Bill Kerr
How to spray for whitefly
Whitefly remains a notoriously difficult pest to control.
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.
Getting nozzle size and pressure right
As pointed out previously, the key to successful pest and disease control is optimal penetration of the spray mixture.
Making an effective spray mixture
There is more to a spray mixture than chemical product and water. You also need an adjuvant – a substance added to the water to enable the sprayed product to work optimally in the prevailing conditions.
How to calibrate a spray rig
All too often, I come across farmers who are not accurate enough with their sprayer calibration.
Two weeds that are a major threat
Shepherd’s purse and sow thistle are weeds that are hard to eradicate once established, says Bill Kerr.
Guidelines for growing cucurbits
Cucurbits that are round and orange are pumpkins. Those of other shapes and colours are squashes. Here are useful general tips on growing cucurbits.
Seedlings and seedling trays
Some farmers think that seedlings should not be kept too long because they will not be as productive. They are partly right, but age matters less than physiological development.
Get to know your seedling grower
To produce optimal results, seedlings must be in good condition when planted, and thereafter cared for properly until they are established.
Fungal diseases of lettuce
The following fungal diseases are fairly common in lettuce.
Interesting facts about lettuce
Lettuce has its origin in the eastern Mediterranean and has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is part of the daisy family Asteraceae, and the range of varieties is increasing at an astonishing rate as the world becomes more ‘salad-conscious’.
Planning for the planting season
Growing vegetables involves multi-tasking. I covered the importance of getting the timing right in my previous article.
Humus, soil organisms and plants
Last week, I mentioned how humus formation depended on nitrogen (N). Even when a large quantity of organic matter is present, very little humus can be created if the nitrogen level is too low.
Avoid bacterial diseases in green beans
Bacterial diseases are a menace to all crops, because unlike the case with fungal diseases, we have few means of controlling them.
How to grow broccoli
Many of the techniques described for cabbage and cauliflower apply to broccoli.
Getting started with onions
Onions are either an easy crop to grow or a disaster. Bill Kerr offers basic guidelines for success.
Starting with pumpkins – Part 3
If a few simple precautions are taken, this crop is easy to grow, explains Bill Kerr.
Preventing bacterial spot in capsicums
Bacterial spot is easily prevented in capsicums, but once in the land it is extremely difficult to stop.
Starting with pumpkins – Part 1
Get the basics right for pumpkin production: start with a soil analysis, and then use cattle and poultry manure, says Bill Kerr.
Producing capsicum seedlings in soil beds
The usual way to grow chillies and peppers is to plant the seed in cavity seed trays with a good growing medium.
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