Plant

Thứ 4, 20/11/2024

Know your soil – Part 2

If you have a proper understanding of the soil on your farm, you will be able to farm more efficiently – and get more enjoyment from farming.

Plant

The benefits of farm trials – Part 1

In my experience, the most successful farmers are those who regularly conduct trials in an effort to lower costs and raise production.

Don't drown your crop's roots!

Where many farmers fall short is knowing how deep the water has penetrated after irrigation or rain.

Getting irrigation right

Farmers often ask me how frequently and how much they should irrigate. There is no simple answer, as many aspects must first be considered.

Crop problems: look for the clues!

We recently discussed how to identify mineral deficiencies and eelworm infestation. Many other problems can occur, of course.

Dealing with eelworm

There are a number of species to contend with; the common root knot genera (Melodogyne spp.) are easy to identify as the nematode enters the root and causes

Know your spinach variants

Chard (Beta vulgaris) is also known as ‘Swiss chard’, ‘silver beet’, ‘mangold’ and other names. In South Africa it is usually referred to simply as ‘spinach’.

How to spray for whitefly

If it were not for the natural enemies of this pest, whiteflies would probably be our main vegetable pest. An outbreak of whitefly is usually the result

Spraying tips: Don’t mix chemicals

When spraying different pests at the same time, many farmers try to kill two birds with one stone by making elaborate mixtures.

Sandy soil: a guide to working with it

Vegetable expert Bill Kerr discusses how to get the best out of sandy soil, regardless of what crop you’re growing.

Using a knapsack sprayer on a big farm

Many farmers think that using a knapsack sprayer is taking a step backwards as large spray rigs are fast and effective. However, knapsack sprayers still have