How to Crop

Tough, nutritious and requiring little care, this remarkable plant is invaluable for farmers, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

The idea of crop rotation – growing different crops on the same land each year – can be difficult to understand. After all, if...

Do your homework carefully to profit from this ever-popular crop.

This week, we look at fertilisation, weed control and harvesting

Last week, we discussed how sweet potatoes are grown in the warm season and should be planted from October to December, although this can be extended up to March in frost-free areas.

The green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) originated in Central and South America and there’s evidence that it has been cultivated in Mexico and Peru for thousands of years.

This week we look at materials to use as organic mulch and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

In a world becoming more environmentally aware, using organic fertiliser is highly recommended.

Knowing what kind of soil you have will help you prepare it correctly - improving it and increasing yield.

If your soil is acidic, simply applying manure won't improve your yield, so you need to add lime or wood ash.

Gamtoos Valley's three-year drought meant farmers were only allocated 40% of their annual water quota this year. And the catchment area of the Kouga Dam got little relief, despite recent good rains.

Here are some guidelines regarding plant population, fertilisers and climate to get you started on carrot production.