Pusa Snowball K-1
From IARI — the standard mid-season white-curd variety across the northern plains.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Cauliflower
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 90–100 days from transplanting
- Expected yield
- 150–200 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Released by ICAR-IARI — one directly-fetched course slide deck attributes it to IARI, New Delhi, while a separate industry variety page instead names IARI's Regional Station at Katrain, Himachal Pradesh (IARI's dedicated hill-station cabbage/cauliflower breeding centre); the two sources disagree on the exact campus, both plausible
About this variety
Pusa Snowball K-1 is an IARI late-maturing snowball-type cauliflower valued for snow-white, compact curds that hold their colour even if harvest is delayed — among the best-quality snowball types checked in this rollout. It is the crop that earlier releases like Pant Gobhi 3 are timed to beat to market. A directly-fetched university course slide deck and a directly-fetched crop-guide page both independently describe it this way; sources disagree on the exact breeding station and cross (see considerations).
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
90–100 days from transplanting
Expected yield
150–200 q/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Curds keep their white colour even with a delayed harvest — an advantage over rivals that yellow or turn ricey quickly
- Well-established variety with predictable performance across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar
- Considered among the best-quality snowball types for market appearance in the sources checked
Things to consider
- Reported yield in a directly-fetched course slide deck (25–30 t/ha, i.e. 250–300 q/ha) runs well above this record's 150–200 q/ha band — handled as a range, with this record's figure treated as the more conservative field estimate rather than corrected
- Sources disagree on whether it was bred at IARI, New Delhi or IARI's Katrain hill station in Himachal Pradesh — flagged, not resolved this phase
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Bihar
Frequently asked questions
Why do other cauliflower varieties like Pant Gobhi 3 exist alongside Pusa Snowball K-1?
Pusa Snowball K-1 is a late-season, medium-to-long-duration variety. Early releases like Pant Gobhi 3 are bred specifically to curd in the autumn heat, before Pusa Snowball K-1 would set a usable head — the two extend the marketable cauliflower window rather than compete directly.
Is Pusa Snowball K-1 resistant to black rot?
Two independent sources report field tolerance to black rot — curd blight isn't addressed either way in sourced material, so still worth watching for.
Sourced from: Commercial Varieties and Hybrids in Cabbage and Cauliflower — university course slide deck, Cauliflower Crop Information Guide — Apni Kheti. editorial policy.