Classification of vegetables 

Classification of vegetables
   

a) Based on Botanical relationship:

    This method of classification is based on botanical relationships of crops in responding cytology, morphology, taxonomy and cross ability.

Monocotyledonous plants

Asparagaceae: asparagus

(Alliaceae) Amaryllidaceae: onion, garlic, leek, shallot, Japanese bunching onion, chives, garlic chives

Dioscoraceae: yam

Dicotolyledonous plants:

Solanaceae: potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant, pepino, tomatillo

Convolvulaceae: sweet potato

Apiaceae  : carrot 

Malvaceae : okra

Asteraceae: lettuce, endive, chicory, artichoke, cardoon

Poaceae: sweet corn, popcorn

Araceae: taro, yautia

Euphorbiaceae : tapioca/ Casava

Cucurbitacea : watermelon, pumpkin,winter squash and gourds

Cruciferae : cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, radish, broccoli 

b) Based on Hardiness:

Vegetables are grouped as hardy or tender on the basis of tolerance to frost, tolerance to lower temperature.

Winter Season Vegetables

Hardy/tolerant vegetables - asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chive, collard, garlic, kale, knol-khol, leek, onion, parsley, pea, radish, rhubarb. spinach and turnip

Semi-hardy/semi-tolerant vegetables-carrot, cauliflower. Chinese cabbage, celery, globe artichoke. lettuce, leaf beet, parsnip and potato.

Summer season vegetables: 

Tender vegetables / sensitive vegetables-  chilli, tomato, snap bean and sweetcorn 

Very tender/very sensitive vegetables - amaranth, okra, eggplant, bell pepper, tapioca, chilli, cluster bean, Lima bean, colocasia, cowpea, cucurbits, sweetpotato and yam.

c) Based on Parts Used for Consumption:

Leafy Vegetable - palak,amaranthus, mustard green, methi
Root - carrot, beetroot, radish,turnip
Fruit - tomato, brinjal, cucurbits
Flower - cauliflower , Brocolli , cabbage 
Bulb - onion, garlic 
Tuber - potato, sweet potato

d) Based on Method of Culture : 
     In this classification, all vegetable crops requiring similar cultural requirements are grouped together.

Cole crops
  • These crops belong to the family Cruciferae. 
  • These are winter season and transplanted crops.
  • The crops include cauliflower, cabbage, knol-khol, Chinese cabbage, sprouting broccoli and Brussels sprouts etc.

Leafy vegetables 
  • All vegetables belonging to this group are direct seeded crops.
  • The crops include spinach, leaf beet, coriander, fenugreek, amaranth, Swiss chard etc.

Salad vegetables 
  • These crops are mainly eaten raw.
  • The crops include lettuce, celery, chicory and parsley.

Root vegetables
  • These crops have prominent and fleshy underground structures and are direct sown winter season crops. 
  • The crops include radish, carrot, turnip, beetroot, parsnip, rutabaga etc.

Cucurbit crops
  • These crops belong to the family Cucurbitaceae and commonly known as the gourds. The plants have tendrils and produce fleshy fruits.
  • These are direct seeded summer season crops.
  • The crops include melons, gourds, cucumber, pumpkin and summer squash. 

Solanaceous crops
  • These belong to Solanaceae and also known as the nightshade family 
  • They are summer season transplanted crops. 
  • The crops include tomato, chilli and eggplant. 

Pea and beans (pod vegetables) 
  • These are legume vegetables and belong to fabaceae or the pea family.
  • These are directly seeded vegetables.
  • The crops include pea, French bean, Dolichos bean, broad bean, cluster bean, Lima bean, winged bean and cowpea.

Bulb vegetables 
  • These are species of Allium.
  • The belong to the family Alliaceae.
  • The crops include onion, leek, garlic, etc.

Tuber vegetables - 
  • The crops include potato, sweetpotato, taro, cassava/ tapioca. yams.

  • Okra is represented by an independent group.

e) Based On Life Cycle
        All vegetables can be classified into three groups viz. annuals, biennials and perennials,depending upon the time required to complete their life cycle.

  • Annual vegetables - pea, beans, tomato, okra, eggplant, chilli, capsicum, cucurbits etc.
  • Biennial vegetables - cole crops, bulb crops, root crops etc.
  • Perennial vegetables -asparagus, artichoke. Jerusalem artichoke and pointed gourd.






Reference

Textbook of vegetable crops by Prem nath k.R.M.swamy
Vegetable science by D.singh