Growing lettuce at home
Plant lettuce types that enable you to harvest the leaves as required over a long period, says vegetable specialist, Bill Kerr.
Getting started with brinjals
The brinjal or eggplant is a species of nightshade, and therefore related to the potato and tomato.
Preparing your vegetable patch
In preparing your vegetable patch, the ideal is to prepare the soil only once, and then switch to no-till.
Learn the basics of growing tea
Tea is a challenging crop, but can be financially worthwhile under the right conditions.
Some tips for growing garlic
Closely related to the onion, shallot and chive, garlic has long been used as a seasoning worldwide.
How to apply herbicides
A brief overview of how herbicides are applied, and how to avoid resistance.
Growing pecan nuts: cultivars, soil prep & planting
Here are a number of well-known cultivars, advice on how to prepare the soil, and other aspects to consider when growing pecan nuts.
Understanding herbicides – Part 1
Herbicides were developed in the 1940s. Here is a brief overview of their history and how they work.
Advice on growing pecan nuts
There are a number of factors that should be taken into account before planting pecan nut trees.
Dealing with Gibberella ear rot
Also known as red ear rot, this disease appears to be on the increase in South Africa’s maize-producing areas.
Growing pepper: simple steps to follow
Pepper is a tropical plant that prefers hot, humid areas such as the Lowveld and the northern coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
Barley: insect and fungal control, regulation and irrigation
Barley is highly sensitive to competition from weeds, especially in the initial stages. Early control measures will therefore enhance yield potential.
Dealing with Fusarium ear rot
The incidence of ear rot in South Africa’s maize-producing areas can vary greatly from year to year and from land to land within the same season.
The benefits of cover crops for CA smallholder farmers
A cover crop is a fundamental and sustainable tool used to manage various functions of soil health. It is defined as any type of plant grown to improve any number...
Compiling a fertilisation programme for a barley crop
As with any crop, fertilisation can be successful only when the minimum acidity requirements are met.
How to cure your soil after years of nutrient depletion
Taking crops off the land without returning nutrients to the soil is called ‘mining’ the soil. If you do this for some years, your crops may grow slowly, have a...
Considering growing malting barley? Here’s a useful guide
Research programmes since 1991 have identified barley cultivars that ensure an economical, optimal yield and grain conforming to SAB Maltings’ quality specifications. This is an overview of the research.
The need for manure to be broken down
Suggested application rates for some common crops, including tomatoes and potatoes.
Two weeds that are a major threat
Shepherd’s purse and sow thistle are weeds that are hard to eradicate once established, says Bill Kerr.
Get the best out of kraal manure
Before the introduction of chemical fertilisers, farmers all over the world, including those in South Africa, used manure to restore the fertility of their lands.
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