Okra is better known by its common name as ladys finger or Gumbo. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This vegetable is usually used in many recipes and is also a part of many nutritional diets, as it is beneficial to the heart.

Okra is better known by its common name as ladys finger or gumbo and popularly called Bhindi in Hindi, Bendakaya in Telugu, Vendakkai in Tamil, Vendakai in Malayalam, Bende in Kannada, Bhinda in Gujarati, Bhendi in Marathi and Dherash in Bengali. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This vegetable is usually used in many recipes and is also a part of many nutritional diets as it is highly beneficial.

Okra has high fiber, vitamins C and K, and folate content as well as calcium and potassium. It also contains niacin (vitamin B3), thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin B6, magnesium, manganese, beta-carotene and lutein. In addition, it has powerful antioxidant properties.

• High fiber content

• Okra is known to aid in prevention of diabetes.

• Folates present in Okra reduce the neural tube defects in a new born baby.

• Vitamin K is a co-factor in blood-clotting process and also plays a major role in strengthening the bones in our body.

• Asthma can also be treated by including Okra/ lady fingers in your meals.

Scientific Name Solanum melongena
Origin Southern and Eastern Asia
Other Names Baingan (Hindi), Vankaya (Telugu), Kathirikai (Tamil), Vazhuthanaga (Malayalam), Badanekai (Kannada), Ringan (Gujarati), Vaangi (Marathi), and Bengun (Bengali)

Brinjal, also known as Eggplant or / is high on nutrients and should be included in your weekly diet. It has good taste if cooked into a proper recipe and can prevent cancer, lower cholesterol. Brinjal has no fat and its high fiber content which makes it suitable for people who wants to shed some weight. It is also rich in minerals, boasting a large quantity of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous. Brinjals also prevent brain damage as it contains phytonutrients that can protect your cell membranes and also boost memory function, aid in transferring messages from one part of your body to another.

• Eating brinjals roasted on fire after putting some salt into it cures excessive phlegm and wind humor of the body.

• Soup made up of brinjal and tomato increases the appetite and helps in digestion.

• Eating soft brinjal after baking it on fire and with raw sugar on empty stomach in the morning, cures the enlarged spleen due to malaria.

• The use of brinjal destroys the kidney stones in its initial stage.

• If brinjal is taken in its mashed form or as soup with asafoetida and garlic, it cures flatulation.

• BOTANICAL NAME:Brassica oleracea

• Name: Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a cool-season crop and a descendant of the common cabbage. It is more difficult to than its relatives because it does not tolerate the heat or cold as well. For this reason, cauliflower is usually grown commercially.

If you plant to attempt growing cauliflower in the home garden, it requires consistently cool temperatures with temperatures in the 60s. Otherwise, it prematurely buttonform small button-size headsrather than forming one, nice white head.

Cauliflower is often considered one of the healthiest foods on earth- and there is good reason why. With its rich supply of health-promoting phytochemicals, high level of anti-inflammatory compounds, and ability to ward off cancer, heart disease, brain disease, and even weight gain- it seems there isnt much cauliflower cant do.

• Reduces Cancer Risk

• Fights Inflammation

• Decreases Risk for Heart Disease & Brain Disorders

• Provides High Levels of Vitamins and Minerals (especially important Vitamin C and Vitamin K)

• Improves Digestion and Detoxification

BOTANICAL NAME:Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Cabbage is a hardy, leafy vegetable full of vitamins. It can be difficult to grow; it only likes cool temperatures, and it can be a magnet for some type of pests. By planning your growing season and providing diligent care, you may have two successful crops in one year, both spring and fall. Many varieties are available to suit both your growing conditions and taste preferences.

Cabbage is one of the most popular winter vegetables grown in India. It is cultivated in 0.245 M ha with the total production of 5.617 M mt and average productivity of 22.9 mt/ha. The major cabbage producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Among these states West Bengal contributes 1.929 M mt of cabbage from 65, 000 ha area with an average productivity of 29.6 mt/ha. Cabbage is used as salad, boiled vegetable and dehydrated vegetable as well as in cooked curries and pickles. Cabbage is rich in minerals and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.

Chilies are valued principally for their high pungency and color. Almost all the states of India produce the crop. The Indian Chilli growing states are Andhra Pradesh (46%), Karnataka (15%), Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Indian Chilli can be grown during the entire year at one or the other partof the country. However, the major arrival season extends from February to April.

Health Benefits From Cabbage:

• Fresh, dark green-leafy cabbage is incredibly nutritious

• Fresh cabbage is an excellent source of natural antioxidant, vitamin C.

• Cabbage is a very good source of vitamin K.

• Cancer prevention

The pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir.), is an important member of cucurbitace family and is grown extensively during kharif (monsoon) and summer season across India, for tender and immature fruits. Its fruits are consumed in cooked form and also used for preparation of sweets. The fruit juice, flowers, young stem and leaves have many medicinal values.India is the second largest producer of pumpkin in the world after China (5.768 million tones).

The higher productivity in these countries is due to the coverage of maximum area under hybrids where as OP varieties occupied major area in India and pumpkin are being cultivated by resource poor farmers through self-saved seed. The demand of hybrid seed among farmers is increasing because of earliness, uniformity and higher yield which make pumpkin cultivation more profitable than traditional/open pollinated varieties.

The basic seed of parental lines should be obtained from the institute/university where from the hybrid have been developed.

Health Benefits From Tomatoes:

• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

• Pumpkin seed oil is full of phytoestrogens, which research shows are beneficial for preventing hypertension.

• Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, the amino acid that contributes to post-Thanksgiving dinner sleepiness, says Virgin.

• The antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene (all of which are found in pumpkin) have been shown to support eye health and prevent degenerative damage.

Tomato is one of the most important protective food crops of India. It is grown in 0.458 M ha area with 7.277 M mt production and 15.9 mt/ha productivity. The major tomato producing states are Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. In West Bengal, tomato is grown over an area of 43, 600 ha with the production 0.588 M mt and productivity of 13.6 mt/ha. Tomato is rich source of vitamins A, C, potassium, minerals and fibers. Tomatoes are used in the preparation of soup, salad, pickles, ketchup, puree, sauces and also consumed as a vegetable in many other ways.

India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of chilies in the world. India also has the largest area under chilies in the world. Chilies are the most common spice cultivated in India. It is estimated that India produced 1060345 tons of dry chili from an area of 8, 84, 183 hectares in 2003-04.

Chilies are valued principally for their high pungency and color. Almost all the states of India produce the crop. The Indian Chilli growing states are Andhra Pradesh (46%), Karnataka (15%), Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Indian Chilli can be grown during the entire year at one or the other partof the country. However, the major arrival season extends from February to April.

Health Benefits From Tomatoes:

• Tomatoes are one of the lowest-calorie fruits.

• Tomatoes also contain high amounts of vitamin A, C and even Vitamin K.

• Tomatoes can reduce the amount of damage done to your body by smoking cigarettes or inhaling second hand smoke.

• Tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that has repeatedly shown scientists its ability to ward off cancers, fight aging, and stave off other degenerative diseases.

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial nightshade Solanum tuberosum. The word "potato" may refer either to the plant itself or to the edible tuber. In the Andes, where the species is indigenous, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species. Potatoes were introduced outside the Andes region approximately four centuries ago, and have since become an integral part of much of the world's food supply. It is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following maize, wheat, and rice. The green leaves and green skins of tubers exposed to the light are toxic.

The potato reached India in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, most likely aboard ships from Portugal. Today, India ranks as the world's third largest potato producing nation, with production in 2007 of around 26 million tonnes.

Potato varieties suited to the country's climate - hot summers and short winters - are grown on the Indo-Gangetic plain during the short winter days from October to March, while some year-round production takes place in relatively high altitude areas in the south.

• Potatoes may help lower blood pressure for several reasons.

• The B6 vitamins in potatoes are critical to maintaining neurological health.

• Vitamin C can help prevent everything from scurvy to the common cold, and potatoes are full of this nutrient.

• The largest health benefit offered by potatoes is how they can help with digestion due to their high fiber content.

• Potatoes can help restore electrolyte balance.

Ginger is one of the oldest known spices in the world. Botanical name of ginger is Zingiber officinale. India is the largest producer of ginger in the world. India ranks first among dry ginger producers also. Other major producers of ginger in the world are West Indies, Brazil, China, Japan and Indonesia. Major ginger production centers in India are Kerala, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

Ginger of commerce is the dried underground stem of the herbaceous tropical plant grown as an annual. The whole plant is refreshingly aromatic and the underground rhizome, raw or processed, is valued as spice. Ginger is a slender perennial herb, 30-50 cm tall with palmately branched rhizome bearing leafy shoots. The leafy shoot is a pseudostem formed by leaf sheath and bears 8 to 12 distichous leaves.

Soils rich in organic matter with good drainage capacity are ideal for ginger cultivation. Best suitable soils for ginger production are sandy or clayey loam, red loam and lateritic loam soils. Drainage is absolutely necessary for the prevention of disease incidence. Ginger should not be grown in the same site year-after-year.

• Ginger is recommended for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

• Ginger Can Treat Many Forms of Nausea, Especially Morning Sickness.

• Ginger May Reduce Muscle Pain and Soreness

• Ginger Can Help Treat Chronic Indigestion

• Ginger May Lower Cholesterol Levels

The common name of pea (Pisum sativum) is also known as Dry Pea and it is called Matar in India. Field pea is one of the most popular food crops in the world as it is very nutritious and its cultivation is also easy. Pea usually grows in the cold areas of the world unlike the other major pulses of the world. But they have a universal appeal, as they are required in all over the world for consumption. Pea pulse is generally comes in two colors, i.e. green and yellow.

According to FAO statistics, India is one of the largest producers of field pea in the world and stands at the 5th place in the list of major field pea producers next to France. The Indian production contributes to around 7% in the worlds total produce with the production figures of 7.8 lakh tonnes. Uttar Pradesh is a major field pea producing state in India producing about 60% of the countrys produce. The other major pea producing state in India is Madhya Pradesh.

Soils rich in organic matter with good drainage capacity are ideal for ginger cultivation. Best suitable soils for ginger production are sandy or clayey loam, red loam and lateritic loam soils. Drainage is absolutely necessary for the prevention of disease incidence. Ginger should not be grown in the same site year-after-year.

• Peas are low fat but high everything else.

• Peas contain high amounts of a health-protective polyphenol called coumestrol.

• Anti-aging, strong immune system, and high energy

• The high fiber content in peas improves bowel health and peristalsis.

• One serving of peas contains as much as Vitamin C as two large apples, more fibre than a slice of wholemeal bread, and more thiamine than a pint of whole meal.

Okra is better known by its common name as ladys finger or Gumbo. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This vegetable is usually used in many recipes and is also a part of many nutritional diets, as it is beneficial to the heart.

Okra is better known by its common name as ladys finger or gumbo and popularly called Bhindi in Hindi, Bendakaya in Telugu, Vendakkai in Tamil, Vendakai in Malayalam, Bende in Kannada, Bhinda in Gujarati, Bhendi in Marathi and Dherash in Bengali. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This vegetable is usually used in many recipes and is also a part of many nutritional diets as it is highly beneficial.

Okra has high fiber, vitamins C and K, and folate content as well as calcium and potassium. It also contains niacin (vitamin B3), thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin B6, magnesium, manganese, beta-carotene and lutein. In addition, it has powerful antioxidant properties.

• High fiber content

• Okra is known to aid in prevention of diabetes.

• Folates present in Okra reduce the neural tube defects in a new born baby.

• Vitamin K is a co-factor in blood-clotting process and also plays a major role in strengthening the bones in our body.

• Asthma can also be treated by including Okra/ lady fingers in your meals.

Scientific Name Solanum melongena
Origin Southern and Eastern Asia
Other Names Baingan (Hindi), Vankaya (Telugu), Kathirikai (Tamil), Vazhuthanaga (Malayalam), Badanekai (Kannada), Ringan (Gujarati), Vaangi (Marathi), and Bengun (Bengali)

Brinjal, also known as Eggplant or / is high on nutrients and should be included in your weekly diet. It has good taste if cooked into a proper recipe and can prevent cancer, lower cholesterol. Brinjal has no fat and its high fiber content which makes it suitable for people who wants to shed some weight. It is also rich in minerals, boasting a large quantity of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous. Brinjals also prevent brain damage as it contains phytonutrients that can protect your cell membranes and also boost memory function, aid in transferring messages from one part of your body to another.

• Eating brinjals roasted on fire after putting some salt into it cures excessive phlegm and wind humor of the body.

• Soup made up of brinjal and tomato increases the appetite and helps in digestion.

• Eating soft brinjal after baking it on fire and with raw sugar on empty stomach in the morning, cures the enlarged spleen due to malaria.

• The use of brinjal destroys the kidney stones in its initial stage.

• If brinjal is taken in its mashed form or as soup with asafoetida and garlic, it cures flatulation.

• BOTANICAL NAME:Brassica oleracea

• Name: Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a cool-season crop and a descendant of the common cabbage. It is more difficult to than its relatives because it does not tolerate the heat or cold as well. For this reason, cauliflower is usually grown commercially.

If you plant to attempt growing cauliflower in the home garden, it requires consistently cool temperatures with temperatures in the 60s. Otherwise, it prematurely buttonform small button-size headsrather than forming one, nice white head.

Cauliflower is often considered one of the healthiest foods on earth- and there is good reason why. With its rich supply of health-promoting phytochemicals, high level of anti-inflammatory compounds, and ability to ward off cancer, heart disease, brain disease, and even weight gain- it seems there isnt much cauliflower cant do.

• Reduces Cancer Risk

• Fights Inflammation

• Decreases Risk for Heart Disease & Brain Disorders

• Provides High Levels of Vitamins and Minerals (especially important Vitamin C and Vitamin K)

• Improves Digestion and Detoxification

BOTANICAL NAME:Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Cabbage is a hardy, leafy vegetable full of vitamins. It can be difficult to grow; it only likes cool temperatures, and it can be a magnet for some type of pests. By planning your growing season and providing diligent care, you may have two successful crops in one year, both spring and fall. Many varieties are available to suit both your growing conditions and taste preferences.

Cabbage is one of the most popular winter vegetables grown in India. It is cultivated in 0.245 M ha with the total production of 5.617 M mt and average productivity of 22.9 mt/ha. The major cabbage producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Among these states West Bengal contributes 1.929 M mt of cabbage from 65, 000 ha area with an average productivity of 29.6 mt/ha. Cabbage is used as salad, boiled vegetable and dehydrated vegetable as well as in cooked curries and pickles. Cabbage is rich in minerals and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.

Chilies are valued principally for their high pungency and color. Almost all the states of India produce the crop. The Indian Chilli growing states are Andhra Pradesh (46%), Karnataka (15%), Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Indian Chilli can be grown during the entire year at one or the other partof the country. However, the major arrival season extends from February to April.

Health Benefits From Cabbage:

• Fresh, dark green-leafy cabbage is incredibly nutritious

• Fresh cabbage is an excellent source of natural antioxidant, vitamin C.

• Cabbage is a very good source of vitamin K.

• Cancer prevention

The pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir.), is an important member of cucurbitace family and is grown extensively during kharif (monsoon) and summer season across India, for tender and immature fruits. Its fruits are consumed in cooked form and also used for preparation of sweets. The fruit juice, flowers, young stem and leaves have many medicinal values.India is the second largest producer of pumpkin in the world after China (5.768 million tones).

The higher productivity in these countries is due to the coverage of maximum area under hybrids where as OP varieties occupied major area in India and pumpkin are being cultivated by resource poor farmers through self-saved seed. The demand of hybrid seed among farmers is increasing because of earliness, uniformity and higher yield which make pumpkin cultivation more profitable than traditional/open pollinated varieties.

The basic seed of parental lines should be obtained from the institute/university where from the hybrid have been developed.

Health Benefits From Tomatoes:

• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

• Pumpkin seed oil is full of phytoestrogens, which research shows are beneficial for preventing hypertension.

• Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, the amino acid that contributes to post-Thanksgiving dinner sleepiness, says Virgin.

• The antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene (all of which are found in pumpkin) have been shown to support eye health and prevent degenerative damage.

Tomato is one of the most important protective food crops of India. It is grown in 0.458 M ha area with 7.277 M mt production and 15.9 mt/ha productivity. The major tomato producing states are Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. In West Bengal, tomato is grown over an area of 43, 600 ha with the production 0.588 M mt and productivity of 13.6 mt/ha. Tomato is rich source of vitamins A, C, potassium, minerals and fibers. Tomatoes are used in the preparation of soup, salad, pickles, ketchup, puree, sauces and also consumed as a vegetable in many other ways.

India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of chilies in the world. India also has the largest area under chilies in the world. Chilies are the most common spice cultivated in India. It is estimated that India produced 1060345 tons of dry chili from an area of 8, 84, 183 hectares in 2003-04.

Chilies are valued principally for their high pungency and color. Almost all the states of India produce the crop. The Indian Chilli growing states are Andhra Pradesh (46%), Karnataka (15%), Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Indian Chilli can be grown during the entire year at one or the other partof the country. However, the major arrival season extends from February to April.

Health Benefits From Tomatoes:

• Tomatoes are one of the lowest-calorie fruits.

• Tomatoes also contain high amounts of vitamin A, C and even Vitamin K.

• Tomatoes can reduce the amount of damage done to your body by smoking cigarettes or inhaling second hand smoke.

• Tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that has repeatedly shown scientists its ability to ward off cancers, fight aging, and stave off other degenerative diseases.

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial nightshade Solanum tuberosum. The word "potato" may refer either to the plant itself or to the edible tuber. In the Andes, where the species is indigenous, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species. Potatoes were introduced outside the Andes region approximately four centuries ago, and have since become an integral part of much of the world's food supply. It is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following maize, wheat, and rice. The green leaves and green skins of tubers exposed to the light are toxic.

The potato reached India in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, most likely aboard ships from Portugal. Today, India ranks as the world's third largest potato producing nation, with production in 2007 of around 26 million tonnes.

Potato varieties suited to the country's climate - hot summers and short winters - are grown on the Indo-Gangetic plain during the short winter days from October to March, while some year-round production takes place in relatively high altitude areas in the south.

• Potatoes may help lower blood pressure for several reasons.

• The B6 vitamins in potatoes are critical to maintaining neurological health.

• Vitamin C can help prevent everything from scurvy to the common cold, and potatoes are full of this nutrient.

• The largest health benefit offered by potatoes is how they can help with digestion due to their high fiber content.

• Potatoes can help restore electrolyte balance.

Ginger is one of the oldest known spices in the world. Botanical name of ginger is Zingiber officinale. India is the largest producer of ginger in the world. India ranks first among dry ginger producers also. Other major producers of ginger in the world are West Indies, Brazil, China, Japan and Indonesia. Major ginger production centers in India are Kerala, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

Ginger of commerce is the dried underground stem of the herbaceous tropical plant grown as an annual. The whole plant is refreshingly aromatic and the underground rhizome, raw or processed, is valued as spice. Ginger is a slender perennial herb, 30-50 cm tall with palmately branched rhizome bearing leafy shoots. The leafy shoot is a pseudostem formed by leaf sheath and bears 8 to 12 distichous leaves.

Soils rich in organic matter with good drainage capacity are ideal for ginger cultivation. Best suitable soils for ginger production are sandy or clayey loam, red loam and lateritic loam soils. Drainage is absolutely necessary for the prevention of disease incidence. Ginger should not be grown in the same site year-after-year.

• Ginger is recommended for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

• Ginger Can Treat Many Forms of Nausea, Especially Morning Sickness.

• Ginger May Reduce Muscle Pain and Soreness

• Ginger Can Help Treat Chronic Indigestion

• Ginger May Lower Cholesterol Levels

The common name of pea (Pisum sativum) is also known as Dry Pea and it is called Matar in India. Field pea is one of the most popular food crops in the world as it is very nutritious and its cultivation is also easy. Pea usually grows in the cold areas of the world unlike the other major pulses of the world. But they have a universal appeal, as they are required in all over the world for consumption. Pea pulse is generally comes in two colors, i.e. green and yellow.

According to FAO statistics, India is one of the largest producers of field pea in the world and stands at the 5th place in the list of major field pea producers next to France. The Indian production contributes to around 7% in the worlds total produce with the production figures of 7.8 lakh tonnes. Uttar Pradesh is a major field pea producing state in India producing about 60% of the countrys produce. The other major pea producing state in India is Madhya Pradesh.

Soils rich in organic matter with good drainage capacity are ideal for ginger cultivation. Best suitable soils for ginger production are sandy or clayey loam, red loam and lateritic loam soils. Drainage is absolutely necessary for the prevention of disease incidence. Ginger should not be grown in the same site year-after-year.

• Peas are low fat but high everything else.

• Peas contain high amounts of a health-protective polyphenol called coumestrol.

• Anti-aging, strong immune system, and high energy

• The high fiber content in peas improves bowel health and peristalsis.

• One serving of peas contains as much as Vitamin C as two large apples, more fibre than a slice of wholemeal bread, and more thiamine than a pint of whole meal.