Using Quality Seed and Premium Management to Produce Reputable Greenhouse Produce

Handrey du Plessis of Nocton Acht Agri, Thornhill produces Rijk Zwaan Brinjals in shade net structures and blocky peppers in tunnels and under net structures.

“We plant our Brinjal seedlings in a Coir/ Coco Peat mix and make use of 100x16x15cm Vegimix growslabs supplied by Glen Cairns trading in East London. We plant 4 plants per bag and that gives us 6 litres of grow medium per plant,” Handrey explained. Brinjals are trellised in order to increase productivity, increase air and light around the plant to optimise growth potential. Three stems per plant are trellised and the side shoots needs to be stopped but not as much work as the pepper plants. Nocton Acht Agri grows Brinjals on an area of 5 000 m². The average yield per square meter is between 18-20 kilograms, and on average 54 Brinjals per square meter is obtained. The irrigation and fertilizer processes are the same for Brinjals and Peppers. The farm has the advantage of a source of good quality water which means it does not require filtration.

On the question of imminent diseases or pests on plants, Handrey said they follow a proven spraying program with Nulandis, and perform scouting every week. “Since the Brinjal plant has bigger leaves than the Pepper plant, it attracts thrips and red spider mite easier. So far we haven’t had any issues. You need to pay attention to detail and follow your spraying program otherwise you will encounter problems,” he advised. “The Brinjals produced at Nocton Acht Agri are Rijk Zwaan’s varieties. We plant the purple Sharapova and striped variety called Leire. The quality is excellent and we haven’t tested other varieties from suppliers as we are satisfied with the quality and productivity of our plants. “We obtain our seedlings from Moorland Seedlings. They are close to our farm and delivers quality seedlings on time, always,” Handrey said.

Rijk Zwaan Peppers

Handrey reports that they plant their peppers in Coir/ Coco Peat and make use of 100x16x15cm Vegimix growslabs supplied by Glen Cairns trading in East London. They also trellis 3 stems per plant for a higher yield and quality. “Rijk Zwaan has high quality seeds, which is why we are using them. Their representative, Schalk Kotze visits the farm on a weekly basis and we have the support of their broader team at the touch of a button. We find Rijk Zwaan an excellent company to partner with. They are on top of their game with research and new varieties to improve our yields,” Handrey promptly said. The farm has two hectares under shade net houses and a half hectare with plastic covered tunnels. Their yield with

cucumber

Pepper

Cauliflower

Lettuce melon

Kohlrabi

Beetroot

TomatoesTomatoes

Find your variety

Rijk Zwaan offers a wide range of high-quality vegetable varieties. We select and test them thoroughly to ensure their suitability for growing in South African conditions. In addition to the seeds themselves, we also provide reliable information about the performance of our varieties and expert cultivation advice from our crop specialists. This ensures the grower has the best start to a successful harvest.

36 Steyn Road, Rietvallei Farm Krugersdorp 1739 South Africa | Postal address P.O. Box 2259, Ruimsig Krugersdorp 1732 South Africa Tel: +27 61 120 3082 / 116 9690 / 116 956 Undercover farming I March/April 2022 I Volume 19 No 1 5 Email: info@rijkzwaan.co.za | www.rijkzwaan.co.za

Handrey du Plessis

peppers varies between 18-19 kg per m² in the tunnels and 14-15 kg per m² in the net houses and get sorted and marketed by Patensie Acht farming. The duration of a pepper plant’s life depends on the season and rainfall. From plant to first fruit for greens take 50-60 days and for the coloured fruit 71-113 days. This depends on the weather and time of season.

The farm produces year-round, but a single plant produces for approximately 8 months only. The plants occupy the structure for 11 months and then the structure is cleaned out, sanitized and prepared for the next crop. According to Handrey his team knows the Rijk Zwaan brand and the representative as they see him on a regular basis. They are very proud of the quality of the peppers being produced and to be part of the process. “The biggest challenge is to manage Thrips (Thripidae) and diseases on peppers. As we are situated close to the ocean, powdery mildew is another threat we need to manage regularly. The health and quality of the plant is critical, hence the solid management of our people working in the greenhouses, to ensure disciplined, daily care of the plants is important. One always needs a well-balanced plant to keep the quality and health of the plant optimal. “I think as producers we need to pay more attention to detail, be more effective and learn to produce more with less! We need to adapt and stay on top of climate change, be open to new research and products that are available for us to help us improve our yields and quality,” Handrey explained. In conclusion, Handrey du Plessis added: “It’s very important to realize that the work we put in today won’t pay off tomorrow! Stick to it; consistency and habit are key!” “Love the journey as much as the destination!

Your hard work will be worth it at the end!” is Handrey’s excellent advice to all fresh produce farmers. JS

Handrey Du Plessis (right) in one of the Nocton Acht Agri greenhouses. With him appears his grower technician and greenhouse assistant team leader.