The main purpose of this publication is to acquaint both the students of horticulture in general and vegetable crops in particular with the current development on different aspects of vegetable cultivation based on the results of numerous research works throughout the country. The need for collecting and reviewing the scattered literature pertaining to vegetable improvement and production has long been felt and the present publication is an attempt in that direction. Many scientists in India actively engaged in research on vegetable crops and teachers of horticulture in different agricultural universities have felt the need for a composite text on vegetable crops, their current developmental and research status.