How to Crop

A brief overview on cultivating this versatile fruit, which arrived in South Africa in the 17th century.

Plant lettuce types that enable you to harvest the leaves as required over a long period, says vegetable specialist, Bill Kerr.

The brinjal or eggplant is a species of nightshade, and therefore related to the potato and tomato.

In preparing your vegetable patch, the ideal is to prepare the soil only once, and then switch to no-till.

Tea is a challenging crop, but can be financially worthwhile under the right conditions.

Closely related to the onion, shallot and chive, garlic has long been used as a seasoning worldwide.

A brief overview of how herbicides are applied, and how to avoid resistance.

Here are a number of well-known cultivars, advice on how to prepare the soil, and other aspects to consider when growing pecan nuts.

Herbicides were developed in the 1940s. Here is a brief overview of their history and how they work.

There are a number of factors that should be taken into account before planting pecan nut trees.

Also known as red ear rot, this disease appears to be on the increase in South Africa’s maize-producing areas.

Pepper is a tropical plant that prefers hot, humid areas such as the Lowveld and the northern coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal.

Barley is highly sensitive to competition from weeds, especially in the initial stages. Early control measures will therefore enhance yield potential.

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.

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 of conditions associated with sustainable agriculture.

As with any crop, fertilisation can be successful only when the minimum acidity requirements are met.

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 stunted appearance (small plants with thin stems and small leaves), have pale green or yellowish leaves, and produce a poor yield.

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.

Suggested application rates for some common crops, including tomatoes and potatoes.

Shepherd’s purse and sow thistle are weeds that are hard to eradicate once established, says Bill Kerr.