Successful carrot fertilisation
Carrot fertilisation is very different to fertilisation in other vegetable crops. It’s crucial to understand this when evaluating a soil analysis prior to fertilising.
Markets need commitment
In last week’s column, I lamented the lack of formal training on markets. I was referring to market management and staff, not market agents, as they have a fully-fledged skills...
Deeper roots, better carrots
Given the right conditions, a carrot’s extensive fine feeder roots can reach 3m into the soil. It’s important to know this, as it will change the way you treat both...
Getting your carrot stand correct
Good carrot seed is expensive and it’s therefore important to provide optimal conditions for germination.
Markets training essential
I believe it was Mark Twain who said: “The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” His point was that “training is...
Carrots – who said they must be orange?
The carrot – Daucus carota subspecies sativus – has been used by humankind for thousands of years. The vegetable’s wild ancestors look a lot different though.
Counter-seasonal imports
Walking through my local supermarket the other day, I noticed nectarines selling for R60/kg. The sign did not say where they came from, but my guess was Spain.
Imasa 2013
If you consider the role it has been playing in the fresh produce sector in recent years and its limited resources – both financial and human – then you can’t...
Understand your market
How many farmers load up their truck with fresh produce, dispatch it to the market, and say to themselves: “I’ll leave it up to the agent now. It’s his job...
Growing melons
Melons are more sensitive to disease than most other cucurbits. As the diseases that attack melons are generally associated with rainfall and humidity, the fruit is normally grown in low-rainfall...
Fresh Produce industry – more competitive
In the fresh produce business today, competition among role players has risen to unprecedented levels as individuals and companies all vie for a share of the proverbial pie.
Producing butternuts: Spacing, yield, diseases
The essentials of growing butternuts are similar to those of other cucurbits. Spacing may vary, however, depending on the cultivar. Some butternuts are compact growers, while others produce long runners.
Market agents code of conduct
A Code of Conduct (CoC) ensures stability and purpose within a sector and a measure of confidence for clients. Market agents have a CoC embodied in the constitution of the...
Getting watermelons ready for the market
To obtain high prices on the market, a watermelon grower has to produce fruit that looks good as well as tastes delicious.
The strange history of the butternut
The butternut has a most unlikely origin. It was bred by a Charles Leggett of Stow, Massachusetts, in the USA in the mid-1940s. He was not a plant breeder, but...
Common watermelon fungal diseases
Watermelons are generally grown in fairly dry climates as this reduces the risk of diseases considerably.
Fresh produce conference season
We’re approaching the fresh produce sector’s ‘conference season’ once again.
Watermelon weeding & watering
Weed control depends on a farmer’s particular situation. For example, where weeds are rife, a weedkiller may be needed.
Producers returning to markets?
Quite a few market insiders have told me that producers have had enough of supplying supermarkets and are stepping up their deliveries to the markets.
Planting watermelon seeds and seedlings
Success with watermelons, as with most fruit and vegetables, begins with getting the basics right.
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