Tunnel farming with cucumbers methods for success
Moving from 600ha in Underberg to a 2ha tunnel farm in Margate involved a major leap of faith for Lewis and Charmaine Alcock. Today, they have reach peak production with...
Marigolds don’t control eelworm
Reading about using marigolds to suppress eelworms piqued my curiosity, so when the opportunity arose, I tried it for myself.
Practical experience achieves 16t/ha maize
The latest agricultural technology can help farmers improve their maize yields. But, as farm manager Lorenz Freese proves, decades of practical experience combined with old-fashioned hands-on management can get the...
Weeds don’t deserve their bad reputation
Farmers exterminate weeds without understanding their role in soil ecology, says Nutritech Solutions CEO Graeme Sait. An expert on high-production sustainable agriculture, he spoke to Sonja Burger about the potential...
Understanding nitrogen fertilisation in vegetables – part 3
Different vegetables require a "push" at different stages, which is why it is important to understand how nitrogen works in the soil, and its subsequent availability.
Why the commission system?
The debate about which is more desirable, commission- or wholesale-selling of fresh produce, has bounced around the industry for years.
Nitrates versus ammonia: get nitrogen your veg can use
Many farmers apply nitrogen in the form of ammonia and can’t figure out why the crop doesn’t respond. It’s important to understand that, while plants can take up ammonia, most...
Understanding nitrogen fertilisation in vegetables – part 1
Of all the plant nutrients, nitrogen has the greatest influence on the success of any crop. While a shortage of any element will be a limiting factor, its effect on...
Taking your sweet potatoes through to maturity
Even though sweet POTATOES are a generally low-care crop, some pests can cause a complete wipe-out. You need to do regular inspections and know what to look for.
Getting it right with sweet potatoes
You could say sweet potatoes are easier to grow than weeds. The important thing is to keep the planting material disease-free.
Don’t ignore the small guys
I suppose it’s human nature – or is it just greed for people to favour big clients?
Choosing your maize cultivar
Seed companies are outdoing themselves in developing new maize cultivars.The national maize cultivar trials, conducted by the Agricultural Research Council, looked at newcomers and old favourites to give maize producers...
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