Bill Kerr
Parasitoids vs chemicals
When the leaf miner first hit South Africa, the results were nothing short of devastating.
Choosing the right lettuce variety
Iceberg lettuce has a good number of outer leaves, which help protect the head during transport and handling.
Don’t be beaten by bollworm
The African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) is normally a sporadic pest; it tends to arrive on lettuce plants in bursts, rather than gradually increasing in number.
Bean pests & soil diseases
One pest that every bean farmer knows is the African bollworm. This tends to appear sporadically, rather than building up its population gradually.
Growing a pecan tree in your garden
Pecans are not only delicious; they are amongst the healthiest nuts available, says vegetable specialist Bill Kerr.
Make the most of the free market
Fresh produce growers often try to plan production to capitalise on high prices.
Growing garlic: soil types
Garlic (Allium sativum) can be grown in a wide range of soil types. What is more important is good fertility, as this crop has a modest root system.
The intricacies of crop rotation
The purpose of crop rotation is to prevent the build-up of a pest or disease to which a crop is susceptible. But there is more to rotation than merely switching.
The importance of planning
Planning goes hand in hand with record-keeping. You need to have the figures from past production in order to plan ahead effectively.
Growing garlic: Part 1
Garlic is a member of the onion (Allium) genus. Garlic is good for you, but is generally used more for the flavour it imparts to food than for health reasons. It has been grown for 5 000 years.
How to control eelworm
Many vegetable crops are susceptible to root knot eelworm (Meloidogyne spp, also known as nematodes or roundworm), and beans are no exception.
Irrigating your home garden
If you apply too much water, you’re in danger of leaching nitrogen out of reach of the plant roots, says vegetable expert Bill Kerr.
The crucial nitrogen-humus link
Humus contains approximately 10% nitrogen, and thus acts as a storage facility in the soil for this element.
Ensuring that seed is disease-free
Planting seed infected by a bacterial disease could lead to complete crop failure. Rather pay more for the seed, if necessary, to ensure that it is clean. Consider the extra cost as a form of insurance.
Using nitrogen as an accelerator
Of all the elements, nitrogen has the most profound effect on a crop, and this is why you need to use it wisely.
Planting and harvesting green beans
Visual appeal plays a major role in the breeding of beans. Darker green, slender, straight beans have become more popular of late.
Save money on chemicals
Farmers often ask for pest control programmes for their crops. They see them as a form of insurance. Is this justified? In a word, no!
Ammonia-based fertiliser explained
Nitrogen fertiliser comes in two formulations: ammonia-based and nitrate-based. To make the correct choice, you need to understand the difference.
Pest management in peppers
Sweet peppers need adequate levels of potassium and nitrogen. Before planting, you should therefore have a soil analysis done and apply potassium accordingly.
The knapsack sprayer: still useful!
Recent years have seen the introduction of ever-more advanced crop sprayers, many of which are air-assisted to improve penetration into foliage.
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