Kill the weed, not the cabbage
As soon as you have planted your cabbage crop, you should apply herbicide with insecticide to eliminate cutworms.
Leadership for markets
In his excellent book ,In the Driving Seat – Lessons in Leadership, Brand Pretorius quotes Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric: “Before you become a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
Space cabbages correctly
Many factors play a role in the spacing of cabbage – the process is not quite as simple as you might imagine.
Playing with inflated prices
Some (but not all) market agents have been doing it for years, but that does not make it acceptable.
Nitrogen: the key to high cabbage yield
A shortage of nitrogen is the single most common reason for a cabbage crop not reaching its full yield potential. This applies equally to the quantity applied as to how to conserve it and maintain its correct level.
Fresh produce sector attracting more youth
Traditionally, the fresh produce sector has been lax in attracting youngsters into the fold. But this is changing, and it’s encouraging to see the developments in recruiting that have taken place in recent years.
How to plant cabbage correctly
Cabbage can be planted by hand or mechanically. For hand planting, the best tool is a home-made miniature hoe. This can be constructed by cutting up an old implement disc into wedges and welding a section of pipe to each as a handle.
True farmer’s markets?
Farmers have been selling their own produce for centuries, in fact since the dawn of time.
Global roundup from the fresh produce sector
I subscribe to a selection of newsletters from overseas that keep me in the loop with what’s happening on the international fresh produce scene. What happens abroad frequently affects our fresh produce sector at home.
Start fertilising your cabbage before planting
Getting a full stand and a vigorous getaway is crucial for high yield. Some important aspects in this regard have been mentioned in previous articles.
Getting the land ready for cabbages
The first consideration when preparing land for cabbage is to get the soil’s nutrient content right.
APAC: Protecting your money
The Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC) was established in 1992 in terms of the Agricultural Produce Agents Act.
Choose the right cabbage seedlings!
The seedling is the start of a very valuable crop and the stand and speed of initial growth will have a significant effect on profit.
The quality equation
I recently conducted a training session on marketing for a group of small-scale farmers. As always, it was a pleasure to do so because they were eager to learn.
Fresh Produce sector faces challenges
Challenge. I hope that my readers will regard this word in a positive way, instead of as something to be dreaded. I say this because the fresh produce sector faces numerous challenges.
Weevils & other sweet potato pests
The sweet potato weevil (Cylas spp) is arguably the most destructive pest of this crop.
Fresh produce sector : More change for the better
The rapid changes that we witness every day in the world are well-documented, but I remain constantly intrigued by them.
Irrigation & pest control in sweet potatoes
For sweet potato runners to root, the soil around the plants must be moist. Usually, the irrigation applied just after planting will be enough, but this depends on soil type and weather conditions.
Sweet potatoes after planting
Sweet potatoes are highly adaptable when it comes to soil type. I have grown this crop commercially in soils ranging from sandy to a very heavy clay.
Remembering Len Hobson
Len Hobson, who died recently at the age of 87, introduced papayas from Hawaii to South Africa in the late 1960s and became a recognised authority on subtropical fruit and macadamia nuts.
