Classification of Vegetables

Dr. A. Jaya Jasmine

Assoc. Professor (Hort)
 Classification of Vegetables
• Why do we need to classify vegetables?
– What’s the name?
• Botanical classification
– What part do you eat?
• Edible plant part
– Where and when do you grow it?
• Temperature requirements
– Cultural requirement
• cultivation practice
– How does it grow?
• Life cycle
Botanical Classification
• Division – Spermatophyta
– Class – Angiospermae
• Subclass – Monocot or Dicot
–Family
»Genus
»Species
»Group or subspecies
»Cultivar
 Important Monocots
• Alliaceae (Allium Family)
– Onion, Garlic, Leek, Shallot
• Gramineae (Grass Family)
– Sweet corn
• Liliaceae (Lily Family)
– Asparagus
 Most Vegetables are Dicots
• Compositae (Sunflower Family)
– Lettuce, Globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke
• Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory Family)
– Sweet potato
• Cruciferae (Mustard Family)
– Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi,
collard, kale, brussels sprouts, Chinese
cabbage, turnip, radish
• Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family)
– Cucumber, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
melon, summer squash, winter squash, pumpkin
• Leguminosae (Pea/Bean Family)
– Snap bean, pea, cowpea, black-eyed pea
• Malvaceae (Cotton Family)
– Okra
• Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)
– Tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato
• Umbelliferae (Parsley Family)
– Celery, carrot, parsnip, parsley
Classification of vegetables based on Edible
Part used as food
i) Fruits – (Immature,Mature) eg : Brinjal,
Cucumber, Bhendi, pumpkin Tomato, melons
ii) Flower - eg : Cauliflower, Agathi
iii) Leaves - eg : Amaranthus, Cabbage
iii) Stem - Asparagus, kohlrabi
iv) Roots - eg : Carrot, Beetroot
v) Tuber - eg : Potato, Sweet potato
vi) Bulb - eg : Onion, Garlic
vii) Seed - eg : Peas, Beans,cowpea
 Temperature requirement

i) Warm season vegetables - eg : Brinjal,

Cucumber, Pumpkin
ii) Cool season vegetables - eg : Cabbage,
Cauliflower
 Cultural requirement
i) Cole crops - eg: Cabbage, Cauliflower
ii) Root crops - eg: Carrot, Beetroot
iii) Leguminous crops - eg: Cowpea, cluster bean
iv) Solanaceous crops - eg: Tomato, Brinjal, Chilly
v) Cucurbits - eg: Cucmber, Pumpkin, Snake gourd
vi) Leafy vegetables - eg: Amaranthus, Chekurumanis
vii) Tuber crops - eg: Potato, Sweet potato
viii) Bulb crops - eg : Onion, Garlic
ix) Salad vegetables - eg: Celery, Lettuce
x) Malvaceous crop - eg: Bhindi
xi) Perennial crops - eg: Drumstick, Chekurumanis
 Hardiness

i) Hardy vegetables : Cabbage, Raddish,

Onion
ii) Tender vegetables : Brinjal, Cucumber,
Pumpkin
 Method of propagation

i) By seeds
a. Direct sown vegetables - Cucumber,
Bhindi
b. Transplanted vegetables - Brinjal, Chilly
ii) By cuttings - Drumstick, Chekurumanis
iii) By tubers - Potato
 Classification by Life Cycle
• Perennials
– Asparagus, eggplant, garlic, globe artichoke,
Jerusalem artichoke, lima bean, pepper,
potato, rhubarb, sweet potato, tomato
• Biennials
– Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage,
carrot, cauliflower, celery, chard, Chinese
cabbage, collard, kale, kohlrabi, leek, onion,
parsnip rutabaga, turnip
 Annual Crops
• Cowpea, cucumber, cantaloupe,
honeydew, lettuce, okra, pea, pumpkin,
snap bean, soybean, spinach, squash,
sweet corn, watermelon
Different types of vegetable growing
1. Kitchen garden
Main purpose of kitchen garden is to provide the family
daily with fresh vegetables rich in nutrients and energy.
There is continuous supply of vegetables throughout the
year according to the season.

2. Market garden
It is the type of vegetable growing whose object is to
produce vegetables for the local market. It is one of the
most intensive type of vegetable gardening. Here the
most skillful methods for growing of vegetables for
commercial purposes are employed.
3. Truck garden
•It is the method of growing special vegetable crops in
relatively large quantities for distant market by the
employment of extensive methods.
•In this method of gardening, there is comparatively less
intensive cultivation and land values are also lower than
market gardening.

4. Vegetable forcing
It is the method of growing vegetables out of normal
season in cellars, heated buildings, green houses, cold
frames and under other artificial growing conditions. It is
the most intensive type of vegetable growing.
5. Vegetable garden for processing
Vegetables are generally grown around vegetable
processing units for the regular supply of vegetables to
the factories.

6. Vegetable garden for seed production

Vegetables are grown for the purpose of seed
production. Vegetables are not harvested fresh.