Farming Basics

Chicken manure can add many nutrients to your soil, and works better than most other manures.

Considering a chili crop? Two of the biggest aspects to consider before buying your first chilli plants are sowing and selling.

There is very little room for error when applying nitrogen to beans. Too much or too little will reduce yields.

Much attention should be given to planting bean seed as carelessness at this stage can be very costly.

Labour Legislation Has Forced many farmers, who used to plant by hand, to mechanise their planting and harvesting. However, mechanical planting can damage vulnerable bean seeds.

From emergence to pulling, seedling growers spend five to eight weeks providing their seedlings with daily care. Farmers usually provide good care once the transplants are planted and irrigated, but there is a weak link - transplanting.

If you remove virus-infected plants and insects at the start of the season, you can start off with a clean slate.

Damaging cold snaps are inevitable, but damage can be reduced with some understanding and preparation.

This subject has been covered to some extent in a previous article on cabbages, but as cauliflower is more prone to certain deficiencies, I will discuss these in greater detail.

Nowadays Plant breeding is so advanced that some winter crops can ­successfully be planted throughout the year. Issue date 8 June 2007

Of the range of Brassica pests the diamond back moth (DBM) is the most prominent. This white moth derives its name from the dark, diamond-shaped markings on its back. Its caterpillar is about 1cm long, green and slightly tapered at both ends. It attacks the leaves near the growing tip, damaging the plant's early development. Issue Date: 23 February 2007

There are various reasons for cabbages cracking, but knowing the causes can often prevent the problem, which allows for harvesting in time. Issue Date: 16 February 2007