Who should get the credit?
The recent tendency among SOME senior market officials to create the impression that they are solely responsible for the successes of a market hasn't abated.
Cabbage basics: nitrogen & soil balance
Many VEGETABLE FARMERS ask what fertiliser to use when planting cabbages. The question assumes each crop has a specific requirement, regardless of what's already in the soil.
Spacing cabbages for the correct size
I'm often asked what the correct spacing should be when planting cabbages, as though there was only one answer. There's more to spacing than just setting out dimensions.
When state help worked
I've been going on recently about the Ministerial Interim Committee Report (MICR) on restructuring fresh-produce markets. I've not been too complimentary, because I see the whole thing as a political...
What your cabbage seedlings should look like
FARMERS TEND TO ACCEPT THE seedlings they're given and don't pay much attention to what sort of condition they're in.
How to manipulate cabbage seedlings
Last week I discussed how to choose seedlings. Now I want to outline ways to manipulate seedlings for prevailing conditions.
Is the Kei Market coming right?
I last visited the Kei Fresh Produce Market (KFPM) in January and vowed not to return until they had cleaned up the place and it could sell fresh fruit and...
I told you so!
it gives me no pleasure TO REMIND South African market agents that "I told them so" a few years ago, but it must be said.
Choosing the right cabbage variety
There are hundreds of cabbage varieties on the world market, each filling a slot for some climatic condition or purpose, and quite a few are sold in South Africa.
Chicken, rocket & hoisin sauce on flat fettuccine
First, let's tackle the pasta. Bring a 4l“ pot of water to the boil. Add the 500g of fettuccine and let it boil for the time suggested on the packet.
Watermelons get cute
I've borrowed the information in this week's column from the New York Times newspaper of 17 August 2010 - I thought you might find it interesting.
Get the balance right in your vegetable garden
With careful planning you can make sure you don't end up with far too much of certain vegetables and not enough of others, writes Bill Kerr.
When is the bolting season for vegetables?
You can lose a lot of money if your crop goes to seed when you don't want it to. You need to know why and when this happens to take...
Some good news, some bad
'I see three previously disadvantaged farmers, but not one commercial farmer, market agent or buyer on the panel. They account for most of a turnover exceeding R8 billion and they...
Probing & prodding
Most farmers don't pay enough attention to what's happening in the soil. We usually take our soils for granted - we only monitor the chemical composition, if that, and often...
Restructuring the fresh-produce market
Depending on which side of the fence you are on, 13 August proved to be a watershed day in the fresh-produce market sector.
Growing lettuce for the home garden – part 1
Leafy greens like lettuce is an important part of most people's diets, especially as we approach the warmer months and salads return to our menus.
Organically grown vegetables VS conventionally grown vegetables
The answer is yes and no. IT depends. A prime benefit of organic produce is that it's free of pesticide residue, which is blamed for the progressive increase in cancer.
Joint venture at Durban Fresh Produce Market
Something quite significant has happened on the Durban market. I recently contributed to a week's training session there for prospective salespeople. The significance is that this was a joint venture...
Can marigolds really control eelworm?
Studies have found that marigolds increase the populations of nematode-trapping fungi, and other fungi that attack and destroy eelworm eggs.
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