Eggplant is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world. It is a delight for vegetable lovers. The tangy taste of Eggplant has it all. Even vegetables contain many important minerals and vitamins which can be beneficial for human growth.

These plants go through a very special process in which the fruit comes out and grows very slowly. It needs good care and technique for maximum output. A gardener gives a lot to see this magical moment of growth, but sometimes due to one or the other mistake defects such as Eggplant leaves turning yellow and Eggplant leaves curling are seen.

What can be the problems?

Yellow eggplant leaves are really a matter to worry. The fruit can vary in colors and hence that is not that a serious matter but the leaves indicate problems related to the entire plant. It can be there due to hundreds of reasons.

The most common reason can be infection by an outside host. Species such as spider mites are very harmful to the eggplant leaves. They like to feed on the plant’s leaves and hence can leave yellow spots on eggplant leaves. They can be so harmful that they produce such situations in which the plant gets destroyed by the absence of the required number of leaves.

However, these days we have tons of solutions to deal with such problems. Even other pests can be very harmful as they find these leaves to be an interesting food material. It eventually hits up the fruit and later if left without sorting out the problem then the plant will die eventually.

Also Read: Why Are Bottom of Tomatoes Turning Black: Blossom End Rot

Another good reason is the lack of nitrogen. Nitrogen is a very important gas when it comes to planting growth. It provides an important source to start numerous reactions in the plant necessary for its smooth functioning. Most of these reactions occur in the cells of the leaves. If there is a deficiency in the nitrogen content, you can easily observe eggplant leaves turning yellow and curling. Nitrogen does play a very important role in fixations, so even the soil sometimes lacks the number of ions required.

Water content in the soil and in the plant can also affect the leaves. On a very hot and sunny day, you can easily see the eggplant leaves curling. This is a protective mechanism to stop extra evaporation of water from the leaf surface. This is also a reason Why eggplant leaves turn yellow. When water is not present in a sufficient amount, the basic cellular activity of the leaves cell gets degraded. Further, the cells start dying, leaving yellow spots on eggplant leaves.

Many other cells on the leaves of the Eggplant are very sensitive to turbidity, and hence other ions are also very important in the wilting and curling. Many times you can have different conditions of the leaves depending on the weather and the time of day. In the morning, it is a very frequent experience to see the leaves rolled out due to extra water content.

Verticillium Wilt

This one of the most common diseases seen in plants and shrubs. Eggplant easily has the influence of this fungal disease. The fungal pathogen lives in soil and finds its ways to the plants leaves through the root. It is one of the most frequently seen reasons for Eggplant leaves turning yellow and curling and eventually wilting.

The problem with the detection of this disease is mimicry. It mimics many environmental effects on the plant. This makes the detection delayed by a good amount of time. The yellowing starts in the lower regions of the plant and eventually gets spread in the entire plant. After a span of time, one can see yellow spots on eggplant leaves. It mainly takes the vascular system for its spread. Hence it’s very hard to stop the spread.

Another disease which might be the reason Eggplant leaves turning yellow can be Early blight. It’s very important to notice this that the fungus Alternaria solani can infect Eggplant too. It was a misconception that the disease is seen in potatoes and tomatoes, but it readily infected Eggplant. The most common symptom is yellow spots on the eggplant leaves. It spreads on the different parts and stems of the plant and further, the leaves start curling. Not just yellow but brown spots are also seen. Brown rings over yellow are very common in the early blight. It is also a circulatory spread fugal hence hard to deal with.

Both these diseases are very harmful to the plant as these fungal diseases find no stoppage easily. They get inside the main vascular and circulatory system, and hence you cannot get proper treatment for such problems. PretreatmentsPretreatments are possible when detection is early but then also the chances of curing the disease is very low.

Yellowing is just a common symptom which should be enough to start the pretreatment. The most effectiveness is seen in the process of crop rotation. If you rotate the crop according to the pathogen expected and plant a crop immune to the pathogen, it might work miracles. The pathogen cant gets its host, and later it dies due to lack of food, it dies.

Coming up the next is the Eggplant virus. The most harmful virus for Eggplants. The thing to notice here is the complete incurability of the virus. All the diseases have some of the other prevention and cure up to a limit, but this virus once is there in your plant, the leagues will curl and deep yellow spots on eggplant leaves are seen which gets worsen up further. The best option to deal with this is to take the plant out from the field to stop spreading to others.

The main thing to focus on here is the fact that you cannot have a complete cure or turn back in most of the yellowing and curling of the leaves. There are some methods that we will discuss in the next section that can help you in protecting your eggplant leaves from turning yellow, but the best option if the plant is infected by an organism is to go harsh on the plant and uproot it, stopping the spread.

So now we can talk on the section,

How to prevent yellow spots on eggplant leaves?

There can be many methods to stop the effect on the plant. The basic thinking of any farmer is not eventually stopping the leaves but is protecting the fruit, which actually does matter. Loss in the fruit due to such problems can be very dangerous financially for the one growing it. Especially when it’s done on a large scale, it turns out to be a hell of a problem.

Eggplant leaves curling

The first case is deficiency leading to eggplant leaves turning yellow, and Eggplant leaves curling- you expect to provide the plant what it is missing. There are many fertilizers and other microbes that can be useful in doing so. Even the Nitrogen-fixing method can be useful. Ammoniation and other such techniques on the root provide the plant, useful substance. But you have to be specific in this case.

Every plant does react to different chemicals and methods in different ways. A thorough analysis of your soil is needed. It could be done in a laboratory. You can get the exact number of missing nutrients your plant needs which are the cause of the yellowing leaves of the Eggplant. Accordingly, an agriculture expert can give you the best option.

Never overuse any type of fertilizer or chemical, especially those containing ammonia and other such stuff. It can cause a toxification of your Eggplant. This will kill the plant or will do harm to the harvest of the plant. The fruit not only becomes harmful for the plant but also is very harmful for human consumption.

Watering

The water-absorbing capacity and even the retention by the leaves can be boosted. This will help the drainage to improve and later help you with getting back your normal leaves. There are colloids and other chemicals boosting different root absorption.

When provided with such substance, one can get the perfect turgidity and circulation. There are many organic matters and other homemade therapies and techniques to increase the water retention and aeration of the soil. Even many ions and minerals get transport through the water with the Xylem in the roots, and hence it becomes even more important. Any loss of such an ion can cause things such as yellow spots on the eggplant leaves.

Insecticide

It is a very complicated thing to use. There are a number of bugs and spiders that like to enjoy the feast upon the leaves of Eggplant, leasing to loss of the plant and necrosis. The problem in using these chemicals is the surface they are sprayed upon.

All the others are not directly applied to the edible parts of the plant, but insecticide is very different. It tremendously harms the fruit and quality of the Eggplant. The bugs and other such pests can be prevented up to a limit. Overuse has a great loss here. It is seen that insecticide is very limited to its usage over time and generations. Many organisms have turned immunes in the next generations giving you no other option than letting them destroy your crop.

pH plays a role

Sometimes the yellowing of the leaves or the yellow spots on eggplant leaves is because of the acidity of the soil. The plant depends a lot on the soil, and therefore the pH or the alkalinity or basicity of the plant is another determining factor.

In cases the pH gets imbalanced, the plant is seen in great trouble. This pH allows the passage of different ions in the plant, and the concentration once gets dis balanced it will get very worse for the leaves. It is not something which you can just look at and tell, so it needs good sample testing. After the report, try getting the soil back to normal in most of the cases as seen the plant does get the proper pH via different chemicals leading to getting the leaves again green and back to a healthy state.

Pre Treatments for fungal treatments

This is a very new technique; hence you might need an expert. The first problem is the detection of the disease. These fungal pathogens are very clever species, and they mimic environmental factors deficiency. There are chemicals such as chlorothalonil useful in getting these diseases treated.

Many other forms of fungal disease do exist in Eggplant. Pretreatment doesn’t give assurance of eradicating the virus from the plant or so, but it can also be a preventive measure. These treatments help to gain the plant an immunity boost to fight with the possible fungi. But one needs to provide a specific amount of these.

Virus anyhow still doesn’t have a proper solution in eggplants. They are the most amazing organisms working in nature, and they have the finest capacity to hide from nature. They are very brilliant in mutating and hiding from the treatments and chemicals, so it’s better to let a plant die rather letting it infect all the other plants.

Environmental conditions

The last we have here is Environmental conditions- many a time the environment can make a change in the leaves of the plant. Eggplant leaves curling is one of the most commonly observed changes in an eggplant due to overheating weather or when the temperature of the surrounding is too high than the optimum.

Many times plants don’t get accurate sunlight, so the process of photosynthesis can be disturbed. This might be a cause of the breakdown of chlorophyll in the leaves and further getting the yellow spots on eggplant leaves. Many other environmental conditions can prevail and change the leaves, and the only solution to this is trying to provide weather artificially. Greenhouse arrangements are one among such arrangements.

Conclusion

What we made you go through in the article is a very small part of the reasons and factors eggplant leaves can turn yellow. There are hundreds of other possibilities, but the above listed are the top ones.

References:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/eggplant/eggplants-turning-yellow.htm#:~:text=Yellowing%20of%20leaves%20is%20often,as%20the%20water%20stress%20increases.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/verticillium-wilt-treatment.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/eggplant/early-blight-on-eggplants.htm#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20earliest%20signs,and%20completely%20destroy%20the%20leaves.

https://www.dpvweb.net/dpv/showadpv.php?dpvno=421#:~:text=Eggplant%20mottled%20dwarf%20virus%20(EMDV,virus%20with%20bacilliform%20particles%20c.

Vegetable Farming

Why Are Bottom of Tomatoes Turning Black: Blossom End Rot

ByMaryem

If you are worried about why your tomatoes are rotting on the bottom then you have come to the right place. Let us discuss this issue of tomatoes turning black that many people are facing nowadays, and let us provide you the best solution to this problem.

The classic symptom of blossom-end rot is a water-soaked spot at the tomato fruit blossom ends. This relatively common issue with the garden is not a disease but rather a physiological condition induced within the plant by a calcium imbalance. It can occur in fruits such as pepper, squash, cucumber, and melon, and tomatoes.

When the growing season starts wet and then becomes dry and the fruit is set, then the ‘blossom-end’ rot is most common. Damage occurs first when fruits are around half their full size. The water-soaked areas enlarge and turn dark brown and leathery. Eventually, these areas may start to rot, so the fruit should be picked and discarded.

My tomatoes have black bottoms but why?

Several factors can restrict a plant’s ability to absorb enough calcium for correct development. These include soil moisture variations (too wet, dry), soil nitrogen abundance, cultivational damage to the root, soil pH too high, soil pH too thin, salt cold, and high soil.

How to prevent and control this problem?

Keep constant soil humidity levels throughout the growing season. Water once or twice a week, when the weather is dry, to damp the field to a depth of 6 inches or less.
Prevent Tomato Rot Avoid calcium deficiency.
Enable soil to warm before seeding in cold climates; cold soils restrict the intake of nutrients.
Keep soil pH at or close to 6.5.
We are using nitrogen-free and phosphorous-high fertilisers like our GSC Organic Tomato Fertilizer.
To get water down to the root field, use watering cones (Aqua Cones).
To mitigate evaporation and to maintain consistent soil moisture, add mulch, such as Red Tomato Mulch.
Keep your garden records: Some crop varieties are more receptive than others to blossom-end red.

Whether it’s just minute black spots in the field or if it’s even worse, it makes your tomatoes look like rotting, the name of this disease is ‘blossomed tomatoes and red’.

It’s a disease that is not caused by some kind of pathogen, despite its pretty scary name; It is caused by a lack of calcium primarily because the nutrient does not enter the fruit even though the plant has enough calcium. Only by applying calcium fertilizer to the soil, this issue can be fixed in serious cases. Preventing blossom end rot on tomatoes can give you a tough fight.

We’re going to take a look at the root cause (no pun intended) of the problem in this post, in reality, there are three potential causes, each of which is very easy to address. Therefore, within minutes of reading this post, you can stop any additional blossom end rot in your tomatoes.

If you know for a fact that one of the following three conditions affects your tomato plant, you can skip to the related section to learn more about it:

Get to identify the cause of the issue

We’re going to take a look at the root cause (no pun intended) of the problem in this post, in reality, the three potential causes, each of which is very easy to address. Therefore, within minutes of reading this post, you will stop any additional blossom end rot.

If you know for a fact that one of the following three conditions affects your tomato plant, you can skip to the related section to learn more about it:

What is the main causes of blossom end rot in tomatoes?

This condition is induced during its growth and development by a lack of calcium that enters the fruit. For the nightshade family, calcium is an essential micronutrient that includes, among others, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and okra. You might also face blossom end rot on tomatoes in containers.

Must Read: Planting and Growing Okra Step by Step

It plays an essential part in the epidermis, that is, the fruit’s surface. There is no protective covering that can be formed when the fruit does not receive its due number, and the fruit grows without this cover and thus becomes black and hard. This occurs at the bottom of the plant, as the plant develops outward from the tip in this family.

Moisture–

Moisture plays a vital role in creating this problem, excess or less of moisture can affect the plant and thereby cause blossom end roots.

Soil too Cold at Planting –

Cold soil will interfere with nutrient absorption to the plant, which is more of a concern for northern gardeners.

Root damage from cultivation –

The roots can be harmed by vigorous digging around your plants (for weed control, for example). It will also conflict with the taking up of nutrients.

Soil pH too high or too low –

Any extreme pH will make your tomatoes difficult to thrive

Susceptible varieties –

Some tomatoes varieties are more resistant to blossom end rot than others.

Too much Nitrogen –

Dump a load of fresh manure onto your tomatoes, and you can be rewarded with loads of green growth and black bottomed berries. The nitrogen salts can make the tomatoes less accessible to the calcium in the soil.

Also, you can try water cones or soaker hoses to offer slow, steady water supply. If caught in heavy rain, drain the trench away from the tomatoes (if possible). Fresh roots above the sodden ground may also be promoted by heaping compost around the tomato plant’s foundation. (When the soil is too saturated, roots will drown.)

Pot grown plants in particular, due to difficulty keeping the soil moist enough, may be more vulnerable to end rot in bloom. Try the self-watering containers in your jar or water the spikes.

Temperature

Tomato plants love the sun and prefer temperatures above 65 ° C (18 ° C). If you plant your crop late in the season, the soil will probably drop below this temperature during the fruiting time of your plants. They are not performing at their best at lower temperatures, and their roots do not absorb nutrients very well from the soil.

For plants in a greenhouse, painting with straw or leaves will reduce the temperature, thus putting black plastic sheets around your plants will help to warm the area and preserve the heat compared to the exposed soil. This is beneficial if your plant is late and the temperature has dropped.

If you have black container plants, you can paint them white to absorb less heat or instead cover them in aluminium to reflect the sun’s rays. As in a greenhouse, you’ll want to use a mulch to hold moisture and not lose it because of the sun.

The way of watering

Watering abnormalities is the most common cause of the blue end of your tomatoes. Perfect water conditions in containers are extremely difficult. The field needs to be moist enough and not damp until a few centimeters below the soil. This helps the plant to retain water when transpiring and thereby retain nutrients in the soil so that they are able to grow and spread around the plant.

If the roots become too dry, calcium, in this situation, will not absorb nutrients. The roots do not work as they cannot respire while the soil is soaking. The roots can also start to rot in prolonged cases.

Stress from other sources

The other reason the plant should be stressed is the chemical composition of the soil, other than temperature. Overfertilization or calcium deficiency in tomato plants causes a lot of stress on the plant and roots may totally stop the lockout of absorbing nutrients so that concentrated nutrients which could destroy a plant are not absorbed.

A lack of nutrients is not the cause of blossom end rot even though it is a concern unless it is due to a very rare situation of lack of calcium in the soil. You’ll have to have your soil tested, to know for sure. Using any calcium fertiliser in small amounts does not cause any damage.

A lack of enough calcium results in weaker cell walls that can cause the fruit to crack until it is completely ripened. You can try adding calcium to tomato plants for a better blossom.

If you are considering the addition of fertilisers, other than the above points, it is helpful to know at this stage of growth, what kind your plant should use. You should read my manual on fertilising tomatoes to learn more about this.

High nitrogen consisting fertilizers are the reasons

behind your tomatoes suffering from blossom end rot. It will take some time before you can fix this problem because calcium takes time to climb up to the entire plant system.

Does adding calcium to tomato plants help?

There are two separate tissues in plants, the xylem, and the phloem. The first is for the transport of water and nutrients, while the second is for the transport of molecules of food or energy produced during photosynthesis.

Also Read: Growing Tomato for Your favorite Cuisines

Leaves do not have xylem tissue, and calcium is an essential resource that is picked from the soil and passes through the xylem tissue and not through the phloem. This calcium would not move to the fruit if sprayed on the leaves.

Unlike the leaves, the fruit has no stomata (used during transpiration to exchange water and air) and thus has no real openings for something sprayed to get into the plant and pass through it.

More about blossom end

As Blossom end rot (BER) occurs, you can notice some dark spots on the bottom of the tomato as it grows. Gradually it starts becoming leathery and black and may even cover the entire bottom of the fruit.

Blossom end rot is often attributed to a lack of calcium in tomatoes, either due to exhausted, poorly drained soil or simply of displacement due to transpiration, especially when plants are under stress. Technically this lack of calcium causes brown spots on blossom end rot tomatoes. For this reason, it is always recommended that you add calcium to the soil or substitute, the calcium in the plant with a foliar application will help to fix the issue. But it’s rare for calcium to be absent from soil. Instead, there may be a variety of other environmental causes of end rotting of the tomato bloom, from uneven watering due to drought, heavy rainfall, or overcare of a gardener.

It is also crucial to provide sufficient and even quantities of water for tomato plants. While keeping the soil and plant roots insulated, the addition of mulch will help maintain moisture. Although it may or may not be effective, and is a widely debated topic, it may not necessarily hurt to add crushed eggshells, limestone, or calcium carbonate to the soil, but it may not help much either.

Quick tips for a great blossom

Try to apply calcium to the soil before planting the plants in the field or containers, using lime or gypsum. When Blossom End Rot occurs on the fruit, Calcium nitrate, water-soluble lime, hydrated lime, and very fine lime can be applied (top-dress and light raking) to help correct potential fruit from being affected.
Increase timely irrigation to establish healthy soil moisture. Apply mulch to tomatoes which will help to preserve soil moisture.
Do not overfeed the plants, particularly with a fertiliser high in nitrogen.
Use all-purpose garden foods that are lower in N and higher in potassium and phosphorus, and other nutrients, including calcium, that are required.
Verify the levels of its pH. –
The movement of calcium/water into the plant and fruit would also be influenced by cold temperatures (soil and air). Another good excuse for not planting tomatoes in the season too early! When temperatures get colder, plant them.

Conclusion

At some point of time in the entire life-span of the tomato plant, it does go through blossom end rot, no matter which variety of plant it is. Although when the weather condition starts changing, this disease in the plant will clear up on its own. And yet if you find a plant deteriorating due to blossom end roots disease, then simply pluck and discard it.

Reference Links

https://commonsensehome.com/blossom-end-rot/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-blossom-rot.htm

https://dengarden.com/gardening/Blossom-End-Rot-Tomatoes-Turning-Black-on-the-Bottom

https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/blossom-end-rot/5354.html#:~:text=A%20water%2Dsoaked%20spot%20at,calcium%20imbalance%20within%20the%20plant.&text=The%20water%2Dsoaked%20areas%20enlarge%20and%20turn%20dark%20brown%20and%20leathery.

Fruit Farming

How to Grow Lemon from Seeds

ByMaryem

When life blesses you with lemon, don’t forget to grow lemon from seed!

If you’ve witnessed the growth of a lemon tree, you’ll know why the growing lemon tree is not only productive but very exciting too! And if you haven’t, please allow me to make you understand! Lemon trees have dark green, lush, oval-shaped leaves that shimmer in bright sunlight. They have a glossy texture with beautiful white flowers that bloom with a soothing citrus fragrance and are unbelievably soft to touch.

Something is alluring about the exotic nature lemon trees provide, and finally, you get an exciting chance to get some juicy, tangy, and healthy fruits!

What Is the Best Time to Grow Lemon from Seeds?

Usually, lemon trees grow perfectly in year-round hot, outdoor climates with proper sunlight, but planting lemon seeds in winter isn’t a bad idea either. They can survive indoors as houseplants, and even in cold climates.

Lemon farming is surely a productive idea. You will also be giving an impressive sight of your lemon field to the people throughout the growing season!

Also Read: Farming Orange for a Perfect Citrus

What Are the Different Ways of Planting?

The growing lemon tree from root cuttings is the most preferred method, but unfortunately, cuttings are not always available in different parts of the world. But here is something exciting for you! The growing lemon tree from cuttings may take as many as 3 to 6 years until you get fruits, growing lemons from seed is surely extra rewarding.

You can grow a lemon tree from as little as six to eight germinated seedlings. And the best part is, germination takes place without much effort! And watching the plants growing is going to be a fascinating experience for you!

Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to starting a growing lemon tree, right from the word go!

How to Grow Lemon Tree from Scratch?

Things You Will Need

Of course, you would want to have the healthiest lemon seeds to ensure proper, timely, and healthy growth of the lemon plants. Make sure you get an organic lemon because non-organic lemons usually have “duds” seeds and may be incapable of proper germinating.

Organic lemon of any type will be suitable, but if you can get a specific variety called “Meyer” lemon, you will have the maximum productivity chances. Meyer lemons are smaller in size, often used for ornamental purposes, and suited for indoor and outdoor planting. The unavailability of Meyer lemon seeds is not the worst thing at all; you can purchase organic lemon of any variety, but of course, without compromising on the quality.

Potting Soil: Any potting soil will be suitable for growing a lemon tree from seed. But for best results, you should use the soil with a blend of organic fertilizer, perlite, peat, and vermiculite. This type of soil is best suited for the growth of lemon trees, and the chances of productivity increase to a decent as well.

Container: A 5-6 inches deep container with a few inches of diameter and drainage holes is usually enough for growing lemons from seed. Once the sprouts are visible, you will have to transfer the seedlings into a much bigger container. Mature lemon trees grow properly in wider rather than deeper containers.

So, we would recommend using a pot with 12-18 inches diameter and 10-16 inches depth. Your lemon tree will grow happily in the larger container for at least a few years; then, you would love to upgrade.

Light: Lemon trees require a lot of sunlight for healthy growth. They need at least 10 to 14 hours of direct sunlight every day, especially while sprouting. You can get a grow light if you don’t have a window with constant sunlight. They are pretty affordable and will be proved very handy.

Method for Sprouting:

If you ask “how to grow your own lemon tree from seed,” this is the most important segment for you, because proper sprouting is a must if you want to see your lemon plant growing consistently.

Step 1:

Moist the potting soil before planting. Add some water to moisten the soil to ensure the soil is damp enough.

Step 2:

Add the soil to the container and leave some space (about one inch) below the container’s rim.

Step 3:

Cut the lemon and select a completely-grown seed. Take it into your mouth (Yes! 😉) and suck for a few seconds to remove the flesh and the tangy, lemon flavor. Keeping the seed inside your mouth until you are ready to plant is a good idea. The motive is to maintain the moisture throughout.

Step 4:

Plant the seed ½ inch below the soil level while both seed and the soil are moist.

Step 5:

Cover the seed properly with soil and water. You can use a watering can or squirt bottle for covering.

Step 6:

Use a breathable plastic to cover the container so that the seeds are moist and warm. You can use a clean garbage bag with multiple holes. Place the plastic securely over the container using a rubber band.

Step 7:

Grow lemon from seed perfectly, keep the container in a warm area, and observe continuously for a few days. Don’t forget that seeds require enough moisture and warmth for proper germination. Never allow the potting soil to get completely dry. Also, avoid “cooking” your seeds in the little greenhouse, because excessive heat isn’t suitable for lemon plants. Maintaining a nice temperature and moisture balance is very important. If you feel that the soil is warm enough, you don’t even need to cover it with plastic.

Step 8:

You will notice a few sprouts coming out of the soil after a couple of weeks. Once the sprouts are visible, remove the plastic (if it is still there), and place the little plant under plenty of direct sunlight. You can get some help from grow light if there is insufficient direct sunlight.

Step 9:

Here is another very important question: “How to care for a lemon tree.” Of course, it is a very important aspect if you want to see your plant growing without any barrier.

Here are some important caring tips:

Water: Maintaining the dampness of soil is very, very important, especially when the tree is still young. You would like to avoid excessive accumulation of water, though, and of course, we’ve already talked about those drainage holes 😊.

Sunlight: As discussed earlier, direct sunlight is a must throughout the growth of the lemon plant. Ensure placing the plant so that it can receive eight hours of direct sunlight every day or use a grow light in case there is dampness in the weather. Cities like Minnesota, Michigan, Alaska, Montana, etc. don’t get any sunlight in winter; hence if you are planting lemon seeds in winter, you must arrange a grow light for at least 10 hours.

Food: If you want to keep your lemon plants healthy (you certainly would 😉), you will have to provide enough nutrition to the plants. We would suggest feeding your plants an organic fertilizer, like compost or vermicompost, especially once there are enough sets of leaves on the little branches.

How? You should dig a little trench around the plant base, fill it with compost, provide enough water, or use a compost tea. Feeding twice a year or as needed is recommended. Avoid overfeeding to ensure healthy and proper growth. Using as little fertilizer as possible is the best idea.

Love: When it is about “how to care for a lemon tree,” keeping a few points in mind is very, very important. We would suggest you continuously look around your citrus friend, always have a track of its growth, feel the growth, talk to the plant, sing with it, and avoid dancing with it 😁! You should develop a habit of taking care of your lemon plants, keep an eye on the browning of leaves, check the underside of leaves to avoid pests. Just like you, your plants need proper care and love too! Your lemon plant may also get affected by bugs and diseases, and sometimes, may require extra care and love.

Once the plant is overgrown through the seedling pot, you would want to transfer it into a planting pot and ensure proper and timely watering. Older plants don’t require a lot of water, but maintaining the soil’s moisture is still a must.

You will have to be very patient with lemon plants, as they start producing fruits after the third year. And once the process of fruiting starts, you will be able to harvest them every year, especially if they get the right climate and soil conditions.

Once the plant starts blossoming (usually after two to two and a half years), you will have to wait four to twelve months before harvesting. And the time between summer and winter is the best for it.

So, that’s all about “how to grow a lemon tree from seeds.” Hopefully, you loved this guide, and there is no doubt in your mind anymore. Once there are lemons on your plants, harvest them, sell them, make lemon cupcakes, lemonade, and many other healthy and tangy recipes!

References:

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/grow-lemon-tree-from-seed-26627

https://growingwildceeds.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/how-to-grow-a-lemon-tree-from-seed/

Farming Pedia

Importance of Farming in Our Life

ByMaryem

Farming pedia provides the essential information about farming and agriculture around the world. The information provided includes case studies and project reports of agriculture farming. And also it provides vast information about how to originate, maintain and develop farming and agriculture. This can help us to create our own farming world. C

Agriculture has been engaged in making essential food crops for decades. Agricultural production beyond farming covers forestry, milk, fruit farming, poultry, beekeeping, mushrooms, arbitrary agriculture, etc.

Currently, crop processing, marketing, distribution and livestock products are all recognized as part of existing agriculture. Agriculture may also be referred to as agricultural product growth, processing, promotion and distribution. In maintaining the lifecycle and development of the economy, agriculture plays a major role.

Agriculture is the foundation of a given country’s economic structure. Agriculture also provides a significant percentage of the population with job opportunities as well as food and raw materials.

So, we need to look at some of the contributions made by the agriculture sector across the globe. Here we can know some of the facts that can be provided and produced by the farming that can give information beyond the importance of the farming.

Importance of farming in our life

Livelihood

Farming is the most populated and essential occupation that has been chosen by the people. Around 1billion people globally derive their livelihood from agriculture in some way or the other. This high percentage of agriculture is the product of the lack of growth of non – farm sectors to absorb the rapidly increasing population.

Besides, many people in developing countries are not engaged in agriculture. To understand the difference between rich and developing nations in agribusiness: In the Republic of Congo, 69% of individuals work in farming; in the United States of America, just 1% work in this segment.

Raw Material

Agriculture acts as an essential resource in the exchange of raw materials for industries development. They seek raw materials like cotton and jute, sugar, tobacco, edible and non-edible oils for their production purpose. Also, for other sectors, other materials like fruit processing, veggies and rice husking are primarily provided by agriculture.

Food and fodder

The farming sector supplies domestic animals with fodder. The cow gives people milk that is protective food. Besides, livestock also fulfills human nutritional needs.

International trade

The agricultural products like tea, rice, spices, tobacco, coffee, etc. are major exporting items of agricultural-related countries. If agriculture develops constantly, imported goods will be reduced while export increases considerably.

This leads to lowering the unfavorable balance of payments in countries and saving foreign exchange. It can be used well to purchase other essential inputs, machinery, raw materials, and other infrastructure that supports the country’s economic development.

Marketable Surplus

Agricultural sector growth contributes to marketable surpluses. Many individuals are interested in manufacturing, mining, and other non-agricultural industries as the nation evolves.

These individuals rely on food produced by the marketable surplus of the nation. With the development of the agricultural sector, demand rises, leading to a rise in marketable surpluses. This can be exported to other countries.

Transportation

The bulk of agricultural products are transported from farms to factories via railways and roads. Internal trade is mainly dependent on agriculture. Also, the government’s revenue relies heavily on the accomplishment of the agricultural sector.

Contribution to the economy

For most developing countries, agriculture is the primary source of national income. However, the agricultural sector’s contribution is a smaller percentage of their federal revenues to developed countries such as the USA.

Foreign exchange

The export trade of the nation mainly depends on the agricultural sector. Farm commodities, for instance, such as silk, tobacco, seasonings, oils, cotton production, coffee, and tea, account for about 18% of the entire value of a country ‘s exports. This shows that agricultural products remain a significant source of income for the foreign exchange of a nation.

Employment

Building irrigation systems, drainage systems, and other such operations in the agriculture sector are necessary because they offer more opportunities for jobs. The agriculture industry provides the workforce with more job opportunities. This, in turn, reduces the high unemployment rate caused by the rapidly growing population in developing countries.

Development

As agriculture employs many people, it helps to develop the economy. As a result, the amount of national income, and the quality of living of people is increased. The rapid pace of development in agriculture provides both progressive prospects and intrinsic confidence for the event. It, therefore, helps to create a healthy environment for a country’s overall economic growth. Economic development, therefore, depends on the rate of agricultural growth.

Food security

A stabilized farming sector ensures food security for a nation. Every country’s main requirement is food security. Food safety prevents food shortages that have historically been regarded as one of the significant problems of developing countries. Most countries depend on their crucial source of income for agricultural products and related industries.

Medicines

Agriculture not only provides food, employment, and leads to development but also does it help to obtain life-saving medicines. For example, the papain enzyme is extracted from the papaya fruit. This papain is used as an organic enzyme.

This is used to substitute indigestion with one of the proteolytic juices. Particularly helpful for the sick and the elderly. This papain is obtained by large-scale cultivation of papaya. Most alkaloids are used as medicine. Opium alkaloids like morphine often relieve extreme pain, cough, and lose balance. These are obtained by growing opium poppy crops in farms.

Protection of bees

Were you aware that 2018 was the 14th straight year for the honey production of North Dakota in which it ranked first? The State has almost 500,000 bee colonies and in 2017 generated 33 million pounds of honey. With so many bees sheltered for growth, beekeepers help protect people’s lives. In Montana, ranchers and farmers even provide 75% of the State’s wildlife with a critical winter habitat.

Agriculture for profit

Agriculture is the biggest fabric material source. This fabric type is cotton. Often used to make jeans, bedding stuff, etc. Jute and other fabrics are also used to make gunny bags.Chemical filament fabrics are used to produce garments.

Agricultural fiber meets broad clothing demand. Therefore, they are safe for use and nature-friendly disposal. Farm animals, including sheep and cattle, are useful. Sheep ‘s hair is wool that produces sweatshirts and winter clothing. While livestock skin is used to produce leather to produce belts, wallets, etc. Silk is another industry where silkworms or insects are raised to collect silk. This silk yields fine and costly fabric.

Woman Empowerment

More than a hundred thousand farms are headed by women, 30% of all the farmlands. Not only is this creating the small business values of America, but it also creates powerful people running such companies.

Improvement of communities

Another promising trend is the increasing growth of farmers ‘ markets. Farmers’ markets allow smallholders to communicate effectively with consumers. The food supply is domestically produced throughout the local community, reducing the need for long-distance travel. The opportunity to buy locally grown food is invaluable as demand rises.

Consumers benefit from healthier food options, and farmers have a new chance to buy their crops. Consumers and their children will hear first-hand about goods from producers and how they are born. Farmers interact and improve their communities.

Conclusion

Therefore, the role of farmers and agriculture in the development of the world cannot be ignored. The contribution of farmers in our daily lives, from food to clothes, cannot be denied. All these points prove the importance of farming in our daily lives.

However, it is another matter that developing countries will have to create many facilities to strengthen the region. Yet farming and gardening is a significant source of life in such countries.

Vegetable Farming

Growing the Microgreen Broccoli

ByMaryem

The broccoli is a dark green plant that appears like a green miniature tree and belongs to the cabbage family. It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds.

Apart from nutrition values, the broccoli is a cash crop due to its demand in the daily diet. And, broccoli farming is picking the trend nowadays.

Broccoli has the greatest content of essential nutrients, including magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Being a nutritious vegetable, broccoli is growing in consumption. Besides its use in a variety of cuisine, it is quite popular in green salads.

As broccoli is a cold season crop, it is wise to grow broccoli in the winter so that at the time of harvesting the temperature should not be above than 23-degree Celsius.

Also Read: Cabbage Farming: Planting, care, Harvesting- A complete guide

This is interesting that the broccoli thrives best in the climate condition that varies from 7-degree Celsius to 23-degree Celsius. Besides, broccoli is frost-resistant and can tolerate temperatures below the freezing level for at least one week.

Understanding how broccoli grow

It is recommended to sow broccoli seed month before the spring’s last frost. Because now you get enough time to move the seedlings to the field in broccoli farming, after hardening off them for some time so that they can bear the hardest of climate conditions.

On the other hand, it is worth sowing the seeds indoors in the case of the late summer, for the regions that have mild winters. Later you can put them in the greenhouse, once autumn starts and so it can be harvested in the winter.

In both the cases, temperature hitting the freezing level for quite a time or rising beyond the 25-degree celsius can hamper the growth of the head of the broccoli.

While in areas that have cold winters, it is recommended to sow the seed in the summer so the crop can mature in autumn, just before the cold.

Soil Preparation

To make the soil fertile for broccoli farming, it is worth adding well-mixed compost containing the manure. Once, the manure is spread over the soils. Then plow the field for three or four times before starting the main planting.

The crops of Broccoli may be grown in a variety of soils. Besides, the sandy and silt loam soils are ideally used to achieve a higher yield from broccoli crops.

When considering the pH value of soil, it should be between 6 and 7 if soil can have the best moist conditions throughout the crop.

In some cases, aging manure can be applied to soil to replace soil nitrogen in areas of heavy rain or sandy soil.

Selecting Variety of broccoli

While selecting the variety, it is necessary to keep the maturity time of the crop. The green sprouting variety often takes the 70 to 140 days to mature. The proper selection of the broccoli variety directly influences the final yield because one can thrive in a certain environment and others indifferent.

Thus, it is worthy to select the relative variety so that the crop matures after optimum climate conditions.

In the case of broccoli farming, direct seeding is far more valuable as compared to the transplant. While for some areas, due to the climate conditions, transplant is a better choice.

Besides, in both cases, it is recommended to grow the broccoli in two rows on the raised beds with a minimum distance of 4o to 45 cm. While in case planting is done in a single line, space should be around 60 cm.

And, during the transplant, a young plant with some leaves and almost a month old is the right choice to succeed.

On the other hand, it is better to transplant thin plants to a different section of the field.

And, in case of direct seeding, sow the seed half an inch deep and at least three inches apart.

When transplanting, it is worth that you must have a minimum of 11,000 plants per acre.

Broccoli planting spacing

For the spacing make sure that it adheres to the capability of irrigation, the schedule of the plantation as well the particular demand in the market if there is any.

Must Read: Planting and Growing Okra Step by Step

Irrigation of broccoli plants

Broccoli gives a better yield when irrigated regularly, it’s worth keeping the soil enough moist when flowers start to bloom. Though, watering with the furrow or the sprinklers achieves better growth in the broccoli plant.

While if you have a large farm in the case of broccoli farming, it is appropriate to use drip irrigation.

The amount of water for the broccoli largely depends on the soil type, weather conditions as well as the growth or maturity of the crop.

The watering to the plants should be more frequent when the crop is in the last phase and the vegetable’s growth is at its peak.

Fertilization

To get the highest yield of the crop, applying the proper amount of fertilization is utmost necessary. For healthier plant production, most of the crops rely heavily on NPK fertilizer.

Broccoli is a relatively hard feeder and must feed in a thin layer of old manure before the crop.

The land as a resource requires proper maintenance and monitoring. Fertilization will then be produced on the basis of soil analysis tests.

In the case of the drip irrigation system, nitrogen can be applied through the water as it is the most precise way to feed the plant.

How grow broccoli sprouts

Broccoli develops in just more than two months from seed to harvest. It is appropriate to wait for the sowing before the weather conditions become favorable for the plants. Thus they can become stable and efficient, offering protection against intense weather.

While all broccoli plants may endure freezing, extended cold periods can delay development or harm plant production.

The flowering cycle is triggered by low temperatures and warm days. This mechanism can cause plants to have flowers earlier than normal. This can affect the size of broccoli’s heads.

To combat these conditions, cold weather shelter is provided that gives further 4 to 8-degree insulation, protecting and extending the season of freeze harvests for up to four weeks.

Grow broccoli microgreens

Proper care of the crop is as important as another step. The caring of a plant may include, apart from the watering and fertilization, eliminating the unnecessary weed, identification of the insects or the adequate analysis of the crop diseases.

The main problems of broccoli development may be insect pests, in particular for summer seedlings.

Right monitoring of each plant can prevent unnecessary loss to the crop and eventually can hamper the overall yield at the end.

To take care of your plants, make sure you take appropriate action as soon as you get any hint of any problem to the plant.

These are some of the highlighted problems in broccoli farming:

Eliminating weed

The weed battles for food, sunshine, and air with the majority of the crops. And, consequently, reduce the growth of a particular plant. So, it is appropriate to keep the crop weed-free as it starts to appear after a month of transplantation.

Controlling the insects

Several insects harm the broccoli plant throughout its life. Flea beetles, wireworms or the cutworms can make the seedling die at the early stage.

Besides, cabbage aphids can attack the heads while they are in the development phase. In this case, it is necessary to control these insects even before the head starts to develop. A quality insecticide can be sprayed to the plants to prevent these harmful insects. Or, you can handpick them to get higher yields.

The soil-borne pests have less impact over the broccoli plant, yet some soil pathogens can cause clubroot disease. These diseases can be controlled by crop rotation or applying the line to the roots in the case of broccoli farming.

Apart from these, downy mildew affects the broccoli plants quite a lot. It can be identified with the spots in the leaves. This fungal infection does not have a great impact on vegetables until it affects the head.

To counter such infection, some growers prefer to use a fungicide. In some cases, a seedling is treated by chemical treatment especially in moist conditions, which favors the disease.

The broccoli head is also susceptible to the various diseases that need to be taken care of. The head diseases severely affect the flower buds and can also because of the head rot.

Such disease spreads in wet conditions and causes significant damage to the overall yield. To prevent such conditions, it is appropriate to use correct pesticides once you get any symptoms.

Harvesting broccoli

Seed based plants can produce broccoli in 100 to 150 days. This is the best broccoli plant harvest time. Broccoli can be developed in 55–80 days from the transplants method. It is worth leaving the foundation and some exterior leaves of the broccoli plant to facilitate fresh heads in the secondary production.

A crop must be hand-picked two to three-times during a season and in case of storage, a broccoli stem should be cut at the 6 inches.

Moreover, it is recommended to harvest the broccoli in the morning to maintain the freshness of the vegetable intact.

References:

1. https://harvesttotable.com/how_to_grow_broccoli/

2. https://me dium.com/@shinebrandseeds/everything-you-need-to-know-about-broccoli-farming-in-a-poly-house-e34aa6a21561

3. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20706315/growing-broccoli/

Aquaculture

Biofloc Fish Farming – A Complete Guide

ByMaryem

Biofloc technology (BFT) is a new organism that is particularly productive in aquaculture and is a potentially innovative way to fish farming. This fish farming method is cost-effective in which hazardous or toxic materials for fish and shellfish are transformed into useful products, i.e., protein feed.

The toxic substances that are converted to produce protein feed are nitrate and ammonia. Biofloc fish farming is the cultivation of Biofloc and it is most productive in the tanks exposed to the sun now, you know, “what is biofloc fish farming?”.

Some must-know benefits of biofloc farming

Among all the benefits of this latest aquafarming method, below are the few to be primarily considered.

• Not only this farming technique is safe; it is also environment-friendly.

• Biofloc technology regulates water quality and harmful pathogens

• Value-added production of microbial protein feed is possible for aquatic farm structure.

• Bioflocfish farming in USA is one of the best techniques to enhance environmental control overproduction.

• This technology ensures zero water exchange.

• The list of benefits also includessurvival rate, the performance of growth, etc.

• It is a cost-effective and efficient technique for aquaculture.

• Plus, the pressure on captured fisheries is also significantly reduced.

Since high-density fish rearing typically requires a particular system for waste management. Primarily, Biofloc is a system that treats waste. Biofloc fish farming material was designed to stop incoming water disease from entering a farm.

In order to do cost-effective production, the use of more intensive types of aquaculture is always beneficial. Especially in the water-scarce areas or where land is costly.

Must Read: Tilapia Fish Farming Information And A Complete A to Z Guide

The flip side of Biofloc technique

• First up, it needs more energy as far as mixing and aeration are concerned.

• Due to the elevation of water respiration rates, the response time is reduced remarkably.

• It also required Alkalinity supplementation

• In the case of sunlight-exposed systems, it gives seasonal as well as inconsistent performance.

• The pollution potential is more if nitrate accumulates in the large amount.

What Is The Need For Biofloc Fish Farming?

The biofloc fish farming materials system was developed to improve environmental control over the development of aquatic animals. The most influential factors in aquaculture are feed costs, and the most limiting factor is water/land supply.

High stocking rates and aquatic animal rearing need wastewater treatment. The biofloc method is a wastewater solution that has acquired significance in aquaculture.

The Theory BehindBiofloc Fish Farming

This technique is based on the assumption that nitrogen cycles are created by maintaining a higher C/N ratio through stimulation and assimilation of nitrogen waste as food for the cultivated species. Not only does biofloc fish farming tank preparation technology treats waste effectively, but it also gives aquatic animals the nutrition that it needs.

Let us tell you that higher C: N is sustained by the introduction of carbohydrate source, also known as molasses, in addition to the improvement of water quality with the high degree microbial protein obtained from single cells.

How Is Biofloc Technology Implemented?

Because of its low dwelling habit and resistance to environmental changes, biofloc technology is widely used in shrimp farming. Studies were conducted to assess shrimp and Nile tilapia larval growth and reproductive efficiency.

In the biofloc system, increased breeding efficiency was observed in shrimps compared to standard crop practices. The improvement in larval growth was also witnessed.

Know The Nutritional Value Of Biofloc Fish Farming

Biofloc is a diverse mixture of suspended particles and a range of extracellular polymer-related microorganisms. Biofloc is made up of bacteria, plants, fungi, invertebrates, and detritus, respectively.

The food that is prepared through the conversion of available feed and excreta into natural food becomes richer in protein when exposed to sunlight—floc is kept together in a mucous matrix which is bacteria-isolated and is attached by filamentous microorganisms. The naked eye can see big flocs, but most are microscopic.

The floc is 50-200 microns in thickness. Biofloc possesses excellent nutritional value. It consists of dry weight protein somewhere between 25 to 50 %, whereas fat is between 0.5-15%. This makes the biofloc a good medium of vitamins and minerals not to mention phosphorus.

Set Up Your Biofloc Fish Farming

The first thing you need to start a biofloc fish farming venture is, of course, some basic knowledge of the same. As the more experienced you are, the higher are the chances of your success. Before you go to buy biofloc fish farming material, first, arrange some space in the backyard to dig a fish pond.

It can be a space in your basement or anywhere—to gather fish in containers. Fish can be grown in tanks and tubs along with the barrels. Once you are done choosing the tub or container, you have to avail of water from a reliable source now. Your local water supply may be a good option. Now get your juvenile fish to the pond or container, and you are good to go.

The above steps are for backyard or indoor fish farming. If you are looking to set up an outdoor fish farm, it is better to take a quick look at the below-listed equipment.

• Fish tanks

• Pumps

• Devices for aeration

• Seine reels or net

• Equipment to test the water

Let’s make biofloc fish farming tank preparation a bit more straightforward.

1. Preparing the water for biofloc farming

Biofloc’s water preparation is most important to start fishing using this method. Anyone who begins a biofloc process or culture must first set up a tank.

Those who are a novice to biofloc, it’s a better idea, to begin with,cement ponds or enclosed tanks where the soil doesn’t influence water conditions or biofloc systems.

Indoor processes have a significant advantage in most tropical countries. Owing to the fact that heavy rainfall affects alkalinity and pH in outdoor structures indoor tank set-up always looks a good idea.

2. Aeration

Once you are done selecting the right pond or tank set-up, it’s time to focus on a set-up for aeration. To maintain high oxygen levels and prevent solids from lodging, all systems need constant movements.

Areas without activity can eventually lose oxygen, becoming anaerobic areas that emit large amounts of ammonia and methane. Each reservoir, tank, or raceway system needs a well-planned aerator configuration to avoid this. Wetlands use paddlewheel aerators.

3.Pre-Seeding Microbes

Pre-seeding is often beneficial if you want the biofloc to improve the growth of bioflocorder and maintain your pond quicker, pre-seeding the farm water is always advisable. Itcan be done by adding several commercial or homemade ingredients to cultural water.

4.Select The Species And Check The Stock Density

Most species will profit from enhanced water quality of biofloc systems while feeding and digesting the biofloc themselves, you want to choose species that better benefit from extra proteins produced. These species are all or partially filter feeders.

That is tilapia and shrimp, these two are perfect candidates for engulfing biofloc, which significantly improves the feeding performance.

Growing Biofloc Farming Trend

A wide range of aquaculture programs and new aquaculture initiatives are being practiced worldwide. Alongside this,it is true about fish farming in USA as well where many companies are operating in aquaculture with particular emphasis on biofloc farming.

With growing fishing technology, aquaculture in the USA is also evolving; hence fish farming is becoming a profitable business. This was not the same earlier when fish were caught only by trial and error method.

A company planning to expand its aquaculture share in the market may get strong economic encouragement for them to be more motivated for producing inputs, notably the most costly (feed) and the most restrictive (water or land).