LESSON: PRODUCE VEGETABLE

MODULE 3: GROWING SEEDLINGS

 Classification of vegetables crop

 Select quality seeds
 Prepare growing media and sow seeds
 Care and management of seedling

CLASSIFICATION OF VEGETABLES

According to Asuncion (1983), there are several ways of classifying vegetables such
as:

A. Botanical classification of vegetables

This method of classification was developed by botanist for the purpose of
identifying plants and usually it is based on relationships among different plants.

1. Monocotyledonous
Family Name Scientific Name English Name

Grass Family – Zea mays L. Corn

Gramineae Allium sativum L. Garlic
Allium cepa L. Onion
Lily Family – Asparagus officinalis L. Asparagus
Luffa acutangula Vegetables gourd
“patolang tagalog”
Luffa cylindrica Sponge gourd “patola”
Benincasa hispida Wax gourd “condol”

Morning glory Family Ipomea batatas Sweet potato “camote”

Convolvulaceae Ipomea aquatic Swamp cabbage
“kangkong”
Parsley Family – Daucus carota L. Carrot
Umbelliferae Apium graveolens L. Celery
Pastinaca saiva L. Parsnip
Liliaceae Allium fistulosum Green onion
2.Dicotyledonous
Mustard Family - Brassica oleracea L. Cabbage
Cruciferae Var. Capitata L.

Brassica oleracea L. Cauliflower

Var. Botrytis L.

Brassica juncea Leaf mustard

Brassica pekinensis Pechay
Raphanus sativus raddish

Pea Family – Dolichos lablab Egyptian bean

Leguminoseae Phaseolus vulgaris “batao"
Vigna sinensis Snap beans
Sesbania grandiflora “habichuelas”
Phaseolus lunatus Cowpea “paayap”
Pachyrrhizus erosus Sesban “katuray”
Lima bean “patani”
Yam bean “sincamas”

Nightshade Family – Solanum melongena L. Eggplant

Solanaceae Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato
Capsicum frutescene Sweet pepper
Capsicum annum Pepper
Solanum tuberosum Potato

Gourd Family – Cucumis melo Common muskmelon

Cucurbitaceae Cucumis sativus Cucumber
Cucurbita maxima Squash
Momordica charantia Bitter gourd
“ampalaya”
Leganaria siceraria Spaghetti sqauash
“Upo”
According to INGO (2005), the classifications of vegetables are:

 FAMILY ALLIACEAE
 FAMILY BRASSICACEAE
 FAMILY CUCURBITACEAE
 FAMILY LEGUMINOSEAE
 FAMILY SOLANACEAE

 ALLIUM FAMILY

Family Alliaceae or alliums are noxious bulbous perennials with grass-like leaves.
Bulbs consist of a short, thick stem axis (basal plate) with a growing point surrounded
by fleshy scale leaves. Short, fibrous roots develop from the bottom of the basal plate.
Soft and hard-coated bulblets are produced in the axils of the scale leaves. Examples of
the alliums are garlic and onions.

Onion - (Allium cepa L.) is arguably the most important cooking ingredient in the world.
On the other hand, onions have also medicinal properties and used as cure for cough,
insomnia, hemorrhoid, and constipation.

Garlic- (Allium sativumL.) is referred to as the king of all spices. It is a pungent bulb that
is one of the most important cooking ingredients in the world. In the Philippines, garlic is
considered as a key commercial crop with great potential for export. It also contains
allicin, an antibacterial compound that slows down the growth of certain bacteria and
fungi. It is often used in folk medicine to treat wounds, toothache, sore throat, and
fungal skin diseases like athlete’s foot and ringworm.

 BRASSICACEAE FAMILY

The Brassicaceae or Mustard Family is a large natural or major economic importance

containing a diverse variety of crop plants grown for salads, vegetables, condiments,
and ornamentals. INGO (2005), discusses the two classifications of vegetable crops
belonging to this family: the Cole crops where the cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale,
collard, mustard Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts belong, and the root
crops where turnip and radish belong.
  CUCURBITACEAE FAMILY

The Cucurbitaceae, commonly known as the gourd or melon family, includes a

number of popular and important vegetables. The most commonly known
cucurbitaceous are watermelon, summer squash, and pumpkin. Ampalaya
(Momordicacharantia) also known as amargoso orbitter gourd is a tropical and sub-
tropicalvine of the cucurbitaceaefamily. This is one of the most popular and versatile
vegetable plants which caught the attention of health scientists worldwide due to its
medicinal properties. Cucurbitaceous crops are mostly prostrate or climbing herbaceous
annuals comprising about 90 genera and 700 species according to INGO. Other
commonly grown cucurbitaceous crops are bottle gourd (upo) and dishrag gourd
(patola).

 LEGUMINOSAE FAMILY

The Family Leguminoseae is one of the largest and most useful plant families with
17,000 species distributed almost throughout the world, as reported by INGO (2005). It
includes many well-known vegetables particularly of temperate regions ( beans and
peas), ornamental trees in tropical regions (Bauhinia, Flamboyant, Cassia), fodder crops
(Clover, Lucerne) and weeds (Vetches and Trefolis), and their growth habits vary from
ground cover and aquatic to shrubs, climbers and trees.

 SOLANACEAE FAMILY

The term solanaceous crops generally refers to plants in the nightshade family,
Solanaceae, within the Genera Capsicum (peppers), Lycopersicon (tomato), and
Solanum (eggplant and potato).

The tomatoes, on the other hand, contain very good levels of vitamin A, and
flavonoid anti-oxidants such as α and ß-carotenes, xanthins, and lutein. Altogether,
these pigment compounds are found to have antioxidant properties and take part in
vision, maintain healthy mucus membranes and skin, and bone health. Consumption of
natural vegetables and fruits rich in flavonoids is known to help protect from lung and
oral cavity cancer. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop
resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals.
B. Classification of Vegetable Crops According to Their Methods of
Culture

Plants may be classified according to their methods of culture. Plants belonging to

this type may be classified according to their basic cultural requirements:

1. Root vegetables – The underground parts of these vegetables are eaten. Examples are
sweet potato, Irish potato, radish, carrots, onions, garlic, and turnips

2.Fruit Vegetables – The fruits and/or seeds of these vegetables are eaten.
Examples: corn, beans, eggplant, pepper, tomato, mongo, soybeans, cowpea, okra,
cucumber, chayote, wax gourd, and squash.

3. Salad Crops – The leaves of these vegetables are eaten fresh. Included in this group
are lettuce, celery, parsley, watercress, and endive.

4.Cole Crops – Vegetables belonging to this group are closely related.

Examples: Chinese cabbage, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels.

5. Spinach and other Greens (Potherbs) – These vegetables are among the oldest of the
vegetable garden plants grown for their leaves.
Examples: spinach, mustard, kale, collard, and chard.

C. Classification of Vegetable Crops According to Their Temperature or

Seasonal Requirements.

1. Cool Season Crops

a. Leaf – lettuce, spinach, cabbage, pechay, mustard, celery,

onions, and kale.
b. Stem – sweet potato, kangkong, and asparagus
c. Root – radish, beet, carrot, turnip, and parsnip
2. Warm Season crops

a. Fruit – tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, bitter gourd, chayote, snake

gourd, okra, and pepper
b. Root – taro, sweet potato, yam bean, tugi, and ubi
c. Fruits and seeds – bush beans, cowpea, mongo, soybeans, lima bean, and string
beans.

D. Classification Based on Edible Parts

1. Leaf and Stem – Vegetables belonging to this type of classification are usually grown
for their leaves and stems.
Examples are bamboo shoots, spinach, Chinese cabbage, amargoso, sprouted mongo,
swamp cabbage, kangkong, tender fern, saluyot, malunggay, green onions, lettuce, and
squash.

2. Leaves and Fruits – hot pepper, bitter gourd, cowpea, and chayote

3. Leaves, Flowers, and Fruits – squash and malunggay,

4. Fruits, Pods, and Seeds – bread fruit, rimas, bitter gourd, chayote, eggplant, jackfruit,
batao, okra, garden and pea.