Vegetable Production Basic Principles
HORTICULTURE The intensive cultivation of plants This means to a high standard This means a lot of attention to detail This requires water All FfF Principles apply
PLANNING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN
Without wastage
How many people are you feeding and what are their preferences?
How many cabbages will you eat in a week. Plan planting according to your needs?
Plan to have some extra to give away
Do you have a freezer to freeze surplus veggies?
How much space and water do you have?
VEGETABLE GARDEN LAYOUT
To a high standard
Beds 110 cm wide
Pathways 40 cm wide
Raised beds
Bed length is flexible but more small beds is better for a small household.
Pegs on corners of beds. PERMANENT
VEGETABLE SPACINGS Standardized for simplicity
1 Row / Bed – Pumpkins
2 Rows/ Bed – Tomatoes, Cabbage
3 Rows/ Bed – Beans, Rape
5 Rows/ Bed – Carrots, Onions
0.1875
0.375
1.1
1.5
1.5
0.4
0.75
SOIL PREPARATION
Ensure all weeds are removed
Broadcast compost on bed. 1 wheel barrow per 2m of bed.
Broadcast lime if required.
Broadcast compound fertilizer 30 g per square meter. Use D (Maize fert) or C (Veg fert)
Broadcast AN for leafy vegetables. 20 g per square meter.
Mix in lightly with fork and level bed.
Spread mulch or more compost over top of bed
PLANTING
Planting on time is very important .
All vegetables have a season to which they are best suited. (Ecc. 3:1-2)
Direct sowing.
Root crops
Legumes
Vegetables with large seeds.
Transplanting seedlings. Most other vegetable seedlings are grown in trays or beds and then transplanted.
On Time
All veggies have ideal planting times
Cool season crops Lettuce,
cabbage cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, peas, onions
Warm
season crops
Tomatoes,
potatoes, chillies, sweet peppers, beans, butternut, pumpkin, sweet potato
ModernVarieties have extended seasons
Importance of Rotation ď Ž ď Ž
Prevent soil deterioration. Reduce pests and diseases.
Vegetables can be divided into 6 groups botanically and according to habit.
Six Vegetable Groups
Cruciferous crops (brassicas) Leguminous crops Solanaceous crops Root crops Cucurbitaceous crops Miscellaneous crops
Cruciferous crops (brassicas) Group 1
Cabbages, cauliflowers, chinese cabbages, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kohlrabi, turnips, mustard, rape and kale. “Green leafies” High Nitrate requirement. Prefers cool growing conditions. Prone to pests and diseases.
Leguminous crops Group 2
Peas and beans. Forms symbiotic relationship with N-fixing rhizobium bacteria. Build up nitrogen in the soil. Undemanding in nutrient requirement.
Solanaceous crops Group 3
Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, chillies and bringel. Require good fertile soil. Prone to leaf diseases in overcast, humid weather. Susceptible to nematode attack. K-responsive.
Root crops Group4
Carrots, beetroot, parsnips. No manure prior to planting. ( Misshapen hairy roots and excessive top growth). Too much N, too much top growth. Reduce watering frequency with increasing maturity.
Cucurbitaceous crops
Cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, melons and marrows. Not troubled by soil-borne diseases. Fungal leaf diseases.
Miscellaneous crops ď Ž
ď Ž
Onions, lettuce, spinach, leeks, sweetcorn, sweet potato, garlic, swiss chard, raddish, asparagus, celery, okra. Can be included in a rotation at any point without difficulty.
Bed 1 Bed 2 Bed 3 Bed 4 Sn 1 Sn 2 Sn 3 Sn 4
ROTATION
Group1
Brassicas
Group 2
Legumes- (Peas and Beans)
Group 3
Solanaceous + Lettuce & Swiss Chard
Group 4
Root Crops & Onions
PLANTING SCHEDULE 1 Jan Feb
Onions
Carrots
March
Onions
April
Onions
Carrots
May
Onions
Carrots
Tomato
Carrots
June
Carrots
July
Carrots
Aug
Tomato
Bringal
Carrots
Sept
Tomato
Bringal
Carrots
Bringal
Carrots
Oct Nov Dec
PLANTING SCHEDULE 2 Jan
Cabbage (Sum)
Feb
Spinach
Rape
Cabbage (Win)
Cauliflower
March
Spinach
Rape
Cabbage (Win)
Cauliflower
April
Spinach
Rape
Cabbage (Win)
Cauliflower
May
Spinach
Rape
Cabbage (Win)
Cauliflower
June
Spinach
Rape
Cabbage (Win)
Cauliflower
July
Spinach
Rape
Cabbage (Sum)
Aug
Cabbage (Sum)
Sept
Cabbage (Sum)
Oct
Cabbage (Sum)
Nov
Cabbage (Sum)
Dec
Cabbage (Sum)
PLANTING SCHEDULE 3 Jan
Lettuce (Sum)
Feb
Broccoli
Lettuce (Sum)
Peas
Beans
March
Broccoli
Lettuce (Win)
Peas
Beans
April
Broccoli
Lettuce (Win)
Peas
Beans
May
Broccoli
Lettuce (Win)
Peas
June
Broccoli
Lettuce (Win)
Peas
July
Broccoli
Lettuce (Win)
Aug
Lettuce (Sum)
Beans
Sept
Lettuce (Sum)
Beans
Oct
Lettuce (Sum)
Beans
Nov
Lettuce (Sum)
Dec
Lettuce (Sum)
PLANTING SCHEDULE 4 Jan Feb March April May June July Aug
Butternut
Gem Squash
Peppers & Chilli
Sept
Butternut
Gem Squash
Peppers & Chilli
Oct
Butternut
Gem Squash
Peppers & Chilli
Nov
Butternut
Gem Squash
Peppers & Chilli
Dec
Gem Squash
Sweet Potato Sweet Potato
To Standard Doing
the best you can with what you have in your hands Water Fertilization
Irrigation
Vegetables all require irrigation. The method is not critical but timing and amount is important. During germination or directly after transplant water daily. Once established water twice per week with 10 - 15mm As mature water once per week +/-20mm Rain gauge
Irrigation Ways
to determine water requirements and conserve water Dig your hand into soil and feel moisture content Mulching conserves water Plant beds next to each other at same time to make sprinkler irrigation easier
Mulching
Improves soil structure, decrease erosion. Reduces crusting from watering Improves water penetration (root crops) Conserves moisture (evaporation and run off) Removes effects of splash. Moderates soil temp – NB in Veg. Discourages weeds. Well composted - no N draw down.
Weeds
Compete with vegetables
Sunlight Moisture Nutrients
Thieves, remove when small. Hosts for pests Never allow to seed. Keep beds weed free at all times.
Fertilization N,P,K,Ca,Mg &S major elements Zn,Mn,B,Cu,Fe main minor elements Get to know your soil and its requirements. Compost supplies some of nutrients and helps make added nutrients more available
Liming
Lime must be applied to correct excessive soil acidity. Most vegetables thrive in pH 6-7. Lime applied in rotations before planting green manure crops or group 1 and 2 vegetables.
Fertilizer top dressing
Most plants need a top up 4 - 6 weeks after planting (not beans - legumes)
Carrots and onions 6-8weeks.
AN top up 10 – 20g per square meter applied as either a 2 cup per plant or with watering can at 10g in 10lt. This for all leafy Vegetables. Compound J top up 10 – 20g per square meter. For tomato, peppers, potato
Chicken Manure Soup Liquid Manure
Without Wastage
Over
Watering Precise Fertilization & Composting Post Harvest management: Correct maturity. Reduce temperatures as quickly as possible. Remove plant residues from beds and compost them.