The optimization of planting time is an important agronomic practice for maximizing cauliflower productivity under varying climatic conditions. A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the College of Agriculture, Tripura, Lembucherra, during the rabi season of 2022-2023 to determine the optimum planting time for two cauliflower cultivars, Carotena and Valentena, under the agro-climatic conditions of Tripura. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with four planting dates, namely 14th October, 14th November, 14th December and 14th January, each replicated five times. Growth, yield and yield-attributing parameters were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance. Planting time significantly influenced the growth and yield performance of both cultivars. Among the four planting dates, transplanting on 14 November resulted in superior vegetative growth and curd development. In Carotena, the maximum plant height (49.40 cm) and highest net curd weight (0.57 kg plant-1) were recorded under November planting, whereas the lowest curd weight (0.33 kg plant-1) was obtained from January planting. Similarly, Valentena recorded the highest plant height (65.60 cm) and maximum net curd weight (1.00 kg plant-1) when transplanted on 14 November, while January planting produced the lowest curd weight (0.25 kg plant-1). The superior performance of November planting may be attributed to favourable temperature conditions during vegetative growth and curd initiation, whereas delayed planting exposed the crop to less favourable environmental conditions. The findings indicate that mid-November is the optimum planting period for successful cultivation of both Carotena and Valentena under Tripura conditions.
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Carotena, Cauliflower, Growth, Planting time, Tripura, Valentena, Yield
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