Skip to main content

Backyard Gardening: Horticulture on Mini Areas

Horticulture can be fully practiced on a small land and the best practices being fully implemented. For health reasons all these can be grown within a year with very good crops being grown. Let me group the vegetables as follows:

Group 1    

Leaf vegetables (covo, rape, spinach, tsunga, amaranthus and lettuce), plus cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and lettuce.

Group 2

Root vegetables (carrots, onions, garlic, leeks, and beetroot)

Group 3

Fruit vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, pumpkins, cucumber, squash, okra and melons) and potatoes.

Group 4

Legumes (green beans and peas)

Crop Rotation

When growing horticultural crops it is important not to plant the same crop in the same beds time after time as this will cause soil fertility depletion and pest and disease build-up. A good crop rotation for horticultural crops is: Group 1 followed by Group 2 followed by Group 3 followed by Group 4.

Timing of Planting

Climatic conditions are a major determinant of what can be grown and at what times of the year. There are optimum temperature ranges for all crops.

Crops which prefer cool times of the year include onions, garlic, peas, potatoes, covo, tsunga, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and rape.

Crops which prefer warm times include: Group 3 crops plus green beans. Some crops such as carrots and spinach can be grown all year. Tomatoes can be grown all year in frost-free areas.

Matter of Fact

Consider precision farming when you're on a backyard farm and the professional benefits emanating thereto are easier to grab.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Growing Cabbage in Zimbabwe and Zambia

Growing cabbage in Zimbabwe and Zambia requires careful consideration of the climate and soil conditions, as well as proper planting and care techniques. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to successfully grow cabbage in these regions. From the ideal temperature and soil pH requirements to pest and disease management, as well as harvesting and storage techniques, you will find all the information you need to cultivate healthy and abundant cabbage crops. Read on to discover the key takeaways from each section. Key Takeaways Understanding the ideal temperature and soil pH requirements is crucial for successful cabbage cultivation. Proper watering and irrigation techniques are essential for maintaining healthy cabbage plants. Choosing the right cabbage varieties for the specific region can significantly impact crop yield. Careful soil preparation, seed sowing, and transplanting techniques are important for successful cabbage planting. Effective pest and disease management ...

Staking and Pruning Tomatoes in the Home Garden

Staking and pruning tomatoes are essential practices for maintaining healthy tomato plants in the home garden. By selecting the right tomato varieties, preparing the garden properly, and employing the correct staking and pruning techniques, gardeners can ensure a bountiful harvest of delicious tomatoes. This article will provide key insights into staking and pruning tomatoes to help you achieve successful growth in your garden. Key Takeaways Select disease-resistant tomato varieties to prevent common plant diseases. Amend the soil with organic matter for optimal tomato growth and fruit production. Properly stake tomato plants to support their growth and prevent damage from heavy fruit loads. Regularly prune tomato plants to remove suckers and maintain airflow, which can improve fruit quality. Avoid over-pruning tomato plants as it can reduce yield and stress the plants. Selecting the Right Tomato Varieties Determining Your Growing Conditions ...

Chinese Cabbage Production

General Requirements Chinese does well in warm seasons of the year. Optimum temperatures for growing are 20ºC to 25ºC, with minimum temperatures of 18ºC and maximum 30ºC. A well-managed chinese crop should yield 5 tons per Lima with a leaf cutting period of 40 to 50 days. First leaves can be harvested 21 days after transplanting. Land Preparation/Soil Type Deep well-drained loamy soils with a pH range from 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal for Chinese cabbage. Effective rooting depth is 60cm. Plough and disc to a 60cm fine tilth seedbed. Avoid planting Chinese cabbage on land previously planted to other brassicas for at least one season. Planting and Transplanting Sow directly by drilling in the farrows 1 to 2cm deep or raise seedlings in nursery beds and transplant 4 to 5 weeks later. Transplant during the cool part of the day (early morning or late afternoon) to avoid wilting of the plants. Space the plants at 20cm between plants and 60cm between rows to give a plant population...