100 gm

16. Professionalism in farming
Start your farming with Market analysis
Demand analysis
Then product planning
Build Supply chain system at your scale
Post harvest handling, equipment, storage & logistics

17. Exotic vegetable – Market potential
Business to Business Business to Costomer
Hotels Own shop
Resellers E commerce with home delivery:
Whats app
Mobile
app
website
sms
calls etc.
Malls Stalls in Weekly bazar
corporate,
societies
Counter sales
Market yard
Institutions
Exporters

18. Exotic vegetable – price per crop
B2B B2C
Salads, Iceberg 30 TO 50 RS PER KG (SUMMER END 150 RS) 80 to 120rs per kg
Zucchini 30 TO 50 RS PER KG (SUMMER END 100 RS) 80 to 120rs per kg
Broccoli 30 TO 50 RS PER KG (SUMMER END 250 RS) 80 to 150rs per kg
Red Yellow Capsicum 50 TO 60 RS PER KG (Winter 150 RS) 80 to 150rs per kg
Red Cabbage 10 TO 40 RS PER KG (SUMMER END 80 RS) 80 to 120rs per kg
Cherry Tomatoes 30 TO 50 RS PER KG (SUMMER END 250 RS) 80 to 120rs per kg
Asparagus 60 TO 90 RS PER KG (SUMMER END 250 RS) 150 to 200rs per kg
Herbs 30 to 200 rs per kg
Basil
Parsley
Celery
Oregano etc.
10 rs to 30 rs pack
Sweet corn 5 to 80 Rs as per demand supply 60 to 100 rs.
Baby corn

19. Artichokes- flower buds

20. Asparagus-spears
Variety Selection-841, Perfection, UC-72, DPA-1,
Jersey Giant, Jersey Gem, Jersey King
Sowing time January
Distance 150 x 45cm
Seed 30 g / kanal
Fertilizer 12:25:3.5
Yield 1-2 q/ kanal

21. Broccoli - curd
Variety Palam Vichitra. Palam Kanchan
Palam Haritika, Palam Samridhi
Sowing time October - November
Distance 45 x 45cm
Seed 20 g /kanal
Fertilizer 12:25:3.5
Yield 10-12 q/kanal

22. Brussels Sprouts- head
Variety Hild’s Ideal. Z Cross, Pearls
Crystal, Prince Marble
Sowing
time
October - November
Distance 60 x 45cm
Seed 20 g /kanal
Fertilizer 12:25:3.5
Yield 4-6 q/kanal

23. Beets - root

24. Basil - leaf

25. Corn -

26. Cauliflower- curd

27. Collards- leaf

28. Chard – leaf stalk

29. Celery- leaf stalk
Variety Utah, Pascal, Golden-Deteroit, Golden-Self Blanch
Sowing time September - October
Distance 45 x 10 cm
Seed 5 g / kanal
Fertilizer 12:25:4
Yield 15-20 q/ kanal
A salad crop grown for long fleshy leaf stalks and petioles, rich
in Vitamins and Minerals eaten raw or used for preparation of
sauces, juices, stews, soups, salad & ketchups. Seeds used as
spice. celery . Helps lower cholesterol levels in the body

30. Chinese Cabbage - leaf

31. Fennel- Leaves

32. Gherkin–like cucumber

33. Kale - leaf
Variety Karam saag
Sowing time October – Novemeber
Distance 45 x 45 cm
Seed 15 g / kanal
Fertilizer 12:19:4
Yield 15-20 q/ kanal

34. Leeks- Pseudostem
Variety Palam Paustik, Prize Taker,
Mussel burgh
Sowing time September - October
Distance 45 x 45 cm
Seed 60 g / kanal
Fertilizer 12:15:7
Yield 12-15 q/ kanal

35. Lettuce -
Butter head, Crisp
head , leafy, romain,
stem type
Variety Alamo 1, Simpson Black Seeded, Eves
Wonder, Ruby
Sowing time September - November
Distance 45 x 30 cm
Seed 20 g /kanal
Fertilizer 12:25:3.5
Yield 4-5 q/kanal

36. Parsnips - Root

37. Pea – fruit pod

38. Parsley- leaf
Variety Curled leaf, Double curled, Champion, Deep Green,
Green Forest, Flat Leaf-Italian Dark green,
Sowing time October -22 to 30 oC
Distance 45 x 10 cm
Seed 10 g /kanal
Fertilizer 12:25:4
Yield 4-5 q/ kanal
Leaves used in soups, meat and other dishes for seasoning like
coriander, Rich in vitamin C

39. Pak choi – leaf

40. Red Cabbage - head
Variety Red Cabbage
Red rock, Red drum head
Sowing time Low hill October - November
Distance 45 x 45cm
Seed 18 g /kanal
Fertilizer 10:12:1.5
Yield 4-6 q/kanal

41. Zuchini Yellow - Fruit

42. Zuchini Green - Fruit

43. Purple Potato
Purple potato has a amazing and light
color . It contains big quantities of
anthocyanins - a powerful antioxidant
also found in other fruits and
vegetables with this color. The color
don’t disappears in cooking, being in
this regard a downright exotic
vegetable. Despite the color, which is
surprising, the taste of the purple
patato is exactly like the taste of
classic potato.

44. Blue Corn

45. Seed – Exotic Vegetable