A list of cucurbit pests and diseases
Dealing with powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, aphids and other threats to your crop.
Cultivating cucurbits
Follow these useful tips on fertilising, irrigating, harvesting and storing your crop.
Guidelines for growing cucurbits
Cucurbits that are round and orange are pumpkins. Those of other shapes and colours are squashes. Here are useful general tips on growing cucurbits.
Understanding crop rotation
Crop rotation is one of the most basic principles of vegetable production. It helps to break disease cycles and improve soil health, and should be practised by every farmer who...
Biological pest control basics
The wide variety of natural products now available is enough to confuse any farmer. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision.
Dealing with kweek
To control this hardy grass species successfully, you have to stay vigilant, stresses Bill Kerr.
Get rid of Malva – entirely!
It is crucial to destroy every single example of this dangerous weed, stresses Bill Kerr. Leaving out plants can be a very costly error.
Growing a valuable pecan nut orchard
South Africa is well-suited for pecan nut production, but certain factors will determine the value of your orchard.
Dealing with bacterial & fungal diseases in tomatoes
Black stem, early blight and powdery mildew are all significant threats to a tomato crop.
Common tomato pests to watch out for
The tomato is a versatile and popular crop that is relatively easy to grow. But it’s targeted by a number of pests.
Dealing with avo pests & diseases
There are two insects and four diseases that SA avocado producers should particularly watch out for.
Growing tomatoes
Tomatoes are not difficult to grow. Here are useful tips on how to produce an even better crop.
Beware the nutsedge
It’s the world’s most prolific weed, and we have two species of it here in South Africa, says Bill Kerr.
Watch out for new weeds!
Certain weeds are more of a risk to crops and veld than others. Leaving them to gain a foothold can have disastrous results, says Bill Kerr.
How weeds are able to survive
Farmers often struggle to grow crops for food, yet weeds flourish on their own without any effort on our part. Bill Kerr explains why.
Weed – friend or foe?
One man’s weed is another man’s food. So, what exactly is a weed, and what functions do these plants perform in nature? Bill Kerr provides some insights.
Ploughing: things to know before you plunge
Everything a farmer needs to know about what the law says about vegetation removal, soil cultivation and erosion.
Avocado production- Part 4: Fertilising and harvesting
Correcting nutrient imbalances takes time, but the process is well worth it – the results will determine your fertiliser programme and the success of your crop.
Avocado production– Part 3: Planning your orchard
The hedge-type tree-row layout is best for irrigation and the use of implements.
Growing avocados: know your soil
It is important to determine in advance the suitability of the soil for avocado production.
