Maryem, Author at Farming Pedia

Vinegar is an herbal product and it has tonnes of uses in the home. But do you be aware of that you can use it in gardening too? Have a look at the pleasant Vinegar Uses in the Garden that you should have not heard before!

19 MIRACLES OF VINEGAR IN YOUR GARDEN

1. Clean clay pots:

Although we know that clay pots are perfect home for our plants, but the issue is that they don’t age well. The several salts and minerals from the supplements with these usages start turning them crusty and white. So, if you are clean them with vinegar it gives shining like bright and new!

Also Read: Custard Apple Farming Was Never So Fruitful – Read This Guide Till The End

2. Remove weeds on walls and walkways:

The weeds can be irritating the gardeners, but we can’t able to use large amount of artificial pesticides on them. Using vinegar is a great path to eradicate weeds that pop up on the walkways and the walls of your garden. By simply spraying the pure white vinegar at the corner and by the border of walls of your garden.

3. Get rid of ants:

To get rid of ant’s vinegar is effective and it will repel the ants, mix equal amount of water and vinegar, spray the solution on the ants in your garden.

4. Keep animals away from garden:

Most of the animals including daily garden like moles, cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, and deer loathe the powerful scent of vinegar.

You can avoid these unwanted visitors from the garden by soaking several old clothes in white vinegar and keeping them on stakes around your garden where they usually come most.

5. Extend the life of cut flowers:

To extend the life of cut flowers per liter of water add 2 tablespoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar.

Also Read: Ivy Gourd Farming: Planting,Care, and Harvesting

6. Kill weeds:

For effective weed control use vinegar as a weed killer. Spraying it within 2-3 days after application it will kills weeds.

7. Vinegar garden insect spray:

To make vinegar spray that works on garden insects, in a spray bottle combine three part of water with one part of vinegar and add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Before using in the garden shake it thoroughly.

8. Deter fruit flies:

To save your fruit crop from fruit flies, make attraction by using vinegar. To make that solution combine cup of water,1/4 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1 tbsp of molasses. Keep in a empty container or tin can and hang it on fruit tree where it will be effected then you will see how it will attract and trap them.

9. Make acid loving plants happy:

Place the acid loving plants such as gardenias, rhododendrons, or azaleas happy with vinegar. Though is temporary effect, you can offer a fast acid boost to plants with vinegar. Combine a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water and water acid loving plants with this solution.

10. Clean rust from the garden tool:

To make the garden tools rust free use vinegar as a solution. To clean the tool just spray or soak the tools in undiluted vinegar and leave them for few minutes and then rinse it off.

11. Save plant from fungus:

With the help of vinegar fungicide recipe, you can protect the plants suffering from fungus and mold. In brewed chamomile tea add 2 tsp of vinegar and spray this on affected plants in your garden. Its organic and safe!

12. Kill slugs and snails:

There are many of uses of vinegar, this one is most popular among gardeners. With the help of vinegar, you can kill snails and slugs. Directly spray on them and in that area where you spot it.

13. Facilitate germination:

For the facilitate germination, soak the seeds in water about 12 hours and vinegar solution. Just add few drops of vinegar in the soaked seeds in water. Then seeds will germinate quickly but the probability of it will also increase.

14. Outdoor furniture cleaning:

Outdoor furniture is permitting to degradation, buildup and damage while comparing to indoor one’s. though it exposed to all diverse conditions like sun, dust, rain, frost and so on…

The scrubbing will take by wiping the furniture with a cloth soaked in the vinegar solution to clean it with that you can save the time and effort. For good results, regularly use vinegar for effective cleaning to get rid of germs and buildup at same moment.

15. Clean birdbath:

If you are not cleaning the birdbath it turns your act of kindness into disaster. With the harmful pathogens the water might be contaminated which effects the health of the bird. Every week scrubbing with white vinegar keeps the birdbath in best condition and good as new. Also, it places the germs, unwanted odors, and algae growth at bay.

16. Get rid of berry strains:

If the harvesting berries grab a toll on the hands as they get stained. If you stained with berry on your hand, already you know how hard it is to clean up. Use distilled white vinegar to wash hands to get rid of berry stains quickly and without getting the skin dry, dull, and bruised.

Also Read: How to grow cherry trees- A complete guide

17. Refresh wilted harvest:

After harvest your green leafy vegetables are lying around for some time and start to wilt away, combine cold water and 2 teaspoons of vinegar and toss the green leafy vegetables in that. Wait for few hours and watch them perk right up.

18. Make your alkali soil neutral:

In neutral soil most of the plant can be grown, if you are soil is alkali try this hack. In a gallon of water add 2-6 tablespoons of plain vinegar. After testing the water using pH meter you will get the exact quantity which depends on result. Once acidify successfully your water pour it in a watering container or can and water the plants.

19. Run a soil test:

If you want to check your soil in the garden whether it’s acidic or alkaline? Here is a one simple hack with vinegar- Run a quick test by keeping a little soil in a container and 1/2 cup of vinegar to it. If you observe that the vinegar is producing bubbles, the soil is alkaline. It occurs because vinegar is too acidic in nature.

Vegetable Farming

How To Hand Pollinate Tomato Flowers To 3x Tomato Yield?

ByMaryem

Pollination is the process in which transferring pollens from male part(anther) of a plant to female part (stigma) of a plant, it enables fertilization and production of seeds must happen by animals and winds.

Most plants are self pollinating like fruits and vegetables, it also refers as self fruitful. If you have a variety of plant it will gives crop from it.

Flowers are have both male and female parts like that tomatoes are self fertilizing plant and produce crop of fruits by its own without planting another one.

How to Pollinate Tomatoes by Hand?

1. Shake them up

To promote pollen shed simply tap or shake the plant is enough to imitate a breeze but it can be done gently and rapidly top of the each flower, flick the flower in short.

2. Art brush

To gather and distribute pollen in a manner a small art brush is an effective tool similar to nectar gathering insects. The brush has natural bristle with that pollen clings better than plastic ones.

To collect and transfer pollen, gently lift the flower and brush the petals back and forth along the top of the pistil stigma.

Use different brushes for different tomato varieties to avoid cross-pollination.Before going to another variety wash your brush in isopropyl alcohol.

14 Uses Of Baking Soda In The Garden

ByMaryem

Here we are going to know amazing facts about baking soda usage in the garden. baking soda has a lot of uses in health care and alternate family chores. Baking soda another name is sodium bicarbonate is mostly used for green cleaning purposes in homes.

Baking soda can make wonder with your plants. Baking soda is biodegradable and non-toxic and it can be a marginal replacement for pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. Let’s have a look at fantastic baking soda uses in the garden.

14 Baking Soda Uses in the Garden

1. Test the pH value of soil

The simple and clean method that you can learn about your garden soil pH value.

Take a small amount of garden soil in a container for sample purposes. In that sample put a little amount of baking soda and a cup of water then the bubbles are produced in the soil it means acidic the pH value of soil is less than 7. If bubbles are not observed then the soil pH is alkali.

Here we can also test with the help of vinegar but it is opposite to baking soda.

For the sample soil adds vinegar and then observes if it produces bubbles then the soil pH is more than 7 and which means alkali.

Also Read: How to grow cauliflower: All The Information Regarding It

2. Get rid of mildew

For fruiting and vegetable plants mildew is an enemy. To get rid of mildew from plants here is the simple recipe.

1 tablespoon of baking soda
2 tablespoons of horticulture oil
1 gallon of water
Mix these three ingredients and fill them in a spray bottle and then spray over plants to protect them from mildew.

3. Cultivate sweet tomatoes

Sprinkle the small amount of baking soda in the top layer of soil where tomatoes are cultivating. It will absorb naturally and lower the acidity level of tomatoes, then you will get the sweeter tomatoes.

Also Read: Why Are Bottom of Tomatoes Turning Black?

4. Kill cabbage worms

Cabbage worms did not just destroy the cabbage crop eventually affect the whole garden by eating plants. To get rid of them here is a simple recipe.

Mix the equal amount of flour and baking soda

Sprinkle the mixture of two ingredients over the plants where you saw a worm attack. cabbage worms are tenacious, they will try to eat the leaves then they will eat our mixture too. This mixture will be poisonous for cabbage worms.

How to grow cauliflower: All The Information Regarding It

ByMaryem

Everyone should maintain their healthy fitness. People like to have many vegetables in their diet and soups. After this, they also tend to make all of the special variety. But because of the increase in chemical usage, people cannot afford to eat vegetables.

One can make observance of many harmful effects. Hence, to avoid such circumstanced with their family, many people grow it on their own. Are you among those who like to eat cauliflower but do not know how to grow cauliflower? You can some interesting steps for how to grow cauliflowers in this article.

What are the different types of cauliflower?

Cauliflower needs much of the care to grow. People can find many of the difficulties while growing it. Therefore people need to satisfy all of their requirements in a succulent manner. Cauliflower needs the perfect Temperature to get fully flourished. One can enumerate a bit of TLC in it. After this, cauliflowers can easily grow on your lawn. You can assemble your cauliflower into diversification if you inaugurate from seeds.

There seem different types of cauliflower. Firstly to grow the common white type of cauliflower, you can make a leaf shade over it. You can enumerate a specific kind of colouring growth hormone called anthocyanin. It can give your cauliflower a purple colour. Scientists have discovered the orange-coloured cauliflower accidentally. They can maintain it with the help of a better amount of Beta-carotene. You can grow these types of cauliflower accessibly on your lawn.

An overall view for cauliflower plant

You have added cauliflower to your diet. But do you know its edible parts? Cauliflower possesses its leaves and stems as eatable parts. It has oval leaves with parallel venation. Cauliflower seems to belong to the cruciferous family.

Do you know the scientific designation of cauliflower? It seems like Brassica Oleracea. It possesses a large number of curds on its head. Cauliflower growing season seems like spring. There possess many people who like to grow it throughout the year. Therefore one has to take special care for cauliflower growing stages.

Cauliflower spacing in cm as 12 to 30 after growing fully in soli. People can tend to grow any type of cauliflower in their garden. Please grow them to enhance your lawn area. But all the colours of cauliflower fade away after cooking it. This might occur because of the limited tolerance level of chemicals for temperatures.

How to plant the cauliflower?

There seem many specific steps to plant the cauliflower. You can follow each of them in this article.

It would help if you took a pot for growing a healthier cauliflower plant.
You might admire the first question that how deep to plant cauliflower seeds?
One has to lead it 0.5 inches deeper from the soil surface.
You have to keep the temperature of the surrounding cauliflower pot much warmer.
One should make sure that seeds should particularly get hard. This might seem like an influential consideration. It possesses because seeds cannot bear much of the moisture in them.
You should keep the particular space of around 18 inches in between every plant.
This can help them to get a good place for growing the leaves of the cauliflower.
Within two or three months, you can make observance of the sprout of cauliflower.

How to grow cauliflower from seeds?

There possess many people who admire this question. You can make accessibility with two types of seeds. Firstly that seems readily provided in the market. After this, you have to follow the steps mentioned above. Secondly, you can expect your seeds from one planted already. It would help if you had the patience to pass the winter season.

After this, cauliflowers get to emit the seeds out of it. Therefore successfully, without any investment, one can enjoy the cauliflower. Many people also prefer to do organic farming at home. You can get the best quality and taste of cauliflower after following such methods.

What should one consider to avoid problems with growing cauliflower?

You have to consider the following points to grow cauliflower accessibly. You can tend to implement all such steps as follow:

Sunlight

Cauliflower plants need ambient Temperature to flourish. It can grow efficiently in sharp sunlight. But following sources, one should place it under partial sunlight. Direct sunlight might harm the growing neophyte of cauliflower.

Sand

Cauliflower essentially requires sand of organic type. It doesn’t flourish well with the loading of fertilizer. Also, one should have a look at the PH of sand. It should be maintained to the six to seven. Cauliflower needs slightly damp, containing soils. This can help them to maintain diversified curds of cauliflower. In case if humid retain from sand, then you will lead with single huge curd. Therefore to avoid such problems, one should maintain the need for cauliflower with sand.

Also Read: Growing the Microgreen Broccoli

Ambient Temperature and moisture

One should try to maintain the ambient temperature under 70 degrees. Cauliflower nourishes well under colder surroundings. But this cold doesn’t mean having the frost. You can accessibly obtain a better quality of cauliflower in the spring season. This season satisfies all results out of it. One should try to retain moisture in soils for growing flowers.

Amount of fertilizer

One should well notify that cauliflower takes a longer time to nourish up well. Also, you can make a note of the essential points of hormones need for cauliflower. According to it, you can enumerate the fertilizers. One should try to make results out of it. People can maintain all their areas with better consistency of fertilizers. You can inspect the soil that you seem to enumerate in it.

One should never try to over-dose the fertilizers in it. If so, then the plant might rise as toxic. Also, one should try to focus on the quality of the fertilizer that it seems to use. One should pour the fertilizer every two to three weeks. Also, it would help if you enumerated only organic types of fertilizers.

Conclusion:

If you follow all steps to grow cauliflower, you can get many benefits out of it. Many people like to maintain their fields on a commercial basis for cauliflower. Therefore you can maintain sufficient cauliflower yield per acre.

Farming Pedia

Blossom End Rot On Watermelons

ByMaryem

The watermelon plant belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family that produces flowers. It produces delicious fruits that are eaten worldwide and are full of nutrition. But it can be affected by various harmful diseases.

Blossom end rot is also one of them. This piece of content provides detailed information on Blossom End Rot on Watermelon.

Symptoms

The appearance of the burned portion of the fruit of the watermelon plant.
Formation of light brown spots that turn into lesions that darken and dry over time. Sunken leathery spots are also visible.
Decaying of fruits at a fast rate.

Although the disease is not contagious, the removal of infected plants is a must.

Causes of Blossom End Rot On Watermelons

Water is taken into plants through their root system. It is utilized by plants and some of it evaporates. Water evaporates from the leaves of plants. This situation occurs when the sun warms up the plant surface. Water from leaves transpires and more water takes its place and thus the plant does not burn. The leaf surface is smooth, water movement from other parts to leaves is easy and quick.

On the contrary, fruits have harder skin. Thus, the movement of water is not fast as the pull of water is slow.

Therefore, the bottom portion of the fruit deprives moisture and burns. It usually darkens or appears shriveled. Decaying also starts occurring eventually. More organisms like insects can attack easily.

Imbalance in Ca levels is also a major cause of blossom rot in watermelon. Ca is immobile relatively. But due to heavy transpiration Ca be moved to leaves in high amounts making fruits deprived of them.

Prevention of Blossom End Rot On Watermelons

Soil conditions

Proper soil conditions are so important to ensure healthy growth in plants. In case the soil fertility of your planting site is unfit, a variety of diseases and abnormalities are bound to occur. Infected plants are of no use and even distracts from a healthy crop.

Therefore, getting your soil tested is highly recommended. It will aware you of things that your soil has more or what it lacks. Moreover, it is important to know the pH level of the soil.

All you need to do is, take a small sample of soil and take it to the nearest lab for agricultural testing. It will provide you proper details about the nutrient level and pH level of the soil.

This will make sure you provide only necessary nutrients and do not overdo it.

In the case of watermelon, 6.5 on a pH scale is perfect for its growth. Anything above or below will lead to complications.

Fall is a perfect time to test the soil before sowing watermelon seeds in the spring season.

Next, if the soil lacks in Ca, it leads to blossom end rot in watermelon. After checking soil 3 months before planting, add lime to the soil to overcome Ca deficiency.

Get the soil tested every 3 years for proper growth. If soil is problematic then annual testing is suggested.

Must Read: How To Do Watermelon Farming?

Watering

Keeping the soil moist at all times with proper and regular watering is a must to avoid this disease.

The water content of soil changes and keeps fluctuating from dry to wet at times of watermelon blossoming is inadequate. This can lead to melon blossom end rot in watermelons.

Irregular watering leads to uneven intake of Ca by watermelon plants.

However, this disease can be caused even when there is a proper amount of Ca. if there is improper water at the time of fruit formation or blossom developing.

To avoid disease, 1- 1.5 inch water level should be provided during fruiting periods.

Nitrogen Content

If nitrogen is present in limited amounts in soil, blossom end rot can occur possibly.

The work of nitrogen is to increase the size of leaves in plants. If nitrogen is found in an improper amount, the size will be affected obviously.

Due to this, more Ca is directed towards fruits. This leads to an imbalance in Ca amount and causes Blossom end rot.

Watermelon rotting on Vine

Watermelons rotting on the vine are possibly visible in conditions like Blossom end rot, Belly Rot, Gummy Stem Blight, Bacterial Fruit Blotch, and Rind Necrosis.

Tips

Watermelons should be planted in well-drained soil to ensure proper watering and moisture conditions. This ensures plants develop a deep and large root system to absorb healthy amounts of Ca from the soil.
Mulch can also be used to retain moisture in the soil. It compresses weeds too. 2-4 inches of mulch is perfect for watermelon plants. It holds moisture in the soil by blocking evaporation.

Watermelon Growing Problems

Growing watermelon is not a piece of cake. It comes with problems. There can be watermelon plant problems that affect fruiting and render plants useless.

Few diseases and abnormalities are mentioned below-

Leaf Curling- leaves curl under and turn yellow. They get deformed and can be easily identified. Aphids are tiny, oval creatures that reside on the underside of leaves and lead to this abnormality. It releases a sticky substance known as Honeydew. It is advised to use insecticidal soap.
Leave discoloration- leaves start turning yellow, pale green, or brown. Spider mites can be a possible reason behind this. Spraying water can help in getting rid of such insects. Infected leaf removal can be better as it protects the whole plant.
Tunnels on leaves- Trails or tunnels are observed on leaves. It is caused by leaf miner larvae. Cultivate a garden to decrease this disease occurrence. Larvae get destroyed upon cultivation.
Water-soaked blotches- leaves get infected and suffer from the appearance of water-soaked blotches. Angular leaf spots can appear which turn yellow or crisp. Pruning leaves infected by this disease can prove helpful. Do not wet foliage much as wetting leads to disease.
Bitter Fruits- inadequate pollination can cause bitterness of fruit and misshapen fruits. Dry soil and high temperatures also lead to this condition. Poor soil fertility is disastrous.

Conclusion

Blossom end rot is a harmful condition in plants that destroys fruit and makes them inedible. Infected fruits cannot be treated to turn them into healthy ones. But, prevention is better than cure.

Therefore, following the preventive measures mentioned above can assure you healthy and edible fruits of melon.

Farming Pedia

Why do my broccoli leaves turn yellow?

ByMaryem

Broccoli is a crop that requires high amounts of nitrogen from the soil. If the soil lacks nitrogen, then the broccoli leaves can turn yellow. Hence the main and common reason for broccoli leaves turning yellow is a deficiency of nitrogen.

In this, the lower parts get affected first and it continues towards the whole plant. In critical conditions, the whole plant can even turn yellow and die. This broccoli is edible but can taste bitter. One can also cut off the yellow part and use the rest.

Besides, leaves don’t just turn yellow due to less nitrogen but this can also be due to lack of other nutrients. Along with a lack of nutrients, moisture stress can be another reason for this.

So to stop your broccoli leaves from turning yellow, one should make sure that your plants get enough nitrogen and all other nutrients along with proper moisture. Also to keep your broccoli fresh, you should avoid wrapping your vegetable in plastic and use damp paper towels instead before storing them.

Why do my broccoli leaves turn yellow:

Broccoli is a crop grown in cold climatic conditions. It requires sufficient light. It requires Sandy soil that is rich in nitrogen and has a slightly acidic pH. There are mainly three situations where the leaves of a broccoli plant can turn yellow.

The first one of them is becoming yellow with time also called maturity yellowing, the next is due to lack of nitrogen and the last is any fungal disease.

Getting yellow as it becomes mature:

The head or the main edible part of the broccoli is made up of very small flowers. When the broccoli becomes mature, ready to harvest then these flowers turn yellow and start to produce seeds if they are not harvested for a long time.

However, these seeds can be used for the next generations. When the main part becomes mature, the buds start expanding and till the flower bursts, the head part of the plant turns yellow. This yellowish broccoli hence lacks all the nutrients and is also bitter.

Lack of nitrogen:

As told earlier, broccoli needs a lot of nitrogen from the soil. If the soil lacks nitrogen, then the broccoli leaves will start turning yellow. Starting from the lower part the leaves gradually turn yellow to upwards. In uttermost conditions, the whole plant can turn yellow and die at the end.

Any fungal disease:

Fusarium oxysporum is a type of fungus that affects broccoli plants that can cause yellowing of the leaves of the plant. This fungus mainly enters the plant through the new roots or through old roots during transferring the plant to the main field. This fungus makes its way through the stem to leaves resulting in the leaves turning yellow. This fungus is very dangerous and kills the plant.

Along with these above-mentioned reasons some diseases are also the reason behind the yellowing of leaves. Downy mildew is the first disease that is accountable for the broccoli leaves turning yellow. It is also a type of fungal disease.

Must Read: Growing the Microgreen Broccoli

The fungus named Peronospora parasitica causes Downy mildew. This fungus can act upon both seedlings as well as the mature plant part. In this, the leaves of the broccoli turn yellow. High moisture content supports this fungal disease. In this disease, mainly the leaves at the bottom get affected.

Prevention of Downy mildew: For avoiding this, one should plant the crops at sufficient distances. Also, take care that you water the crop near the roots so that the leaves don’t get wet. Besides this one can also use chemicals or fungicides to control the disease.

You should spray the fungicides at weekly intervals after transplanting the plant. Use these fungicides on the leaves present at the bottom. Avoid fungicides when the temperature is more than 35° C.

The next one is an Alternaria leaf spot. It is again a type of fungal disease in which Alternaria species is responsible. This disease occurs when the conditions are warm as well as moist. You can see small dark shade spots on the stems as the symptoms of the disease.

In the matured plants round spots of brown color can be noticed on the leaves and the leaves gradually turn yellow with time in this disease. A temperature of 15 to 35 °C supports the disease.

How to prevent and treat this disease: one should clean up all the debris after harvesting. This disease can also be very easily spread through the infected tools or wind or splashing water or through insects hence one should take care of all this. Other than this one can also use chemicals and fungicides to control the disease.

Black rot is the next disease that is spread by bacteria named Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris. In this disease mainly the parts above the ground get affected. In this V-shaped lesions of yellow color appear on the leaves that expand with time.

For black rot disease, no chemical cure is available so the plant must be prevented from this disease. For this, all the debris should be removed from the field.

Also, weeds should be cut off from time to time. Seeds of infected plants should not be used at all. Wind, splashing water, insects, etc. are also the reason behind the disease. High temperature and moisture also support the disease so these conditions should be avoided. Disease-free tools should be used in broccoli farming. Also, the seeds should be free from infection.

Bottom line:

There are many different reasons for broccoli leaves turning yellow. They may be insufficient nutrients or some diseases. So one should provide sufficient amounts of required nutrients to the crop and also keep a check on the symptoms so that if any disease is there it can be treated on time.

Farming Pedia

Why Are My Radishes Growing Above Ground

ByMaryem

Radishes are a healthy and versatile plant. They can be consumed as toppings on salads used in western dishes too. The juice of radishes is full of nutrition. It is also cooked as a vegetable in various parts of the world. Along with all of this, radishes are so easy to grow and consume.

But while growing radishes you can face some problems too. Problems that occur while growing radishes can be woody stems, bitter taste, cracking in roots, not forming bulbs, too hot taste. And while growing radishes, one question you might ask is, why my radishes are growing above ground?

Here we shall discuss why radishes grow above ground and solutions to this problem too.

First, check out these numerous benefits of radishes.

They can be eaten raw or can be cooked too. Only half a cup of radish has enough vitamin C to fulfill your daily need. It also has nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin B6, potassium, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, calcium, and magnesium.

Along with this, extracts in roots of radish have the power to kill cancerous cells. It is also great for bowls. To add to this, radish consumption can control blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Gastric ulcers can be cured by radish juice. Natural antifungal agents are present too.

Why are my radishes growing above ground?

There can be few reasons behind this and they are mentioned below-

1. Imperfect Soil

If soil is not fit and does not match the required criteria for growth then abnormalities are obvious. Soil should be loose and crumpy to grow perfect and healthy radishes. In case, the soil is too compact, roots do not get enough space to expand. Therefore, first, they grow small in size.

Next, when they have no space to expand, they push themselves out and radishes start growing above ground. This situation can be prevented by loosening soil a little. It provides enough space to grow freely and thus, they do not pop out.

The soil must be loosened and well maintained with compost and dry leaves up to 14 inches.

By the time radishes start popping out of the ground, the problem would have increased very much without you noticing. Thus, if they come out by a quarter of an inch, check soil integrity.

2. Seeds not sown deep enough

Seed packets bought from the market suggest sowing seeds up to ½ inch inside the ground. Scientists suggest that seeds must be sown at least one and a half inches deep in the ground for perfect growth of radishes. Sowing seeds above can lead to roots or main bulbs coming out of soil early.

Sowing seeds deeper ensures proper growth and maximum output.

3. Temperature of soil

Soil temperature becomes unsuitable for radish growth when radish seeds are not sown at the correct time. The best time for sowing seeds in the spring season.

Sowing too early or too late makes them face too cold or too hot soil temperature which affects the growth of radish. Further, temperature above or below 80F is not suitable for radishes. Therefore, radishes come out of the ground.

Must Read: Radish Farming: Planting, Harvesting, & Diseases

Tips to prevent radishes growing above ground

Make sure soil is loose and crumbly up to 12-14 inches deep.
Use compost and dry leaves to make soil fit for radish growth.
Seeds should be sown at least one and a half inches deep for maximum output.
Maintain good moisture in the soil to avoid bitter radishes.

Radishes turning long and thin

There can be various reasons behind radishes turning long and thin. First of all, understand that the growth of leaves generally determines when they are to be pulled. Sometimes, leaves can be healthy but radishes below-ground can be long and thin and unfit for consumption.

You can check growth by pulling the main root out a little. The main taproot is strong and deep and does not get affected much. However, tiny roots attached to the main one can get damaged by harsh pulling. So, be careful while checking.

Now if your radishes appear to be long and thin then this might have occurred because of your little mistakes like-

Overcrowding- Radishes grow below ground and require enough space for proper growth. If they don’t get enough space due to overcrowding then they grow long and thin. Radishes should be grown 2-3 inches apart. This makes sure each one gets enough space to grow fully.
Sunlight- 6 hours of sunlight are a must for healthy and fully grown radishes. Alteration in sunlight periods affects growth and makes them long and thin.
Regular watering- radishes require a lot of water to grow. Shortage in the water supply makes them long and thin. However, too much water can destroy them so care must be taken. Radishes can bolt if hot water is supplied.
Temperature- 80F is the optimum temperature for radish growth. If the temperature is above 80F, radishes start producing flowers.
Nutrients- improper intake of nutrients causes thin and long main roots. If high nitrogen content is added to the soil, radishes focus more on leaf growth than root.

Radish leaves turning yellow

Various conditions can result in the yellowing of leaves like overcrowding, lack of sunlight, competition for weeds, irregular watering, pests, or diseases. Few diseases that lead to yellowing of leaves are-

Septoria leaf spots- this condition leads to yellow spot formation on leaves. Well-drained and nutritional soil prevents this disease.
Club rot- yellow leaves, tumor growth, and swelling in roots us seen. It can be prevented by crop rotation.
Downy mildew- Angular yellow spots appear on leaves along with the white or grey fungus.

Holes in Radish leaves

Flea beetles can lead to holes in the leaves of seedlings or small transplants. Larvae of flea beetles feed on radish leaves and make holes in them.

Holes eaten in the leaves of radishes by flea beetles, early June.

Cultivating them often can help get rid of flea beetles. The Garden should be kept clean to avoid pests.

Conclusion

Radishes are an easy to grow and versatile plant. They take only 3-4 weeks to grow and ready to eat as such. But growing radishes can be accompanied by the above-mentioned problem too. Therefore, take steps to prevent and cure these ailments and you can grow perfect radishes that are fit for consumption.

Farming Pedia

Why Are My Spinach Leaves Turning Yellow

ByMaryem

Spinach leaves turn yellow with age naturally. Spinach is succulent and has rich green leaves. However, if you observe yellowing at a young age in spinach leaves then it might be a problem. Growing spinach can be accompanied by various problems and spinach leaves turning yellow is also one of them and quite a common one.

Generally, healthy spinach leaves are dark green. But yellow leaves in spinach plants can occur due to various reasons. These are discussed below in detail-

Factors leading to yellowing of spinach leaves

There can be various reasons that can lead to yellow leaves in spinach. Situations leading to this problem can be diseases or unhealthy soil conditions. Too much heat and water can also cause the yellowing of leaves. Further, nutrient deficiency caused by lack of compost or fertilizer use also results in the same. It can be a little difficult at times to judge the problem and work on solutions with so many possibilities. Along with this, the temperature is also a yellowing causing factor.

Symptoms of certain diseases can be the same as improper soil conditions. To add to this, boron deficiency and fusarium wilt disease cause the same symptoms in spinach plants.

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium wilt also known as fusarium yellowing is a fungal disease. This disease causes the yellowing of spinach leaves. It also stunts the growth of plants. It infects the vascular tissues of the plant. Causing agents of this disease live in soil and can be carried easily by cucumber beetles.

Nutrient deficiency

Various nutrient deficiencies can lead to the yellowing of leaves in spinach. Either insufficient amounts of nutrients or lack of nutrients can develop this situation. Nutrient deficiency can be due to low or high soil pH. Also, sometimes nutrients do not get absorbed due to damaged roots. Yellowing can be caused due to deficiencies of manganese, boron, magnesium, zinc, or nitrogen.

Iron- this deficiency is caused due to waterlogged soil. Veins remain green sometimes but leaves turn yellow. Yellowing in this case starts in younger leaves then moves to older leaves.
Magnesium- yellowing areas between veins of older leaves are observed in magnesium deficiency.
Nitrogen- all leaves become yellow in nitrogen deficiency. It first occurs in lower older leaves. Nitrogen present in plants moves to new young leaves thus causing old yellow leaves.
Boron- boron deficiency causes yellowing and stunted growth in spinach.

Must Read: Why Are My Papaya Leaves Wilting

Spinach growing problems

Spinach can be affected by various elements and problems can be caused by them.

Growing crops in the wrong season can cause defective growth. The best time for the growth of spinach is early spring. Seeds should be sown a few weeks before summer. Next, late summer sowing can be performed for a cool fall harvest.

Seedling not germinating- if seeds are sown too shallow then they do not get the required conditions and fail to germinate. Dry conditions and too high temperature can also lead to this condition. The soil must be moist and noncompact.
Eaten or cut off leaves- Cutworms are found curled under the soil. They eat and damage stems, roots, and leaves. a 3-inch paper collar should be formed at the base of the plant to avoid this.
Dark water-soaked stems- High humidity, cool and moist soil causes fungus growth. To avoid, the soil should be well-drained.
Bolting- plants and flowers bolt before leaves are ready to harvest. Too much sunlight and warm temperature cause bolting.
Leaf curling- deforming, yellowing, leaf curling can be caused by aphids.
Round water-soaked spots- this is caused by a fungus known as anthracnose. It develops in highly humid conditions. Plants can die back and infected plants should be removed and thrown away to avoid further spread of disease.

Why are my spinach leaves turning white?

why spinach leaves turning yellow, spinach growing problems, spinach leaves turning white, why are my spinach leaves turning white, why is my spinach turning yellow

Spinach leaves turning white can be a symptom of a disease called white rust. This disease is caused by Albugo occidentalis. Symptoms at the initial stage resemble downy mildew symptoms. It can be difficult to differentiate between the two. However, at further stages, you can distinguish between them.

Chlorotic spots start appearing on the upper side of spinach leaves. These turn white eventually and give the appearance of white leaves. When the white blisters release spores, they turn reddish-brown.

It Can cause wilting and death of plants in end. Fungicides can be used to prevent it.

Prevention measures

To prevent such a situation, you must take care of a few things mentioned here. Otherwise, you will continue to grow plants that are unfit for consumption. The soil must be well-drained and not compact. Loose and properly irrigated soil ensures the good growth of spinach plants. It would be rich in organic matter which contains necessary nutrients. The pH of the soil should be 6.4-6.8 for healthy growth. Yellowing or bolting can be caused at temperatures above 75 degrees.

Also Read: How To Plant Spinach? Here Is Everything You Need To Know

You can avoid high temperatures by planting spinach in early spring or fall. Insect diseases caused by aphids can be prevented by using natural aphid predators like ladybugs and other insects.

The fungal and viral disease can be caused by clean growth and usage of resistant varieties.

Cure

You need to be aware of problems that lead to yellowing leaves in spinach first to cure them. In case of a pest attack, insecticidal soap can be used to remove pests. Fungicides can be used to treat the fungal disease like fusarium wilt. However, virus-infected plants should be removed and thrown away to stop the further spread of disease.

If soil is too acidic, consider adding lime. And if the soil is too alkaline then you can add coffee ground or commercial acidifiers to make pH acceptable.

Add compost to the soil to balance the pH of the soil.

Organic compost or fertilizers can help overcome nutrient deficiencies.

You must test the number of nutrients present in soil so that the proper amount of nutrients can be added manually. Adding nutrients vaguely can increase certain nutrients and affect plants negatively.

Conclusion

Growing spinach can be accompanied by various problems but a little care and thought while growing them can prevent disease and such problems. Preventive measures are taken before can produce healthy and edible crops.

Fruit Farming

How Long Does it take a Kiwi Plant to Produce Fruit

ByMaryem

Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) is a berry fruit. It is mainly oval and with brown skin and green flesh. It also has tiny black seeds that are edible. Though it is a bit sour but doesn’t have citric acid in it. It has a sweet and tangy taste. This plant is mainly grown in the winter season as it requires a temperature of less than 7° C.

Kiwi farming is carried out in sandy and loamy soil. This soil should be rich and well-drained. Kiwi is grown at a depth of 800-1500 m. So now the question arises: How long does it take a kiwi plant to produce fruit? Fruiting mainly depends upon the age of vines.

However, the yield of the plant increases after 1 year. Kiwi has high nutritive values, it is rich in vitamins and minerals. It has vitamin c, vitamin k, fibers, and potassium. Hence kiwi farming is very profitable.

Mainly there are 3 types of kiwi fruit. It has several health benefits. These are the grocery store kiwi ( Actinidia deliciosa), the next is a hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta ), the last type is (Actinidia kolomikta).

Kiwi plantation:

In this, first of all, one would require one male vine for eight female vines. These vines are vegetatively propagated so these vines will be made to reproduce when you buy. The growth of hardy kiwis is very very fast.

Which type of soil is best for kiwi farming?

The soil should be well-drained and should have a higher amount of organic matter in it. Sandy and loamy soil are best for kiwi farming. The pH of soil required is a little less than 6.9.

At this pH maximum yield has been reported however if the pH increases to 7.3 it can badly affect the yield. As the cropping starts, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium has to be supplied at regular intervals. 200kg of nitrogen, 55 kg of phosphorus, about 150kg of potassium are the doses required per hectare.

Suitable climatic conditions for growing kiwi:

As told earlier a cool climate is preferable for kiwi plantation however they can grow in almost every climate. The vines require a cold climate to set fruit. Less than 45° F is suitable for kiwi. These plants need to be protected from strong winds and frost.

Hence kiwi has to be protected from wind, autumn, and spring frost. The soil needs to be rich in moisture throughout the year. About 150cm of Rainfall is enough per year and it should be well distributed especially during growth periods.

During summer the temperature is more and the humidity is very low and this can cause scorching of leaves. Usually, heat stress and sunscald are the main problems in kiwi farming.

How to prepare the land for kiwi fruit production:

A steep land with rows is required for growing kiwis. The land should be prepared in such a way that enough sunlight falls towards the rows. The land has to be prepared thoroughly for the cultivation of kiwi.

The land should be plowed about 2 to 4 times and then followed by two harrowings. It is necessary to keep the soil free from any type of weeds otherwise the crop yield would be poor. While preparing pits for the kiwis, a mixture of farmyard manures and upper soil should be added to get high quality and productivity of the fruit.

Planting a kiwi fruit:

For kiwi plantation, it is very important to plant the fruit at correct distances and suitable methods have to be followed.

When the kiwi is grown at a commercial level, that time grafting method is mainly used for propagation. If this crop is grown at a proper distance then one can attain maximum fruit production. The distance between each row should be at least 3.5m whereas the distance between each plant has to be 6m. Usually, 2 main methods are used for plantation.

These two methods are: T- bar training system and the other is the Pergola training system. In the T-bar system, the above-mentioned spacing is required. In the Pergola system, the distance between each row should be 6m and the distance between the plants should be 5 to 6 m.

Also Read: Guide for Beginners of Kiwi Farming

Procedure to grow kiwifruit from the seed:

The first step is to get some kiwi seeds from the available kiwi fruit. Then place all these seeds in water and blend them to separate the gooey membrane from the seed. After this use a colander to water the kiwi seeds. Then soak these seeds by placing them smoothly on a paper towel. The next step is to put them in a ziplock and place it in a warm place.

When you notice sprouting in the seeds, split the paper towel into tiny pieces and transplant them in the prepared put or the pot. Therefore take proper care of your plant for good quality fruit.

Irrigation in kiwi farming:

For a good quality crop, from time to time irrigation is a must. Like other crops, kiwi also needs regular water supplies. The hard variety of the kiwi fruit takes 3-4 years to become mature. Hence water has to be supplied regularly for 3 years of the plantation. But don’t overwater the plant as this may lead to mulch in the crop.

In hot and dry conditions water has to be supplied at regular intervals. At commercial level kiso farming, irrigating at intervals of 10-14 days is best for maximum production.

Application of manures and fertilizers:

The application of manures and fertilizers is also very necessary for high productivity. From time to time enough dose of suitable manure and fertilizers has to be supplied for a good yield. So one should use soil rich in organic matter like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients and macronutrients.

Other than this a dose of farmyard manure should be added before planting it in the main field. After 5 years of plantation, adding these manures and fertilizers have excellent results. A high amount of Cl is also necessary for the crop as its deficiency can cause adverse effects on the growth of the crop and even on roots and shoots. On the other hand surplus amounts of boron and sodium can be harmful to crops.

Pruning and training of kiwi crop:

For better production of the crop, pruning and training are very important. In training Wooden, concrete, or iron pillars are used to provide support to the vines. Adjust these pillars 5 to 6 meters apart. The pillars should be 1.6 to 2.1 m long above the ground. Fence or wire can be used to provide support to the pillars.

Pruning: Along with proper training, pruning is also very essential for high yield. It is very important to remove or cut off the unwanted and undesirable parts that may suck the essential nutrients from the plant.

Hence canes from the making part of the flower have to be removed along the excessive wood grown along with the plant. Also, separate off the extra tangles from the plant.

As kiwi is not a self-pollinating plant, hence there’s a need for good pollination also.

Harvesting of kiwi:

Mainly kiwi attains its full size after monsoons however it still may not be ready for harvesting. It could be ready to harvest in early winter as till then the seeds become black and sugar levels also rise however after harvesting the kiwi, the starch turns into sugar. And finally, the fruit is ready to eat.

Also, a refractometer can be used to determine if the sugar level is optional and the kiwi is ready to harvest or not. About 6.5 percent or more is the optimal sugar level. Vine-ripened kiwi has the best Taste however cannot be stored for much time.

When the kiwi is grown at a commercial level, harvesting has to be done all at one time however if one grows it in a home garden then they can harvest it according to their need in the harvesting period but harvest the large-sized kiwi first and let others remain inside to grow more. Kiwi has to be handled with care during harvesting and the kiwi that has been damaged cannot be stored.

Diseases: Armillaria Root Rot (4/13), Bacterial Blight (4/13)

Bleeding Canker (4/13),

Botrytis Fruit Rot (6/16)

Crown Gall (4/13)

Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot (6/16)

Water Staining, Juice Blotch, and Sooty Mold of Fruit (4/13) are some kiwi diseases whose symptoms are Vines may completely collapse; white mycelial mats may be present under bark close to the soil line, there’s a change in the color of cortical tissue and white mycelial strands are also present; root-like rhizomorphs extend from roots into the soil.

These needed to be controlled as soon as possible. Make sure that land being used for new kiwi plantings is gotten rid of roots which have diameter greater than 1 inch; ensure kiwi vines are properly watered but not too much. Further, diseases can be controlled by avoiding injuries that lead a way for pathogens to enter the body. At this time, no chemical control strategies are available.

Health Benefits of kiwi:

Kiwi has several health benefits and many nutritional values. Some of the benefits are as follows:

1. Kiwi is an incredible source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants.

2. Kiwi fruit has anti-aging properties and is also very beneficial for the skin. It improves skin health.

3. Kiwi fruit also helps in enhancing the respiratory system of the body.

4. Kiwi is very good for the eyes. It improves eyesight and is also helpful in protecting our eyes from several diseases.

5. Kiwi fruit helps us to improve our digestive system from where a large number of disorders and diseases can happen if digestion is not proper.

6. It is also very helpful in the improvement of cardiovascular diseases The kiwifruit possesses properties that lower blood pressure. By helping to maintain healthy blood pressure and providing a boost of Vitamin C, the kiwifruit can reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

7. Kiwi is a rich source of vitamin k that helps to make the bones strong.

8. It has many antibacterial and antifungal properties.

9. It helps with sleep disorders.

10. Along with the fruit its roots also have good properties.

It is also good for immunity asKiwi contains abundant amounts of Vitamin C, which stimulates the body’s immune response. The kiwifruit contains roughly 230% of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. This amazing fruit is loaded with immune-boosting nutrients in every bite.

In kiwi fruit. high amounts of dietary fiber are present in skin as well as in flesh. Fiber aids reduction of constipation and

other gastrointestinal issues and discomfort.

Treatment of Asthma

The presence of Vitamin C in kiwis has been proven to reduce wheezing symptoms in some asthma patients. This is true in children, who are benefitted the most from the consumption of kiwis.

Ocular Health

The high levels of antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids found in the kiwifruit may help in preventing eye disease and promote ocular health but only if it is consumed with other healthy and mineral rich vegetables and fruits.

Conclusion:

Kiwi is a very healthy profitable crop with high nutritive values. Kiwi is said to be a treasure of health benefits.

Reference link:

https://www.agrifarming.in/kiwi-farming-information#

https://agriculturegoods.com/kiwi-fruit-cultivation-guide-for-beginners-of-kiwi-farming/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/kiwi/harvesting-kiwi-fruit.htm

Farming Pedia

Why Are My Papaya Leaves Wilting

ByMaryem

Papaya, also known as Carica papaya is herbaceous perennial. It belongs to family caricaceae. They are known to have originated in Caribbean in Central America. Papaya plants are generally grown in tropical or subtropical regions. They are native to Mexico and Southern America. In the USA, they are grown in Florida, Texas,southern California and hawaii. Based on their region of growth, the colour of this fruit varies.

The papaya plant bears edible fruit called papaya. The plant is treelike and usually unbranched. Stem of the papaya plant is hollow along with the petioles. Leaves are palmately lobed and arranged spirally on the top.height of plant is 2-10 m and its life span is around 25 years. This plant is found as males, females and hermaphrodites too.

Papaya is a tropical plant that bears pear shaped or melon like fruits. It is a little difficult to grow it because of its sensitive nature. Also, they cannot bear too cold temperatures, high winds and shades. Plus, papaya plants are very susceptible to diseases. Shortage of water, disease and attack by nematodes can result in wilting of leaves in papaya plants.

Male plants usually bear many flowers while female flowers bear either clusters of solitary flowers or very few flowers. Fruit of papaya is edible and is consumed by masses. It is a fleshy berry which has smooth skin on it. Skin of papaya is green and turns red, yellow or orange as it matures. Flesh of fruit is succulent and thick. Its colours vary from yellow,red to orange. Also, it contains numerous blackwrinkled seeds in it.

Basics of Papaya Plant

Plantation should be replaced every 3 years to ensure productivity to be maximum. Another name of papaya is pawpaw.

They can be eaten fresh. Along with this, people make jams, jellies, candies, and juice of papaya too. Young leaves and green fruit of papaya can be cooked and consumed as a vegetable.

Growth of papaya

papaya is a tropical plant. It grows very well in temperatures ranging from 21C to 33C. They require rainfall of at least 4 inches per month for proper growth. However, proper irrigation can also ensure undisturbed growth of papaya in dry areas. Avoid growing papaya plants in areas with risk of floods or waterlogged soils. They are also very sensitive to high winds and can easily get toppled in winds. Therefore, avoid their growth in windy areas.

Seeds can be planted out in soil and areas which receive good sunlight. But they can also grow well in containers at the start. They are grown in sterilized soils in nursery to keep diseases at bay. You can sow 3-4 seeds in one container.

Once they reach a height of 20 cm, they are ready to be planted outside. They generally grow well on hills or ridges. This is because of these places aid drainage. In addition to this, space them 2-3 m apart to ensure proper development.

Care and maintenance of Papaya

First of all seeds of papaya plants must be sown properly in well-drained soil. Proper Water supply must be ensured. Proper watering is required to grow papaya successfully. If water is not provided in the required amount that results into dropping of leaves, fruits, or flowers. Small fruits of papaya have a very small sugar content and cannot be consumed raw. In later stages, the supply of water can be reduced.

They are highly susceptible to diseases and weeds. Keep the area clean and weed free.

Mulch can be used to suppress weeds around papaya plants. Moreover, mulch has added benefits and retains moisture in soil. Regular use of fertilizer is advised to provide proper nutrition to plants. Giving required nutrients to plants helps is production of sweet and healthy fruits.

Commercial plants can be fertilized for about 2-4 times in a year. While, plants grown for personal use in gardens can be fertilized with ¼ cup of fertilizer every fortnight. When plants grow and reach the age of 7-8 months, fertilize them with 1-2 lbs of fertilizer every couple of months.

Also, these plants do not require pruning. But you can remove dead leaves from the plant without worrying.

Harvesting of Papaya

Harvesting takes around 22- 26 weeks for plants to mature. However, fruits can be picked anytime when ⅕ of fruit surface turns yellow. In addition to this, sweetness of fruit increases with time. Therefore, if you wish your fruits to have high sugar content, pick them a little later than usual. For removal of fruits, they can be either twisted or snapped. You can also use a knife to remove them.

Common diseases and pests- papaya plants are very susceptible to diseases. There are numerous microorganisms and pests that can affect these plants badly. Some of the common diseases and pests of papaya plants are mentioned below.

Anthracnose and charcoal spot- This disease is caused by fungi named Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. It causes light brown margins in circular lesions on plants. Also, small water soaked lesions are found on plants. Fungicide can be used to control the disease.
Black rot- Mycosphaerella caricae is responsible for this disease. It causes black sunken rot on young fruits. Young fruits start withering and dropping from the plant. This disease can be controlled by proper use of fungicide. Alos, fruits can be dipped in 48C hot water for 20 min to kill the fungus.
Black spot- This is also a fungal disease. It leads to formation of circular water soaked lesions. Centre of lesions becomes bleached in later stages. It can be controlled with fungicide.
Powdery mildew- Infection of all tree parts is observed in this disease. White mycelial growth occurs on the upper leaf surface. Infected area on the plant becomes light green. For getting rid of infection, avoid sprinkler irrigation systems. Also, remove the infected part to avoid further spread. Fungicides can be applied in case of severity.
Pest called as Papaya mealybug feeds on papaya plant and destroys it. It also causes plant stunting, early leaf and fruit drop. Lady beetles can be used as a natural enemy against mealybug. However, usage of chemicals can kill lady beetles and result in an outbreak of mealybug.

Cause Of Wilting Leaves In Papaya Plant

The Main reason behind wilting of leaves is insufficient watering, attack of nematodes and diseases.

Here are a few diseases mentioned that can result in wilting of papaya leaves.

Apical necrosis- this is a viral infection. In this disease,papaya leaves start curling downwards and wilt. Leaf margins turn brown and young leaves become small and have shortened petioles. As the name suggests, the disease basically begins at the top and infects other plant eventually. Gradually, it kills whole plant. Organism responsible for this deadly disease is still unknown and so is the cure. Diseased plant must be isolated to protect other plants from dying.
Phytophthora blight- This disease is caused by fungi and is extremely destructive. It leads to the death of infected plant. Root, stem and fruit of plants begin to rot in such conditions. Rapid wilting is observed and the plant dies after that. Water soaked lesions are also observed on the stem. On fruits water soaked lesions appear with white fungal growth. Further, fruit shrivels and drops. In this manner, fungus comes in contact with ground and infects roots too. This fungus is spread by wind too.

Fungicide for this disease is available but it requires good cultivation practice too. Ensure good draining soil to treat this disease. Remove destroyed or fallen fruits as fast as possible. Remove any afrucan snails from the planting site as they spread this disease.

Nematodes – these organisms are microscopic worms that attack and lead to the formation of galls in the roots of papaya plants. Galls interfere with the ability of plants to take in water and nutrients. Therefore,this results in wilting of leaves, stunting, yellowing and reduced crop yield and death of plants eventually.

These organisms can be present in any type of soil. Before planting,make sure to turn soil several times and leave it so that nematodes are exposed to sunlight.this practice results in death of nematodes.

Crop rotation also helps in handling the disease. Remove Plant debris after harvesting. To add to this, usage of resistant varieties like cassava, taro and heatmaster of tomato can be helpful

Bacterial canker and decline- Angular water soaked lesions are seen on leaves. Wilting of leaves also occurs in this disease. Water soaked lesions and cankers on the stem are observed.

Why are my papaya leaves turning yellow

The reason behind yellowing leaves infection by lethal virus. The name of this virus is Papaya Lethal Yellowing Virus (PYLV). It occurs only in Northeastern Brazil.

It results in progressive leaf yellowing and growth of greenish circular spots. The leaves wilt after becoming yellow and die. Whole plant dies eventually due to the infection.

Must Read: Why are my Strawberry Leaves Turning Red

Virus that infects plants and causes this disease generally belongs to the genus Sobemovirus. Papaya plant species that are generally infected are C.papaya, Jacaratia heterophylla, V. monicca, J.spinosa, etc.

This disease can be managed and avoided by using virus free certified plantings. Further, plants that are infected must be isolated. Usage of disinfectants to clean agricultural equipment is advised.

How to identify male and female plant seeds?

It is not possible to identify the gender of papaya seeds from naked eyes.DNA analysis is required to figure out the gender of seed. However, you identify male and female seeds once they turn into seedlings.

Male seedlings produce single straight root but female seedlings produce 2 or more branched rootlets.

Be careful while checking the gender of the seedling and avoid root damage. Just wait for plants to develop 1 or 2 true leaves and then check their rootlets.

How to pollinate papaya flowers?

One way of pollinating papaya flowers is hand pollination.

Pollination generally occurs through wind or insects.

Hermaphrodite plants have both male and female reproductive organs present in them. They do not require pollen from other plants to pollinate themselves. In other words, papaya plants undergo self pollination.

Why is my papaya tree not fruiting?

Papaya plants in home gardens fail to bear fruits sometimes. A few other times, they bear fruits but drop them as time passes. This situation can occur because of wrong pollination. Sometimes, male flowers get pollinated. But due to lack of ovary it does not bear any fruits. In rare conditions, male flowers start bearing fruit too but that fruit does not mature and drops off at a young stage.

If a tree is a female, it requires pollen to bearfruits.in case, the female plant does not receive pollen then it does not bear any fruits. Pistils of such plants start turning brown and non functional after some time.

In few cases, trees become summer sterile bisexual. Though they have both reproductive plant parts but hot weather in summer can lead to infertility. However, in cool months trees begin to function normally.

Insufficient water supply can result in a non- fruiting condition in plants. If a proper amount of water is not provided then plants cease to bear flowers and therefore there is no fruit formation too.

Excessive dryness in plants can lead to death eventually.

If the tree looks perfectly fine from outside and a proper water supply is ensured with good soil drainage and still there are no fruits. This can be a sign that the tree is starving to death. Lack of nutrients is the cause of this problem.

Provide proper nutrition to plant to get rid of problem.

Pests and diseases can also lead to no fruiting in papaya plants. When the natural functioning of plants is disturbed, they fail to fruit. Diseases like mildew and root diseases lead to non fruiting.

There are various conditions that can lead to problems and death in papaya plants. But the cure and treatment is also known to mankind. You can deal with diseases and make your plants healthy. Papaya is a herbaceous perennial and a little care of it will bring sweet fruits to you.