Tag: vegetable farming

Vegetable Farming

How to Plant, Grow Sweet Potato – Farming Guide

Author ByMaryem

Sweet Potato popularly known as Yams in some parts of North America and is one of the most favorite foods enjoyed by all. It is native to lands of tropical America and generally comes under the family of ‘Convolvulaceae’.

Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and hence, give a good amount of calories when consumed. Due to its high carbohydrate content, it is used as livestock feed. Sweet potatoes have sweet root tubers. Thus, it is the main source of starch, industrial alcohol, sugar syrup, and glucose.  

How to Plant, Grow Sweet Potato?

sweet potato

Climatic Conditions

Sweet Potato cultivation has a wide color range of tuber skin. This mainly consists of purple, brown, white color tuber skin. Farming is done mainly in tropical and subtropical climatic regions. It is generally cultivated in totally frost-free areas.

Soil specifications

Sweet potato cultivation requires soil that has a pH of 5.8 to 6.7. It can be cultivated in sandy as well as loamy soils. However, the best soil recommended for sweet potato cultivation is sandy loam soil with high fertility and good drainage system. It is advised not to cultivate in areas having light sandy and heavy clayey soil.

It is so because the tuber development in such soil does not occur well. Many varieties of sweet potato are cultivated. Among them, the most common variety is Punjab Sweet Potato- 21. This type gives an average yield of 75 QTL per acre and contains deep red color tubers having white flesh.

Also Read: Growing Mushroom for Your Diet

Other varieties from different states include:

  • Varsha, which is grown in Maharashtra and gives an average yield of 62.5 QTL per acre.
  • SreeArun, which is grown near Sreekariyam gives an average yield of 83 to 116 QTL per acre.
  • KonkanAshwini, which is grown in Maharashtra gives an average yield of 70 QTL per acre.
  • H – 41, Co 3, H – 42, and SreeRetna are some of the improved varieties of sweet potatoes cultivated in the US.  

Land Preparation

Now, a question arises on how to grow sweet potato. Farming requires proper land preparation. It is essential to bring the soil to a fine tilt. Before sowing the seeds, it is essential to plowing the land around three to four times. This should be followed by the planking process. Ensure that the land is free from weed.

This is followed by the sowing process. The best time for sowing tubers in nursery beds in January or February. For planting vines, the best time is between April and July. To sow tubers, keep the depth to 20 to 25 cm. For spacing, it is advised to use the row to row spacing of sixty centimeters and plant to plant spacing of thirty centimeters.

Commonly, sweet potato farming uses vine cutting methods for sowing purposes. In this, the tubers are taken from the old vines and are then planted and prepared on nursery beds. Ridges and flatbeds are used for vine plantation. It is advised to use terminal cutting as it gives a better result. Also, the host plant should have at least four to five nodes.

You can sow around thirty-five to forty kilograms of tubers in half a Kanal land, which is then followed by the planting of vines in one-acre land. You can also treat the tubers by placing them in a plastic bag and soaking them in concentrated sulfuric acid for around ten to forty minutes.

Planting sweet potatoes 

Sweet potatoes have unique properties and hence can be cultivated even in poor soil. There are chances of development of deformed roots if the soil is very clayey or is rich in the excessive sandy dirt. For creating a perfect environment, it is necessary for creating long, wide ridges spacing at least 10 inches. The potatoes are placed at a distance of 3 and a half feet from one another. 

The plantations require plenty of compost. Avoid the use of fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen components. These produce lush vines and stunted tubers. If you are performing sweet potato cultivation in cold areas, remember to cover the soil with a plain plastic. This will help in keeping the soil warm, thereby promoting strong growth to the sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes cultivation and crop rotation 

Sweet potato farming can be done along with rice crop rotation. This can be done for maximum usage of land. In such a case, sweet potatoes can be planted in December and January after the second harvest of rice. After sowing, apply a full dose of K2O and P2O5 which acts as fertilizers.

Also, apply nitrogen dose at the time of planting and after five weeks of planting. This fertilizes the soil and helps in providing better results.

After planting the vines, perform irrigation once in 2 days for ten days. After that, perform irrigation once in seven to ten days. Thereafter, before three weeks of harvesting, stop the process of irrigation.

However, irrigate the land before two days of harvesting. This provides better results. This process should be followed to grow sweet potatoes.

Weed Control

Weed control is another essential step undertaken during cultivation. Sweet potato cultivation requires the application of several treatments to prevent the growth of weed around the crops. Treatment solutions such as Metribuzine 70WP with a dosage of 200gram per acre or Alachlor at 2ltr per acre is applied to the field. This needs to be done before the sweet potatoes start sprouting.

Weed infests the plants even after sprouting. When around 5 to 10% sprouts have emerged, the sweet potatoes’ field gets infested with several varieties of weed. At this stageParaquat at 500 to 750 ml per acre is applied. 

Protecting the plants against pest

Sweet potato weevils are long insects with a length of ¼ inches. These are dark blue heads, orange-red bodies, and wings. They lay their eggs into the stems and tubers. They lay their eggs on the tubers and stems. The fleshy roots contain sufficient nutrients for the larvae to grow, while the vines and leaves are a great source of nutrients for the adults.

Potato foot rot, a common disease in these plants are caused due to these pests. The plants infected with the disease have brown or black stems near the soil and at the ends, that does on enlarging.  

These weevils multiply themselves quickly and can affect the whole field within a few days. Hence, they are hard to eliminate. But, with better-certified disease-resistant chemicals along with crop rotation after every four years.

It is advised to destroy all the plants from their roots that have been infected. Alternatively, you can pick these plants along with their roots, place them in a sealed container, and discard them with other household wastes. 

Irrigating the field

Another important technique that is involved in all types of crop cultivation. Some crops require less water while others require more. Moreover, the amount of irrigation required for different crops is different at every stage.  

Sweet potatoes are irrigated once in every 2 days after the stems are planted. This continues for about 10 days. Thereafter, irrigation is given once in a week or 10 days. The plants stop receiving irrigation before 21 days of harvesting. However, irrigation is just a couple of days before sweet potato harvesting. 

Protecting the plant from different diseases

Apart from the above-mentioned points, it is very important to perform weed control in the initial days. Earthing up should be followed after one month of planting. This removes weeds and results in good yield. Weeds are automatically suppressed once the vines start to grow.

Also, it is important to protect your sweet potato cultivation from various diseases. Various diseases such as black scurf, early blight may destroy your plantation and may cause a great loss to the investment.

A black scarf is observed on tubers which in turn causes the plant to dry up. In this, black color appears on the tuber’s eyes. To avoid this disease, treat the tubers with mercury.

In early blight, some necrotic spots appear on lower leaves of the plant. It happens in areas having high moisture content and low temperature. To avoid this, prevent mono-cropping and follow crop rotation. Check for other diseases like common scab also. It is advised to perform pest control by using appropriate pesticides.

Besides, sweet potatoes are affected immensely due to fungal diseases. One such is the black rot, causing dark and circular depressions on the tubers. Infected sweet potatoes must be discarded properly, followed by curing the healthy roots of the same crop. 

Stem rot is another fungal disease commonly found in these plants. The fungus affects the part of the stems that insects have injured due to careless sweet potato farming. Although plants will not die due to the disease but will result in poor quality yields. It is best to plant healthy slips for farming. This will minimize the chances of the plants from being infected by insects and fungus. 

Are you afraid of mummification of sweet potatoes? Are you wondering how to save them and reduce dry rot? It is easy. Store the healthy and fleshy roots at 55 to 60 degrees. This simple step will help you a lot in saving your sweet potatoes as well as give you high yields. 

 Harvesting sweet potatoes

Lastly, harvesting needs to be done. These crops get mature after around 120 to 125 days of planting. Sweet potato harvesting is done at the time when tubers get mature and the crop’s leaves turn to yellow. But, the longer you keep the crop in the ground, the better yield it will be. How? If the potatoes are left for longer, they will be more nutritious as they will have high vitamin content.

Must Read: Onion Farming Skills? Here’s What To Do

But be careful and keep a track of the climatic conditions. On the arrival of frost, the vines will start to turn dark, and finally black. Beware, the tubers will start rotting and the yield will be wasted. 

What are the best ways of harvesting sweet potatoes? Many often inquire about this, as they are not aware of the best measures. It is better to use a spading fork for digging tubers during sweet potato harvesting.

Harvest them on a bright sunny day. This needs to be done when the soil is completely dry. Store them in a well-ventilated area at 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple of weeks. 

There is a sharp trend in the cultivation of sweet potatoes. Farmers are shifting the areas for cultivation of other cash crops that have a high yield and more demand in the market.  

Vegetable Farming

Cabbage Farming Guide

Author ByMaryem

Cabbage also is known as Brassica oleracea var. capitata is a popular temperate and small green-leafy or purple vegetable. The leafy vegetable is also called a biennial plant or as a rabi crop but in certain areas, it is grown as a Kharif crop too.

Cabbages are rich in vitamins C and A and are also filled with minerals such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. Cabbage can be consumed in cooked or raw form depending on the individual. The external appearance of the crop displays a compact mass of smooth leaves wrapped around each other and the structure is referred to as the head of the vegetable.

The leaves on the exterior are large in size than the inner ones. The stem of the plant is stout and short and the flowers of the plant appear in the winter season. Thus, cabbage is a cool-weather crop.

Before initiating cabbage farming, it is essential to understand the basics of cabbage cultivation and the environment necessary for the entire process. Starting to grow cabbage in the late or mid-summer so that it can be harvested in the winter, early spring, or in the autumn season.

The seeds of the crop should be planted indoors approximately 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost and the crop should be ¼ inch deep during the sowing process. The transplants of the crop can be transferred to the outdoor garden once they are around 7-10 cm (3-4 inches) tall and the seedlings are hardened.

The sowing process of the plant can be started as soon as the soil is easy to work on in the spring season. The regions with mild winters can start the seeding process during the late summer so that the crop can be harvested in spring or winter.

Also Read: Are You Embarrassed By Your Onion Farming Skills?

Perfect Environment to Grow Cabbage

How long does cabbage take to grow

Weather and soil are the dominating factors in the proper outcomes of the cabbage. Cabbages are regarded as adaptive in nature when it comes to soils as well as climate. Cabbage quickly depletes the nutrients present in the soil and thus the plant is considered as the heavy feeder.

Organic constituent rich and well-drained soil is ideal for growing cabbage. Heavy to sandy soils rich in nutrients is preferred for cabbage cultivation. The planting bed/soil should be prepared well in advance by combining the aged manure or compost. The well-drained soil aids in inhibiting the rotting of the head that stands in the water.

Light soil is used for early crops whereas late crops require heavy soils to store moisture. Growing the plant on the heavy soil helps in growing the plant slowly thus maintaining the quality. The soil used for cabbage farming should have a pH level in the range of 5.5-6.5. The pH of the soil shouldn’t cross 6.5 and it shouldn’t fall below 4.5 as it can damage the petals of the cabbage plant.

The cabbage plant is prone to various diseases when grown in saline soils. Thus, it is crucial to determine the pH to get the best results in the cabbage planting. Furthermore, crop rotation is practiced to avoid soil-borne diseases and infections to the plant.

The cabbage plant in the Indian subcontinent is grown in moist and cool climatic conditions. The optimum temperature ranges from 15°-21°C for the perfect growth of the head of the cabbage. The flowering intensity of the plant is influenced by the duration of its exposure to low temperatures and the age of the plant.

Popular Varieties of Cabbage

There are different types of cabbages with varied sizes, colours, and shapes. The varieties in green cabbages are Golden Acre, Round-Up, Blue Boy, Green Boy, Badger Ban Head, Market Prize, Blue Ribbon, Flat Dutch, Jersey Wakefield, and Stonehead. Red cabbage varieties are Ruby Perfection, Red ball, Red Acre, and Red Ribbon. Savoy cabbage varieties available are Savoy King and Savoy Ace.

The other varieties available are PusaMukta, Hariana, Bajrang, September Early, Pusa Drum Head, Pride of India, K-1, Pusa Synthetic, Late Large Drum Head, ShriganeshGol, Copenhagen Market, Early Drum Head, Kaveri, and Midseason Market.

Stages of Cabbage Growth

The complete growth of cabbage is divided into 9 stages – Cotyledon (first leaf), Seedling, 6-8 true leaf, 9-12 true leaf, Precupping, Cupping, Early head formation, Head fill, and Mature stage. The seedling goes through these stages to turn into a mature plant.

Cabbage Watering Requirement

Watering the cabbage plant too is an important ingredient necessary in the developmental stage of the plant. The cabbage plant need a continuous moisture supply. Drip system can be installed for better water retaining. Plant bolting occurs in the dry environment and thus prevents from drying. A cabbage plant requires 11/2-inch rain/week and if the environmental condition is not favourable, external watering should be done to keep the plant hydrated.

Around 10 litre water is required for meter square of the land and thus hose and jugs are used. It is essential to be careful while watering the root levels and upper levels. Roots help in retaining the soil moisture and upper levels aids in keeping diseases and pests at bay.

The leaves that have turned yellow should be removed as they can cause a further infestation in the plants. Mushy soil is not a suitable environment for cabbage like other vegetables. If for any unknown reason the soil is dry, the soil has to be dug 3 inches down and then water it. If the moisture level transfers from the upper layer, the plant can be harvested in better shape.

Spacing and Planting Cabbage

Cabbage farming is easy but to understand the correct planting procedure helps in good yield. The distance of planting relies on soil conditions, variety, and planting season. The seedlings are planted in 4-5 levels. The seedlings of cabbage are sowed 0.5-inch-deep and spaced 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart.

Thin plants on the other hand are 45-61 cm (18-24 inches) apart from each other. When there are 4-5 true leaves and are 4-6 weeks old, cabbage can be transplanted to the garden. Cooked stem plants should be planted deep. Seedlings are spaced 45-61 cm (18-24 inches) away from each other and are placed in rows which are apart at 61-91 cm (24-36 inches).

The plants can also be placed near to each other but the size of the mature heads would be smaller. Based on the maturity levels, the following distances are recommended:

Early maturity: 60×30 cm or 45×45 cm

Mid-level maturity: 60×45 cm

Late maturity: 60×60 cm or 75x60cm

A garden fabric set or black plastic can be used to plant cabbage in the early spring season. An x is cut in the fabric or plastic to set the cabbage transplant. Cabbage crop can be planted in succession with the time interval of every 2 weeks so the plant can be harvested at varied times of the season.

Planting Method

Morning or late evening is preferred time for transplanting process. The roots of the seedlings are dipped in Bavistin solution (2 gram/litre of solution) before transplantation. After the process of transplantation, irrigation is immediately carried out. Some countries irrigate the beds first and then the seedlings are transplanted to the bed.

Irrigation Mechanism

The cabbage is a versatile vegetable yet at the same time, it can’t suffer drying out. In the colder time of year season the interim irrigation methodology is used which takes 8-10 days. In any case, in the dry season the method must be constant.

A restricted water quantity ought to be present in furrows in order to re-hydrate the crops during dry climatic conditions. During the rainy season, a remarkable drainage technique needs to be made to deal with the situation. Areas with less rainfall should implement drizzle irrigation to cope up with the water scarcity in the plantation method.

Fertilizers and Manures

The dose of fertilizer depends on the quantity of organic manure used in the crop and the soil fertility. Approximately 4 weeks before transplanting, 15-20 tonnes of FYM is integrated into the soil for better yield. In general, for optimum yield 60-100 kg P2O5, 60-120 kg K2O, and 80-120 kg N is recommended. At the time of transplantation, entire quantity of K and P is given and half dose of N is applied. The remaining N is applied after 6 weeks from transplantation.

Apart from these fertilizers, decomposed cow dung 40 tonnes/ acre, Muriate of Potash 40kg/acre, Single Superphosphate 155kg/acre, and Urea 110kg/acre is applied. Also, look for magnesium or boron deficiency in the plant and accordingly perform soil testing.

Companions of Cabbage

Cabbage can be grown together with onions, fragrant herbs, beet roots, potatoes, sage, thyme, cucumber, dill, spinach, kale, artichoke, lettuce, and celery provide additional benefits to the cabbage plant. Try to avoid growing tomatoes, pole beans, cauliflower,and strawberries as they require the same nutrients and thus can’t be grown together.

Harvesting and Yielding

when do you harvest cabbage / cabbage harvest time?

It takes 90-120 days for the plant to get harvested. The ideal time for harvesting the cabbage is when the head portion is mature and hard and stable. The delay in harvest even for few days after it is matured can cause incidences of disease and split heads of the plant.

The harvesting of heads that are immature results in reduced yield as the heads are not yet mature and are easily prone to damage due to the delicate nature. The life of immature heads is shorter than the mature heads.

The harvesting of head is done by tilting the head on one side and then gradually cutting it with a sharp knife. The stalk of the plant has to be cut in flat form and incision should be done close to the head but stalk has to be long to preserve 2-4 wrapper leaves. The wrapper leaves or extra leaves behave as cushions that helps in protecting cabbages while handling. Certain markets desire the extra leaves for consumption or decoration purposes.

The head of the plant has to be handled carefully and should not be twisted or snapped while removing as it can cause head damage and the length of the stalk becomes inconsistent. The breakage in the stalks causes faster decay.

Depending on the maturity of the heads, the harvest is carried out as different heads require different time for maturity and thus differs in harvest time. Before packing, the harvested produce should be stored in shade conditions. The sorting and grading process is followed after harvesting and it depends on the head size.

The yielding process depends on various factors such as cultivation season, variety, and maturity group. The early varieties have an average yield of 25-30 t/ha and the late level varieties yield is 40-60 t/ha.

Common Diseases and Pests

The growth of the plant attracts various types of pests and diseases. These pests and diseases impact the plant externally as well as internally. The entire system of the plant from roots to leaf is damaged by the catastrophic elements. For instance, it can damage the essence, weight, growth rate, color, and many other things.

The pests infecting the crops are Cutworms, American Bollworms, Flea Beetles, Aphids, Cabbage worms, Nematodes, Cabbage rot maggots, Bagrada Bug, Diamond Back Moth (DBM), and Cabbage loopers.

The diseases that infect the produce are Wire Stem, White Blister, Downy Mildew, Club-root, Target spot/Leaf spot/ Ringspot, White Mould, Blackleg (Dry Rot Canker), Powdery Mildew, White leaf spot, and Dumping off. Most of the diseases are caused by Botrytis and Sclerotinia.

To control these diseases and pests, chemicals like insecticidal soaps, Spinosad, Carbaryl, Permethrin, and Neem oil extracts is used. However, not all the pests and diseases can be controlled and thus a proper consultation with agricultural institute might provide solutions.

Preserving and Storing Cabbage

Cabbage can stay for 1-2 weeks or may be longer in a refrigerator. The seeds of cabbage can be sprouted. Cabbage can also be dried and frozen. It can also be cured in brine to make processed cabbage known as Sauerkraut.

Conclusion

Cabbage farming can yield profits if best practices are implemented at every stage of the process and proper hydration is provided to the plant.

Vegetable Farming

Ivy Gourd Farming: Planting,Care, and Harvesting

Author Byaqilfp

Friend’s today we are adding a new member to your farming list. Ivy gourd farming is new on the bucket list. You will be glad on knowing the benefits it adds to life. 

This cucumber-type appearing vegetable belongs to the Eastern part of Africa. It is also cultivated in the tropical part of America, Asia, the Pacific, and the northern part of Australia.

It is also popular by the name of the scarlet gourd. Ivy gourds are inclined towards climbing.

You can find the most commonly used in Indian dishes. But it is adored and relished worldwide for its contribution to health.

To find out what Ivy gourd farming is? This article will cover every nook and corner related to Ivy gourd farming.

Types of Ivy gourd

There are only two types of Ivy gourds: Striped and non-striped.

Soil, Climate requirement, and land preparation

For good Ivy gourd farming, you must have sandy loam soil enriched with nutrients. It should also not waterlog. 

You should restrain from using acidic, alkaline, or other sorts of heavy soils. The PH range of 6-6.5 should be maintained.

A humid and warm climate is what these ivy gourds love and crave. The temperature range should fall between 20 to 32 degrees for a good yield. 

Though the Ivy gourd cultivation can be done at any point of time during the year. For amazing results rainy season or warm weather is preferred.

No great efforts are to be made for getting the land ready for cultivation. Just thoroughly plowing should be done to entangle the soil and check for weeds, if any.

After that, a good quality manure should be applied to the soil. The ground is now ready for Ivy gourd cultivation.

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

How to plant Ivy gourd

Vegetative propagation is the planting style popularly practiced in Ivy gourd cultivation. The propagation is processed either using stems or by seeds.

But through seeds they take at least a year to reach a plant. When opting for stem cutting propagation, you should fix the width to 2 cm and the length to 20 cm of the stem.

Those stem cuttings should go 6 cm deep into the soil having a basin width of 60 cm. And the same way you can proceed with other cutting while maintaining a gap of 2 cm. This is the way how to plant Ivy gourd in the field.

How to grow Ivy gourd from seed

How to grow Ivy gourd from seeds is an interesting process. Get some scarlet gourds from the supermarket and cut them to remove the seeds.

After this, you can immediately sow these seeds, without stressing about the weather conditions. That means they can be planted at any time just to avoid scorching summers. 

Remember, the temperature range between 15 to 27 degrees work wonders and promotes sprouting at a faster rate.

Though, planting can be done through seeds also but it is not a good idea. There are harms of adopting this procedure.

There are chances of disagreement between the seeds and true fruit. And it is evident to end up without any fruit, for you need to plant female and male plants next to each other.

Must Read: Snake Gourd Farming

Season for plantation

The Ivy gourd cultivation should be done before the onset of rains or in the spring season. As these are perennial, so replanting should be done at least after 4 years. There must be 2 metre bamboo stick should used to render support to the plant.

Ivy gourd plant care

A proper Ivy gourd plant care ensures a good quality of Ivy gourd. Following things should be kept in mind while taking care of the plant:

  1. Spacing: The spacing pattern remains the same as cucumber plants. At some point in time, they start searching for a company and tend to get attached.
  2. Weed Control: During the early stages of Ivy gourd cultivation weeding is a must to do activity. As it is inclined to reproduce many other small plants and twigs effect the plant growth.
  3. Water Supply: At the budding stage, it should be watered properly. Once attaining growth, the water supply can be stopped.
  4. Pruning: This adds life and energy to the plant. After pruning, don’t dump the cut branches and small twigs as can regenerate.
  5. Pest Control: The major enemies of Ivy gourd cultivation are Thrips, mites, Aphids, and Whiteflies. Their spread can be checked by treating them chemically.

Harvesting Ivy gourd farming

These scarlet gourds are ready for harvesting in a 3-month time. A hand sickle or a cutter is an advisable tool to be used owing to its small size and to avoid any damage to the vine. 

This harvest results in a yield of 12 to 15 tonnes per hectare in Ivy gourd farming.

Benefits of Ivy gourds

  1. Diabetes control: The leaves of this plant when consumed in a raw state helps in controlling the sugar level in the blood.
  2. Checks obesity: It keeps so obesity free by accelerating the metabolism rate.
  3. Reduces fatigue: Rich in iron provides a backup for energy level. As it reduces the iron deficiency in the body.
  4. Corrects the functioning of the nervous system: Ivy gourd is a bag full of nutrients and vitamins which are associated with the healthy functioning of the nervous system.

Conclusion

There is nothing much to discuss Ivy gourd farming. One thing is clearing its farming is not very much profitable like other veggies.

Still is not a bad idea to go for Ivy gourd farming. Not on a large scale but can be executed profitably as a small-scale farming option. 

Go ahead and do share your Ivy gourd farming experience. Stay connected for more updates.

Vegetable Farming

Bitter Gourd Farming: Basic Process And Diseases

Author ByMaryem

Bitter gourd farming or bitter melon farming has become very popular these days. Bitter gourd is popular for its medicinal advantages mainly and some people are in love with its bitter taste also.

Bitter gourd (Carantia Momordica) is an essential crop that has a distinct bitter taste and bitter gourd yield per acre spread. It has been cultivated for its unripe, tubercular fruits. It is a luscious, slightly smooth, climbing vine, covered in dark green leaves and deeply lobed dioeciously yellow flowers. 

Bitter gourd farming has a drug worth and is used for the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, rheumatism, and blood disorders. Naturopaths are advised to drink fresh bitter gourd milk. In many ayurvedic remedies, roots and wild bitter gourd stems are used.

The fruit is considered a rich vitamin and mineral source and 88 mg per 100 g of vitamin C. After cooking, the fruit is used and after stuffing and frying, delicious preparations are made. Fruits are partly cut, salted, and dried under direct sunlight during times of glut on the market and processed for months. During the glut phase. After baking, this is used. 

Things to Consider Before You Start Bitter Gourd Farming:

The Right Climate Requirment:

It is a mild seasonal plant mostly cultivated in hot and subtropical regions. They are vulnerable to mild frost and are partially protected when grown in the winter months. The 24o- 27oC temperature range is considered optimal for wine growth. When the temperature is above 18oC, the seed germinates best. The crop is sensitive to various fungal diseases due to its high moisture level during vegetative growth.

The Proper Soil

Bitter gourd yield per acre, on well-drained sandy to sandy loam, bitter gourd can be grown; medium-black soils rich in organic matter. Alluvial soil is fine to make bitter gourds in the river beds. An optimum number of pHs between 6.0 and 7.0.

Must Read: Snake Gourd Farming Guide

Planting Method

Land Preparation:

The ground is plucked and tilt-up by 1-2 tilting and flattening cross-sections. Depending on the support scheme to be followed, the furrows are opened at a distance of 1,5-2,5 m.

Method of Planting:

The plant is planted in the plains in autumn, from January to February, while the planting in the rainy season is planted in May. 4-5 kg of seed is needed for the plantation of 1 hectare. Thiram is handled (3 g/kg of seed) before planting.

Plant Support:

As a slow climber Bitter Gourd requires its growth boost. When ploughed without protection, the seedlings traced on the support (bower) still yield for 6-7 months vs 3-4 months.

These vines are less vulnerable to plague and diseases because they are not directly related to the soil. The planting is performed at an interval of 2.5 x 1m in the bower method.

Furs are opened at 2.5 m and canals of drainage are laid at a depth of 5-6 m. On both ends of alternative furrows at a distance of 5 meters are placed timber poles (3 m high). The cables are connected to these poles.

The wires along the furrows are further attached to a network of wires at a 45cm distance. Seminars are sprayed around the furrow at a distance of 1 m and slightly coated in dirt. 

The vines last approximately 1.5 to 2 months to the bower, so the vines are roped until they bower in the first phases of development. If the grapes exceed the height of the bower, the fresh vines travel to the bower.

Manuring and fertilization

The dose of fertilizer to be used would depend on soil variety, soil fertility, temperature, and planting season. The FYM (15-20 t/ha) is generally decomposed well and is mixed during ploughing with the dirt.

The suggested dosage is 50-100 kg N of P2O5 (40-60 kg) and 30-60 kg 25 K2O per hectare. Until planting, half of the N and whole P & K should be included. At the time of flowering, N balance is given. In a 6-7 cm ring from the base of the trunk, the fertilizer is added. Production technology of bitter gourd covers both fertilizer applications should be completed shortly before the fruit is placed.

Irrigation Process

Bitter gourd planting distance or Irrigation may not be required in rainy season crops, where precipitation is well spread between July and September. Bitter gourd planting distance Usually, the ridges are irrigated a day or two before seeds are planted, and, ideally light, they are irrigated for 4 or 5 days after seeds are planted. The irrigation is then conducted weekly. How to grow bitter gourd, To encourage rapid taproot growth, it is important to conserve moisture in the root zone.

Harvesting Tips

How to harvest bitter gourd most common question asked by our audience so here is the answer to it. It takes between 55-60 days to achieve the first harvest for the grapes of it as a bitter gourd growing time. More pickings can be completed 2-3 days after bitter gourd fruits ripen and turn red very quickly.

Fruit selection at the right level of edible maturity depends on individual types and species. Usually, the selection is performed particularly if the fruits are tender and green, so that during transportation the fruits will not turn yellow or yellowish. The harvest should take place in the morning and after harvesting the fruit should be kept in the shade.

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

Yield:

Depending on the crop system, variation, season, and various others, the yield of production technology of bitter gourd varies. Fruit yields vary between 8 and 10 t/ha on average.

Post-Harvest Management

Grading: The fruits are classified according to their size and colour. Usually, the green fruits are 20-25 cm long with short neck and tuberculosis.

Packaging: The fruits are bought in baskets of bamboo or crates of wood. Neem leaves or newspapers are spread as lining material on the bottom until they are packaged. Until shipment to the market, the fruits are carefully collected and sealed with gunny sacks.

Storage: The fruit is eaten fresh and is kept briefly in the shade until it is packed and transported.

Diseases:

Powdery Mildew: This illness is favoured by high moisture and occurs first on older plants. Symptoms occur mainly on the top surface of the leaf as white powdery dust. Circular patches or streaks occur on the bottom surface of the leaves. In serious situations, these stretch out, coalesce and spread to the surfaces, stems, and so on. Severe attacks can lead to brown leaves and shrillness and defoliation. The fruits are not completely developed by the infected plants and are thin.

In the Cercospora leaf spot disease, there should be brown spots on the older leaves of the plant. Gummy stem blight is another serious issue for these plants. The symptoms are v-shaped yellow or brown area at the stem portion and also lesions at the stem. The symptoms of scab disease are brown lesions on leaves. 

Conclusion:

Bitter gourd farming is not only beneficial for your health and taste but also your pocket. As the veggie has a good market value, large scale bitter gourd farming can help you make money also. 

You just have to focus on the factors important to keep your bitter gourd plants safe and healthy so that they can bear good fruits. Hope the above-mentioned information is going to help you in the way of bitter gourd farming. Stay healthy, stay blessed.

Vegetable Farming

Bell Pepper Farming: Planting, Growing, Pruning, & Harvesting

Author ByMaryem

Bell Pepper crop is mainly grown when the weather is warm. These crunchy Bell peppers have some sweetness in them however they lack a component called capsaicin that gives it the heat. The external skin of the bell peppers is very smooth and provides a shield to crunchy flesh present inside.

Bell Peppers are hollow from inside and have so many seeds in the middle, attached to the white-colored membrane that lies along the wall. These are also known as the colored capsicum that is mainly red, yellow, and green. These have vitamin C and vitamin A in them.

Organic capsicum farming needs a temperature of 15 to 25° celsius and these grow very well at a height of about 2000 meters above the sea level. Bell Peppers can be grown in greenHouses and in greenHouse cultivation one can get up to 120 tonnes of yield to each hectare. 

Climatic conditions for growing bell pepper:

Bell Peppers can be cultivated in cool as well as warm conditions however extreme weather conditions are intolerable. So in summers to avoid too much heat, shading can be done. 20 to 25° C is the best temperature for germination as well as fruit set. 

Selecting the planting stuff for bell pepper plantation:

First of all, all the materials that you select for planting should be healthy. All the stuff should be diseases and pest resistant. Coming to the seedlings, for bell pepper plantation, the age of seedlings should be about 40 days. The seeding should be up to 20 cm long.

The crop should have a fine rooting system. The stem of the seedlings should possess a few leaves on it during the plantation. Selecting a good variety of all the planting material is very important for good quality fruit and high yield as well as good production. 

Must Read: How to Germinate Chilli Seeds

Soil preparation for bell pepper: 

The soil has to be properly loosened and make a nice tilth. After this beds are prepared to have heights of 45cm and 75cm wide. But before this step either vermicompost or properly decomposed organic matter along with sand and sawdust should be added to the soil.

Afterward, the beds are soaked with 4 Percent of formaldehyde and then are protected with polythene for about 4 to 5 days. Later on, these polythene covers are removed. Then the beds are to be raked regularly every day to remove the fumes of formaldehyde that are stuck in the soil. Sandy and loamy soil are best for these capsicums. For bell pepper, the pH of the soil should be 6.0- 6.8. Along with all these, this plant also requires a lot of care. 

Planting and Pruning of bell pepper:

When the seedlings are completely ready, then these are planted in the rows that maintain a distance of 60cm between them and the distance between the plants has to be 30cm. Imidacloprid is sprayed on the seedlings to prevent any pest infestation.

Pruning of bell pepper

During plantation, the bed should be watered, as the bed has to be completely wet during this process. After this, the seeds have been sown in two lines on the beds. Plastic mulches can also be used for this purpose as it also helps in controlling weeds and saving water.

Irrigation of the bed has to be done daily until the seeds are set up well. Later on, the drip irrigation method is used to irrigate the field with 2 to 3 liters of water to each square meter every day.

Pruning is started after about 20 days of plantation and this has to be done after every 7 days.

After the completion of 4 months, this activity has to be done once in 10 days. The seedlings of bell pepper are planted in a zig-zag pattern on the beds. 

Diseases of bell pepper: 

Mainly the disease is fungal diseases that include damping off, grey mold, pythium, powdery mildew, fruit rot, etc. 

Damping-off:

This is a disease of seeds that occurs when the plant has just started to grow. Pythium and Rhizoctonia solani are carriers of this fungal disease. In this disease, fungi destroy the root system of the plant. Some plants having this disease may have the potential to grow mature however these fungi will cause root rot and gradually kill the plant.

Growing the seedlings in an inert medium can help avoid this fungal disease however the reason for this disease can be poor sanitation in a greenhouse or improper soil, or climate or not irrigating on time can also be responsible for this.

When this crop is grown at a commercial level, the seedlings are transplanted from the greenhouse to Rockwool where the best conditions are provided and chances of any disease are also very less. Selecting fresh and healthy seeds and growing the plant under ideal conditions can help control the disease. 

Root rot or pythium crown disease:

This disease is not very common and usually occurs after the dumping of the disease. The main reason for this disease is stressful conditions in the greenhouse. This disease can be under control by growing the plant in ideal conditions and maintaining the temperature in the root zone and irrigating them from time to time. 

Fusarium stem or fruit rot:

In this dark brown soft, and black lesions appear on the stems. This fungal disease is mainly caused by Fusarium solani. These black lesions may also be seen around the calyx and this degrades the quality of food.

Fusarium stem or fruit rot of bell pepper

To avoid this fungal disease, the greenhouse should be neat and clean and some sanitation should be exercised to prevent fruit rot. The plants that are infected should be immediately and carefully removed from the greenhouse to avoid the spread of disease to every plant.

The greenhouse should be properly ventilated so that it has good air circulation and talking about the humidity, it should not rise more than 85 percent otherwise it will be harmful. 

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

Gray mold fungal disease:

The fungus Botrytis cinerea is responsible for gray mold disease. It is a very common disease. High humidity and bad air circulation favor this disease. In this disease, the fungi get into the crop from the wounded area where greenish colored lesions develop.

gray mold fungal disease in bell-pepper

These lesions griddle the stem and the plant dies at the end. The gray mold infection is usually found in the wounded area or calyx in the beginning. To avoid this fungal infection, proper air circulation has to be maintained and the relative humidity should not be more than 85 percent. 

Powdery mildew:

This is the next disease of bell pepper. This disease is mainly caused by Leveilluta Taura. This disease was first reported in Canada. In this disease, the overall crop yield decreases by 10 to 15 percent. In this disease, the white powdery layer can be seen on the surface of the leaf. 

These were some of the fungal diseases and their symptoms and control. Next comes the diseases caused by viruses. 

  • PMMV:

Pepper mild mottle virus: In this disease, any part of the plant can get infected. This disease is very difficult to detect until the plants start fruiting. In this disease further, the growth of a plant can be infected. Symptoms of this fruit occur well before the stunting symptoms and include the development of obvious bumps on the fruit as well as color streaking and green spotting when the fruit matures to color. The fruit is very sharp from the corners and may also develop sunken brown areas on the external skin.

Daily use of skim milk as a dip while handling the plants helps to prevent the spread of the virus in the crop. Skim milk has the protein that helps to bind to the virus and disables it. The virus is secure in the sap of the plant. This virus easily expands from plant to plant.

Once the plants start fruiting, PMMV (pepper mild mottle virus) can be easily detected in the plant through its symptoms on the vegetative parts of the plant. Infected plants should be pulled out very carefully and crushed because the virus can survive in a dry plant also. If all plants bear normal fruit, then it means that the plant is known disease-free and the use of skim milk can be stopped.

  • Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)

Tobacco mosaic virus disease can be found in greenhouse pepper throughout the world. Initially, the symptoms of this virus can be noticed on the surface of the leaf-like an injury with the main veins. Along with this wilting and leaf drop can also be observed. Also when the new plants start growing, then also these symptoms and this disease can be found in the plant and even it degrades the growth of a new plant.

To avoid this virus disease-free seeds should be used. The utility of skim milk dip can be helpful. The fully grown plant may carry the disease without showing any symptoms of the disease plants. 

  • Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)

Tomato spotted wilt virus TSWV has a long list of hosts that upsets almost 300 different species of plants. Thrips are the main reason for the spread of this virus, these thrips are the main problem in the greenhouse plants.

There are blackish-brown round shaped spots or tan spots that are surrounded by a black margin. 

 When the fruit ripens, the color of the fruit changes with orange to yellow spots having a green margin. Green spots can also be noticed at the backside of the ripened fruit that is red, yellow, or orange. 

Control of this virus:

This virus can be controlled by checking on the thrips and controlling them. In the starting, knowledge about thrips control and the other reasons for the spread of this disease should be gathered. One should take care of all the symptoms to avoid the disease.

Check on weed is also very important as if you don’t cut off the weeds it will suck all the necessary nutrients and the plant quality will degrade. Ornamental plants should be kept away from the greenhouse as they can also be a source of the virus.

Harvesting of bell pepper: 

The activity of harvesting can be initiated after completion of 2 months after plantation. However red and yellow capsicums take 3 months to become mature. Harvesting is done at the interval of 10 days and is carried out for almost 200 days.

Harvesting of bell pepper

After harvesting these can be stored in a cool place. These fruits are wrapped properly and then stored at a temperature of about 8° C and can be stored maximum for two months. After wrapping the capsicums, these can be packed in cartons of different sizes according to the need.  

Tips for growing bell peppers: 

  1. Mulching should be done from time to time and properly for good quality and high production. 
  2. Irrigation also has to be done properly as bell pepper needs deep watering. Especially in dry conditions watering should be done on time otherwise the fruit will taste bitter.
  3. Bell Peppers are warm climate crops and need proper sunlight for good growth.
  4. Using the correct fertilizer is very important as this greatly affect the crop yield
  5. Staking is not compulsory in bell pepper however it can help the crop to keep it off the floor. 
  6. Keeping a check on the pests is very important to avoid the diseases and hence suitable insecticides or pesticides should be used

Conclusion:

Bell pepper farming is a very fun activity as well as a profitable business. One should take care of all the necessary activities and take proper care of the crop.

Vegetable Farming

Potato Farming, Planting, Growing & Harvesting

Author ByMaryem

This scientifically-backed potato farming guide covers everything from planting to growing, harvesting, and storage. And, also, how to keep them fresh for very long!

Yes, the most common, our very own, very favorite, evergreen vegetable needs to be planted in early gardening season – as soon as the frost appears out of the soil, and you can work on the soil!

Different types of “best-days” are recommended by the folklores

  • Old-timers in England used to plant potatoes when they noticed dandelions in the fields.
  • Gertrude’s Day aka St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is considered as the “official potato-planting day” by the Pennsylvania Dutch.
  • A lot of Christians used to believe that Good Friday was the best day for planting potatoes because Devil could not do anything wrong on that day!

Isn’t it funny and interesting to know these facts about potatoes? Let’s start this detailed potato planting guide to know more about the farming of potatoes.

What is the best time to plant potatoes?

Cool-weather is suited best for the growth of potatoes. In Northern regions, farmers usually start potato farming in early to mid-April, 6 to 8 weeks before the expected end of the frost days. Potatoes do survive cold weather, but frosts are the real danger for them. If you feel the threat of frost at night, you can use mulch or any other artificial covering like plastic containers or old sheets to cover the sprouted foliage(s). But you must have to remove those covers in the morning.

Also Read: Sweet Potato Farming Information Guide

Here is how to properly fight frosts

Consider planting potatoes at least a couple of weeks after the last spring frost. Yes, you have the option to start it earlier, but frost or overly wet soil can damage some of the crops.

While deciding about the best potato farming season, follow the appearance of soil, instead of the calendar. If you follow the soil, it will tell you, when to plant the potatoes. The ideal temperature of soil for the proper growth of potatoes is a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). There should not be excessive moisture in the soil too. Because excessively wet soil will stick together, and you will find it difficult to work on it. If the soil is wet, give it some time to dry. Like most of the other seeds, potato seed pieces will start decaying if the soil is too wet.

In southern parts, the winter season is great for potato crops with September to February as the perfect window for planting. In central Florida, farmers prefer planting potatoes in January, while February is the month of potatoes farming in Georgia.

Preparing the site for planting

  • As already discussed, cool weather is best suited for growing potatoes. And loose, well-drained soil with 50 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees to 15.5 degrees Celsius as optimum temperature.
  • Choosing a location with proper sunlight of at least 6 hours per day is important.
  • If we talk about “plant potatoes how far apart”, potatoes are grown in rows with a distance of 3 feet between two rows.
  • Use a round-point shovel or hoe to 6-inches wide and 8-inches deep trench to ensure proper potatoes planting depth, tapering the bottom with a width of 3-inches.
  • Spread and mix in organic compost or fully-rotted manure in the trench bottom before planting.

How to plant potato slices?

  • In each trench, put a piece of seed potato after cutting side down, maintaining 12 to 14 inches of distance between two seed potatoes, and then cover them all with around 4 inches of soil.
  • If you have rocky soil in your field, place the seed potatoes all around the field. Add a little amount of compost to the soil, and cover them with leaves or straw.
  • Starting the potato farming with seed potatoes is the best idea. And make sure, you don’t get confused with seed potatoes with “potato seeds” or grocery produce. Planting potatoes with sprouts or protruding buds (eyes) is always recommended.
  • Use a sharp, clean knife to make slices of large potatoes, ensuring there are at least two buds in each piece.
  • If you have small potatoes, plant them without cutting.
  • If you are doing the cutting work yourself, do it a couple of days before planting. These two days will give enough “healing” time to the potato slices, and a protective layer will also form on each slice, making them resistant to rots as well as retaining enough moisture.
  • After around a couple of weeks, when you see a few more sprouts out of the soil, fill the trenches with 3 to 4 inches of soil again, exposing out only a few inches of plants. Keep it repeating every 2-3 weeks, and keep the soil 4 to 5 inches above the ground level (this is usually called “hilling”).
  • Once the potato plants flowering starts, add organic mulch in between the rows to ensure enough moisture. It will also help in keeping the soil cold, and will also protect from weeds.

Growing and hilling potatoes

Protecting the tubers from direct sunlight is a very critical part of growing potatoes. If the tubers are exposed to direct sunlight, they will produce solanine, a toxic product, making potatoes inedible, bitter, and potentially nausea-inducing.

“Hilling” is the way to protect potatoes from toxicity and to make them edible.

Hilling is not a very tough process: You will notice multiple main stems with flowering and leaves just where potatoes grow. And during this phase of initial growth, tubers are formed on secondary stems underground which branch off from the main stems. To protect shallow tubers from direct sun exposure and to ensure the production of more tubers, you should “hill-up” a few inches of more soil at regular intervals. For productive growth, hilling is done three to four times during a season.

Some important “hilling” tips

  • You will notice that the plants are at their maximum height in the morning, and that’s the best time for hilling. Plants get drooped with an increase in atmospheric temperature throughout the day.
  • Ensure maintaining enough moisture, especially at the time of appearance of sprouts till the several blossoming weeks. Potatoes growing roots require 1 to 2 inches of water every week. Excessive water in the beginning and then a drop in water quantity at the time of formation of potatoes will make tubers misshaped.
  • You should stop hilling the soil when you see blooming of potato plants, and when the part of the plant is at least one foot tall above the ground. You can support the plant and cover the tubers by hoeing the dirt up.
  • Yearly crop rotation is recommended for the regular growth of potatoes and also for maintaining enough life in the soil.

Pests and diseases related to the potato crop

Colorado potato beetles: You can hand-pick them and remove away from the field. Sometimes, predatory birds also feed on them. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is also effective in controlling when they are in a nymph state. Spinosad, an organic pesticide is an option when the beetles get uncontrolled. There are various types of insects that are beneficial for potatoes farming. So, avoid harming them by using beetles-killing products either at dawn or at dusk.

Potato scabs: Usually caused due to an increase in the pH of the soil. Always remember that potatoes like slightly acidic soil (with a pH of no more than 5.2). Dusting seed potatoes with sulfur is a good idea to avoid scabs. You can also add pine straw on the top of potatoes during planting.

When to harvest potatoes?

“New potatoes” which are usually harvested early in the harvesting season purposefully to keep them tender and smaller, are ready for harvesting two to three weeks after cessation of the flowering period. New potatoes are not suitable for long storage and should be transported and used within a few days of harvesting.

You can harvest “regular potatoes” once the foliage starts to die back. The upper part of plants should completely die for timely and productive harvesting.

potatoes harvest

Don’t water the potatoes much after mid-August (usual end of potato farming season) to keep them tough and hard.

You can check the maturity of potatoes by digging up a test hill. If the skin is firmly attached to the skin and is thick enough, your potatoes are mature and are ready for harvesting. If the skin is easily removable with hands, they are still new and are not yet ready for harvesting especially for long-time storage.

Light frosts are still not very harmful to potatoes, but once there is the beginning of first hard frost, the waiting time is over, and you should start digging the field and get the potatoes out.

“How” to harvest

First of all, cut down the brown foliage and leave the potatoes for a couple of weeks more before finally harvesting. If you follow this method for potato cultivation, potatoes will get enough time to develop a thick skin. But, don’t leave them for more than a couple of weeks, as they may rot.

Choose a dry day to dig the potatoes up. Dig up slowly and gently, avoiding any injury to the potatoes. If the potatoes are damaged while digging, don’t keep them for storage, and use them as soon as possible.

If there is excessive moisture in the soil, leave the potatoes in the air for long enough to dry them properly. Transfer them into containers only when they are completely dried.

Once the potatoes are out on the surface, don’t leave them under the sun exposure for so long, as they may turn green. And green potatoes are bitter due to the presence of solanine. And if eaten regularly, can cause stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting, etc. You can of course trim off the small green spots, but if half of the potato is green, you should throw it away.

How many potatoes per acre?

It depends on a lot of different factors including soil, weather throughout the season, caring, hilling, irrigation, use of insecticides and pesticides, and diseases, etc. A potato farming yield per acre is considered as “good” if you get 10 tons of potatoes per acre.

Curing Potatoes

  • Freshly dug potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place with the temperature between 45 to 60°F/7 to 15°C for a couple of weeks. It will ensure proper curing of skin and will make potatoes ready to store for longer.
  • After a couple of weeks of curing, don’t forget to brush off any soil on the potatoes.
  • Don’t wash potatoes unless you are going to use them. Washing potatoes reduces their life span, and can’t be stored for long.
  • After curing, don’t store potatoes near apples, as apples leave ethylene gas which can spoil the potatoes.

Storage of potatoes

Proper storage is the biggest challenge after the end of potato farming season. Ideal temperature, high humidity, no light, and ventilation, etc. are some of the important aspects of potato storage. You can’t store potatoes just anywhere. Storehouses with root cellars are preferred storage places for potatoes. Potatoes need cool temperature otherwise they may get affected from sprouting – and you are of course storing them for selling, not for farming again 😉

Recommendation for storage

  • There must be high humidity in the storeroom. Potatoes contain as much as 80% of water, and if there is dryness in the atmosphere, they will start drying out. Having a damp cellar is a perfect option. Otherwise, you can also increase humidity by storing perforated bags with tubers. Placing large pans of water near the air source is also a decent idea to maintain humidity.
  • Greening of potatoes is one of the major problems after the end of potato farming season. To avoid greening, store potatoes in dark storerooms. If that’s not possible due to any reason, you can pack potatoes in large, dark, perforated plastic bags to ensure darkness, and at the same time, to ensure proper, inside out air movement.
  • Ventilation is a must for potatoes. They use oxygen and give carbon dioxide even when they are harvested. Avoid putting potatoes in air-tight containers. Use perforated bags as already mentioned above to keep them fresh for long enough.

So, that’s all about our guide on potato farming. You can follow these steps to ensure productive and beneficial farming of perhaps the most evergreen, and the most commonly used vegetables around the world. In addition to “how” and “when” related to potato farming, you must have to be sure about where potatoes grow. So, choose the farming area wisely, follow the soil instead of the calendar to know the right time to start cultivation, and go with the above-mentioned steps to kickstart your potato business in the right direction. Don’t forget to write back to us, if you liked our guide. Happy farming, healthy farming! Cheerio!

Reference:

https://www.almanac.com/plant/potatoes

Vegetable Farming

Eggplant: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Eggplants

Author ByMaryem

Eggplant, Brinjal, Aubergine is an important crop of the tropical and subtropical regions. The name is derived from the shape of the fruit of some of its varieties.

Eggplant is grown mostly in the warmer regions. Its cultivation is very popular in countries of the far-east region, India, Pakistan Bangladesh, USA, Italy, France, and Egypt. Eggplant farming is very popular in lower altitude regions of India. Commonly known as Brinjal in the country, it is a principal, popular and common vegetable crop grown across the country. Due to its adaptation to various climatic conditions eggplants can be grown throughout the year. There are also many hybrid varieties that are being cultivated in the country.

Here are few tips that will help you in performing eggplant farming and in improving your crop yield.

How to grow eggplant?

In order to obtain desired and good growth of eggplant there are certain conditions to be followed. Despite being easy to grow and high temperature tolerance eggplant could be a little tricky plant to grow.

Here are the conditions that are to be kept in notice when growing eggplant.

Climatic conditions: 

eggplant is a hot weather crop highly intolerable to frost and snow weather. Short days and long cool nights are not suitable for growth of eggplant and tend to make the produce deformed. The desired temperature required is in the range around 13 – 21oc.

Also Read: Yellow and Curling Eggplant Leaves

Soil requirements and conditions:

eggplant can be grown in any type of soil be it light sandy or heavy clay. Soil rich in organic matter with a PH ranging from 6.5-7 is considered the best. To obtain a higher yield it is advised to start planting in heavy clay soil.

The soil should be well ploughed before transferring seedlings as eggplant remains in field for long time. Soil should be incorporated well with manure. Field should be irrigated well transferring seedlings.

Pollinators: 

self-fertilizing flowers of eggplant can be fertilized by the wind. But to obtain a good fruit size buzz pollination by bees is considered suitable. If you have a smaller field and few plants you could also for hand pollination.

Feed the plants timely:

when the plant bloom first set of flower, they can get benefitted from extra nutrients. You can give in extra nutrients by putting in additional organic fertilizers or compost manure. If you are growing eggplants in a container utmost care has to be taken, when putting the feed make sure you are not overfeeding the plant as it causes salt buildup which will cease the growth of the plant.

Battling the flea:

growing an eggplant although is easy, but with this ease comes the fleas. These tiny hoppers make holes in the leaves of the plants. In order to protect plants from these fleas and other insects grow your plants in pots on a raised surface or you can use a tulle net to cover the rows of plants and protect them of fleas.

Eggplant growing stages:

It is important to know about the growing stages of eggplant before planting them in order to obtain a surplus of produce.

Eggplant grows in following stages:

  1. Seeds:  It takes about 1-2 weeks for eggplant seeds to sprout into a seedling. once the seedling germinates within 10weeks or when they develop 4-5 leaves they can be transplanted into the greenhouse farm and stored at a warmer temperature as cold temperature destroys the seedling.
  2. Adult eggplant: number of days required by eggplant to attain maturity depends on the variety being grown. They take approximately 120days to attain full maturity. The sign of maturity is that they grow the main stem with oval-shaped leaves with leathery texture and spine-like hairs.
  3. Flower and fruit: flowers are purple colored and star-shaped. The florals have both male and female parts and are self-pollinating. The female part of the flower develops into the fruit depending on the variety of eggplant grown. The plant bears the fruit for 80days.
  4. Harvest: This is the last stage of eggplant growth. You can tell the fruit is ready to be harvested when it develops glossy skin and firm texture. If you want to harvest the seeds of eggplant you will have to wait until the skin of the fruit become dull and the texture becomes soft to touch.

Watering eggplant:

Watering eggplant adequately is very important, in case of reduced moisture content the fruit loses the flavor and become bitter in taste. In order to prevent this makesure your plants are being watered regularly and plants are being supplied with additional supplemental water based on the conditions required.

During the growing season or hot weather conditions it is best to water eggplant 1inch per week or more based on the conditions. You can also monitor the moisture content of soil using a moisture meter this will help you ensure that the soil is not excessively dried if so you can water the plant efficiently.

It is best to water the plants during the early morning or during the evening as the water evaporation rate is less during these times. Mulching around the plant roots also helps in retaining water near the roots for a longer duration.

Harvesting eggplant:

Proper harvesting of an eggplant yields tender and flavourful fruit.

Time required from planting to harvest is 100-150days

The appearance of the fruit is your guide to know if your fruit is ripened enough to be harvested.  Thin, firm and glossier skin of the fruit is the main sign to be noticed before harvest. If you are someone new to farming before harvesting eggplant you will have to cut the fruit and check the colour of flesh inside the fruit. The flesh should be cream in colour with small seeds.  Once you have learnt how to identify the physical appearance of fruit for harvesting you don’t need to cut the fruit. Eggplants without any seeds are immature whereas eggplants with dark and hard seeds are over-ripened and bitter in taste. Separate the eggplant from the stem by using a pruning shear or sharp knife; keep a stub of stem attached to the fruit.

Eggplant growing time:

It takes approximately 120days for the eggplant to grow and get mature. When you are growing a plant from the seeds it has to be cultivated indoors first which takes around 10weeks time. Then they can be transplanted to the greenhouse farms.

Opt for the variety of eggplant that have faster growth rate and better yield values in few days time. There are various hybrid varieties of eggplant that have more improved qualities and resistance to diseases making them more better option to plant.

By implementing these tips before starting planting you will definitely see a surplus in growth and yield with better quality.

Happy Farming!

Vegetable Farming

Radish Farming: Planting, Harvesting, & Diseases

Author ByMaryem

Radish ( Raphanus ) is a well known crop of both tropical and temperate regions. It is a quick growing crop and hence can be easily grown as intercrop along with other vegetables.

The roots of these crops are the edible parts that are fusiform and the color ranges from white to red. There are two different genetic groups of this crop. These are the Asiatic variety and the other is the European variety. 

Firstly the Asiatic variety is a tropical crop that produces edible roots in the first season whereas  seeds in the second season are biennial crops. However in the European variety, roots are produced in the plains of tropical as well as subtropical climate and the seeds are produced in the hills of temperature climate.

 Different types of Radish: 

There are different types of Radish plants for example watermelon radish, French breakfast radish, zlata radish, cherry Belle etc. Let’s discuss in detail about some varieties of radish. 

● Watermelon Radish:

This variety of radish is moderately sweet and less spicy. It shows mainly three different shades of color that are light green, white and beige. However like it’s name it’s color reminds of a watermelon. After plantation it matures in about  50-60 days. For proper growth there must be a minimum 3 inch of distance between them. 

● French breakfast radish:

It is our next variety of radish, red in color and is more elongated than the round radish that has round tip white in color. Along with it’s pleasant crispy taste it has a reflection of sourness. This variety of  radish matures very early and within 25-30 days after plantation and seeding is ready for harvest.

● Zlata Radish: 

It is quite different from the other varieties due to its yellow brown color and oval shape, it looks much similar to potato. This variety of radish is ready to harvest in probably 30 days. Zlata radish has small green leaves that can be used for salads as well as can be used for other green recipes.

● Cherry Belle: 

It is dark pink in color and round in shape. It tastes sweet and crispy. It is mostly eaten as salads. This variety of radish also matures very early within 25-27 days after germination.

● Daikon radish : 

This is a large sized radish about 14 inches long. It can be picked after about 60 days of germination and plantation. It has a delight and crispy flavor with a little bit of sweetness. It needs at least 4 inches of space to grow properly

● White Icicle:

This is our next variety of Radish which is cylindrical in shape and about 5-6 inches long. Fresh white icicles taste the best. It can be harvested in about 30-40 days after plantation.

● Round Black Radish:

Similar to it’s name it is black in color and has a very unique taste. It is spherical in shape. Though it’s black in color from out but it’s flesh is white and creamy with a strong flavor.

● Chinese Rose:

This variety of radish has a broadened shape. Its color is red-purple from outside and has white and pink colored veins inside. This variety matures in early autumn. It has a very particular taste. In the beginning it’s taste is delicate but suddenly the taste buds will sense a surprising pungent sensation.

● Horseradish:

This is the radish that doesn’t leave a bitter taste. Winters are best for plantation of horseradish and they mature in springs and can be refrigerated too.

● Easter Egg Radish: 

They are named so because of their shape, its shape is like that of an egg. Easter Egg Radish is available in a number of colors like white, pink, red, lavender and purple colors. They should be harvested when their diameter measures 1 inch as harvesting at this stage can avoid it from turning hard or bitter.

● Lady Slipper: 

It is news because of its unique shape. It has a bright and shiny pink color that is very attractive to eyes. It is white from inside and is sweet and crispy.

Plantation of Radish: 

The seeds of radish germinate within 5-8 days according to the moisture levels. These are very easy to grow and can be grown in pots as well as containers.

One can grow these at home on balconies or backyards or on the terraces. It matures in 4-5 weeks and is ready for the first harvest. These regenerate from the roots and can be grown from scraps too. Cooler climates are more suitable for it’s growth but also need sunlight.

Overcrowding can be a problem and the radishes may not grow properly. Radish requires Sandy soil that is fertile, well drained and has good organic manures. If these are grown in a pot or containers then adding compost can be useful. Radish needs about 1 inch water every week but one should not over water it or let it dry completely.

Leaving them on the ground for a long time can cause the radish to split. A well balanced N:P:K ( nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) is also a main requirement of radish along the other micronutrients.

Land preparation: 

Firstly the soil has to be ploughed 30-40 cm deep and it should be prepared properly so that there are no clots left. Any undecomposed matters should not be present in the soil as it can cause  forking of the root. Adding farmyard manures or garden compost can help to enrich the soil with organic manures and provide good yield. A pH range of 6-7.5 of the soil is appropriate for radish.

Also Read: Turnip Farming Information Guide

Soil sterilization: 

The soil can be sterilized maine by two methods that are physical and chemical methods 

In physical methods, the soil can be sterilized by heat treatments like it’s treatment with steam or with solar energy. However in chemical methods the soil is treated with herbicides or fumigation. Soil solarization is another method of soil sterilization in which a transparent plastic mulch film is used for the purpose.

During this process the the solar radiations passes through the plastic film and then is absorbed by the soil and then the absorbed rays gets converted into heat energy and due to which the temperature of the soil increase and hence it’s helpful in killing the soil borne diseases that includes pests as well as pathogens. For one hectare of land piece, about 10-12 kg of seeds would be enough. It is also found that for stimulating the germination of radish seeds naphthalene acetic acid can be proved helpful. For this the seeds have to be soaked in Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) 

Best time for sowing:

Radish is a winter crop cultivated in plains. The sowing process can be done in early winter however the sowing period can differ from place to place as it’s different for plains and hills.

Radish is generally grown on the ridges for good production. It can be grown as both single as well as companion crop. The minimum distance between the rows should be 45cm on the other hand the minimum distance between each plant should be 8cm. The depth at which the seed is sown is 1.15cm . There are 2 main methods of seed sowing: line sowing and broadcasting method

Line sowing method:

In this method the seed has to be mixed up with the soil  in 1:4 ratio and then placed in a row with hands over the ridges. After this it has to be covered by a layer of soil.

Broadcasting:   In this the seed is mixed up with the soil in the same way as done before and then it is scattered all over the field evenly. After this planking is done. 

Radish crops need uniform watering to maintain moisture in the soil. It should be watered For first 4 to 5 days and then irrigated at intervals of 3-4 days. If the soil is dry then the radish may taste bitter However on the other hand over watering can rot or split the roots. Irrigation also depends on the season ( rainfall conditions)  or the moisture levels of soil.

Manuring: 

Mixing the farmyard manures or garden compost entirely while land Preparation can be helpful for a good crop. However doses of other fertilizers like potassic phosphatic should also be added in the soil before sowing the seeds. As radish is a fast growing crop so the soil rich in the plant nutrients can prove to be more helpful.

Weed control:

Weeding is a process that is a very important part of cultivation of almost every crop, and so is for radish. Regular weeding has to be done to keep a check on weeds so that our crops get proper and sufficient nutrients.

Especially in the rainy season two weedicides are needed so that weeds don’t suckup all the nutrients. Tok E -25( nitrofan 25%) keeps a check on both monocot and dicot weeds. Earthing up and weeding both should be carried out at least once in the early stages. Earthing up should be carried out as it ensures the quality of roots. Once after the initial stages earthing up should be again done during the flowering and fruiting.

Diseases :

Clubroot is a Radish plant disease marked by the swelling or malformation of roots or the lateral parts.

This can be controlled by raising the pH of soil with heavy dressing of lime and keeping the field free from mustard. 

Plantation tips:

1. Seeding process should be carried out in early spring.

2. The seeds should be planted half an inch deep and at a distance of 1 inch from each other.

3. Keep your garden free from weeds for good quality.

4. Keep the soil from crusting around the plants as this helps the radish to become large.

Harvesting:

Harvesting is one of the important phases of radish cultivation as if you leave it unharvested for a long time it becomes inedible. Generally the crop needs to be harvested after completion of 3 weeks after sowing.

How do I know that the crop is ready to harvest:  Radish is ready to harvest when the leaves about the ground become large and 2-3 cm wide at the top.

Then pull out the mature radish from the ground separate off the green part on the top. The harvested radish can be refrigerated but has to be used within a week. If you want to save the seeds for next season then leave the radish in the ground for flowering.

Must Read: Sweet Potato Farming Information Guide

Yield: The temperate varieties of radish produce 10-12 tonnes of radish per hectare within a month whereas the Asiatic variety produces 14-15 tonnes within one and half month or less. It is a very profitable business with 

Marketing of the crop:  Mainly the transport of the crop is carried out with trucks to the local areas 

Conclusion: 

Radish is a crop that is grown and eaten throughout the world. It has a number of varieties namly pink radish, Malaga violet, white hailstone radish, cherry Belle l, watermelon Radish etc etc . It can be eaten in a number of ways, may be raw or in salad or cooked but salad is one of the most common ways to eat radish.

All these different varieties have their own flavor and tastes , some of them have a bit of bitterness in them. Along with different tastes these different varieties have different maturation time, some mature very early on the other hand some take time to mature. Radish crops germinate in a short time and also don’t take much longer to mature. 

Vegetable Farming

Carrot Farming: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting

Author ByMaryem

Carrots are a member of the Apiaceae family. This family generally includes celery, dill, cilantro, and anise. These are biennial crops and produce taproots in their first year of carrot farming. These taproots are consumed by people. Further, if they are not taken out and left to grow in the ground, they flower and produce seeds and then die in the second year. 

Carrot farming is quite lucrative and its benefits vary with variety and place of production. 

The botanical name of carrot is Daucus carota. 

All carrots can be consumed from the root to its tip. They can be found in various rainbow colors like red, orange, purple, or yellow. Leaves of carrots can also be used in salads. They are loaded with flavor and texture. They are very popular and versatile. Plus, it is a long-lasting root vegetable 

In the U.S. mostly orange colored carrots are found. They are consumed fresh and can be stored for some time. This vegetable ranked 6th most eaten vegetable in theU.S. in 1997. Its consumption was recorded as 14.1 pounds per person. However, till 2015 its consumption lowered down to 9.31 pounds. 

Different types of carrots?

Carrots are available in different colors, shapes, and sizes. 

Based on shape, they are divided into 5 types. 

  • Danvers – this is the most commonly known carrot variety. It is long, slender, and tapers at the end. This variety is named after a place of growth i.e. Danvers. They are mostly found in orange color but are available in other shades too. As compared to other carrot types, they can easily tolerate poor soil. 
  • Nantes- this variety is round at the top and cylindrical. They have very few green tops and crunchy taste. The sweetness of this variety makes it delicious to eat. This carrot type grows faster than other types of carrots. Around 40 varieties fall into this type. 
  • Imperator- this carrot variety is most commonly found in the U.S. It looks similar to a danver but is greater in width than Danvers. Sugar content is also higher in this variety. They have fast-growing tops. 
  • Chantenay- Before Nantes, this carrot variety was very popular for growth in heavy and clayey soil. They grow up to 6-7 inches and tops grow very fast. 
  • Ball or mini- these carrots are small in size as the name suggests. Due to their short size or shallow roots, they are perfect for containers. The size of carrots ranges between 3-4 inches. 
types/varieties of carro

Varieties of carrots

Some commonly used varies of carrots are-

  • Bolero- This variety of carrot is slightly tapered. It grows up to 7-8 inches. They can resist leaf pests and blights. Therefore, they can be easily grown in areas that suffer from this problem. 
  • Danvers -This variety is a classic heirloom. The size of this variety varies from 6-8 inches. They taper at the end too. Danvers can grow in heavy soil and are rich in texture and have an orange color. 
  • Littlefinger- little fingers are heirlooms and are small Nantes. They only go up to 4 inches in height. Growth of this variety can be easily carried out in containers. 
  • Nantes- these cylindrical carrots grow up to 6-7 inches. They are sweet and have a crisp texture. 
  • Thumbelina- these carrots have a round shape and grow well in clayey soil. Containers are also suitable for thumberline production. 

Carrot growing season 

Carrots are cool-season crops. They can grow perfectly in temperatures ranging from 18-21C. This temperature range provides edible roots optimum color.

Carrots are grown in loose or sandy soil. Growing in such kind of soil provides enough room for roots to expand without any restrictions. Keep in mind that any root or soil clumps should be completely removed from the planting site. They grow well in cool seasons. The best time to grow carrots in spring or fall. 

It takes around 2-4 months for carrots to fully mature. You Can keep planting carrots in spring and summer after every 3 weeks to get a continuous supply of carrot still cold frosts hit. 

In the U.S. for fresh carrot farming, the gross value is $10600 per acre. This value may vary with the area and merchandise level. 

What should be the soil condition for carrot farming?

As mentioned earlier, the soil should be loose and sandy for letting carrots to grow fully. If soil is not good then carrots may face stunted growth. 

Soil can be cleared up to 12 inches in depth. Remove rocks, pebbles, soil clumps, or any other plant roots from soil to provide a clean and free area to grow. 

Do not add fertilizers that have nitrogen in them. It leads to forking in carrots and the growth of side roots too. 

Grow carrots in older coffee grounds for getting nutrients from the soil. 

If the soil on the planting site is clayey or heavy then cover it with 12-inch deep sandy soil. Then you can carry out carrot farming on it. You can also use airy, loamy soil for the same. 

If soil is heavy, compact, and overly packed with nutrients like nitrogen then it leads to misshapen carrot production. They are not quite fit for consumption. 

When to plant carrots?

For harvest in summer, you should sow seeds at least 3-5 weeks before the last spring frost date. There is various software available to check frost dates in your area. 

Keep sowing seeds every 3 weeks to harvest carrots continuously later on. 

For harvesting in the fall, you can sow seeds in mid of summer end. You can begin showing 10 weeks before the first frost. 

For sowing seeds, you must prepare your planting site. The soil must be favorable for carrot farming. It should be loose, airy, loamy, and sandy for carrot farming. The planting area should receive full sunlight. However, carrots can survive in partial shade too. 

Also Read: Turnip Farming Information Guide

How to plant carrots?

Rather than sowing seeds in containers first and then transplanting, start sowing directly into the soil. Carrots do not like to get their delicate roots disturbed. Therefore, it is better to place them in soil and do not disturb them till harvesting. 

While sowing seeds, sow them in ¼ inch deep holes. Keep them around 2-3 inches apart in 1 feet rows. 

Distribute seeds evenly to get a good harvest at the end. Scatter them here and there will not ensure properly and fully grown carrots. They might face competition from each other. 

Further, the soil should be moist but not wet. Keep adding shallow waterings regularly. A crusted soil top is not favorable for the germination of small carrots. To avoid this condition, cover the top of the soil with a vermiculite or compost layer. It keeps the soil moist and doesn’t let the crust form. 

It takes around 2-3 weeks for germination. Carrots germinate slowly so many gardens prefer sowing radish along. Radish is ready to harvest in a very small time. To speed up germination on carrots you can perform a damp paper towel method. That allows seeds to sprout before being sewed into the soil. 

The adequate temperature for seed germination is 50-85F. It can germinate at low temperatures up to 40F and as high as 75F if it is provided with adequate moisture. Seeds can be stored and used for 3 years. 

Care Of Carrots 

To keep carrots weed-free and healthy, mulch can be used. It helps in retaining moisture in the soil and suppresses weeds too. Also, germination speeds up if mulch is used. It also blocks sunlight from falling directly on roots and damaging them. 

The thinning of carrots can also be performed when they grow about 1 inch tall. Thin carrots so that they stay at least 3-4 inches apart and do not become crowded. 

For better growth, snip tops of carrots using scissors rather than pulling. 

Providing a proper amount of water is crucial in the growth of carrots. They need moisturized soil but it should not be too wet. Wet soil can lead to diseases and even cause the death of plants. Water up to 1inch per acre per week. When carrots mature, water can be increased by up to 2 inches per acre. 

Nitrogen is harmful to carrots so avoid nitrogen fertilizer use. Instead, high potassium and phosphorus fertilizers can be used after 5-6 weeks of sowing. This ensures nutrition for carrots. 

Must Read: Rabbit farming: How to Start Raising Rabbits

Harvesting Carrot production

When harvesting, know that smaller carrots taste better than larger ones. They can be harvested after 60-80 days of sowing seeds. 

When to harvest carrots?

Carrots are ready to harvest when they reach at least ½ inch in diameter size. If the growth of carrots was carried out in spring or early summer then harvest them before it gets too hot. Heat sends signals to carrots to make their roots more fibrous. This condition can make them a little nonedible. 

Moisten your soil a little to ease out pulling carrots while harvesting. 

In fall harvest, wait for the first fall frost before harvesting your crop. Cover soil with about an 18 inch leaves layer. After frost, pull out your carrots. The reason behind this is, frost tends to force carrots to store energy in roots. Energy is stored in the form of sugars. Hence, your carrots become sweeter at this time. 

Do not wash your carrots if you are not going to use them next week. 

How do you know when carrots are ready to pick?

Tops of carrots start popping out of the ground sometimes and it is a clear indication that they are ready to harvest. Their tops can be around ¾ inch to 1 inch in diameter. Moreover, its color is vibrant. 

If carrot tops are not bulging out themselves, remove some soil from their sides, and check their condition. 

Generally, this happens around 60-80 days after sowing seeds. 

Storage of carrots

Cut the greens of the carrots but leave 1/2 inch of it attached to the carrots. It is necessary to remove greens otherwise they will extract all sugars away from carrots. 

Wash carrots with cold water remove all dirt from them. Seal them in airtight plastic bags after air drying and store them in the refrigerator. If you leave them just as it is they will limp soon. 

Carrots can be stored in a cool and dry area. You can also fill up a place with dry sawdust and store carrots in it. 

Pest and diseases in carrots 

Carrot rust flies, flea beetles, black canker, root-knot nematodes, and wireworms can easily infect and feed on carrot production. 

Nematodes have a very vast host range and too much infection of carrots can make them unfit for cultivation. 

After yellow disease, carrots produced are short and have discolored tops with roots very hairy. Leafhoppers move from one plant to another and lead to this disease. No treatment or control strategy is available for this disease. 

Health benefits of carrots

Half cup of carrots has the following nutrition- 

25 calories, 2g of fiber, 6g of carbohydrates, 0.5g of proteins. 

Half cup of carrots has the following amount of vitamins and minerals-

73% of the daily requirement of vitamin A

9% of the daily requirement of vitamin K

8% of the daily requirement of potassium and fiber content 

5% of the daily requirement of vitamin C

2% of the daily requirement of iron and calcium

Also, it has beta carotene and vitamin A which is good for the eyes. 

It also aids in lowering down the risk of cancer. Antioxidants present in carrots fight with harmful radicals in the body. Carotenoids and anthocyanins are the main antioxidants present in carrots. 

Heart diseases can be prevented by carrot consumption. Antioxidants are good for health and potassium keeps blood pressure in check. 

Conclusion 

Carrot farming can be easily carried out by taking care of basic things. They have very high and regular demand. The growth of carrots is easy and therefore, it can be a profitable business for you. The yield of carrots varies depending on the variety that you choose. So, check out varieties that grow well in your area and provide profits at the same time and then begin.

References:

http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/historyusa.html

https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/carrots

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1175&title=Commercial%20Production%20and%20Management%20of%20Carrots

Vegetable Farming

How to Grow Ginger [Step by Step Guide]

Author ByMaryem

Ginger farming is a crop which is very profitable. Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is a significant commercial crop which belongs to Zingiberaceae family. Ginger farming is extensively done owing to the high value and its use in wide purposes such as medicine, confectionary, and food additives.

It is an indigenous plant which is used as a stimulant and carminative medicine for treating gastro-intestinal tract concern. Ginger consists of 6.5% Oleoresin that is commercially known as ‘Gingirene’ obtained from ground ginger by solvent extraction process.

Ginger is an herbaceous perennial consisting of underground rhizomes (also known as creeping rootstalk) comprising of leafy shoots of 0.5-0.75 m height. Thus, the propagation of the crop occurs through aromatic rhizomes. The leaves of the ginger plant are narrow and dark green in color. The flowers are speckled, small yellowish in color. The plant finds its use both as a spice and a medicine. At the commercial level, ginger is used as a dried rhizome.

Ginger is marketed in various forms such as ginger candy, ginger beer, dry ginger, ginger ale, raw ginger, ginger wine, ginger flakes, ginger oil, ginger oleoresin, bleached dry ginger, ginger powder, and many other varieties.

Dry ginger as well as fresh ginger is used in preparing various dishes due to its flavor, aroma, and pungent taste around the world, especially in Asia. The major producers of ginger in the world are India, China, Nepal, Thailand, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

Uses of Ginger

Oleoresin and essential oil obtained from ginger is used in the manufacture of perfumes and flavouring essences. Ginger also finds its use in the production of pharmaceutical preparations, ginger beer, cordials, ginger wine, and pickles.

A dietary intake of 5g of ginger can help to avoid coronary artery disease that occurs due to the consumption of fatty food items. The fibrinolytic activity is enhanced with the consumption of ginger that helps in preventing CAD (Coronary artery disease). Medicines and soft drinks can also be prepared from ginger.

How long does ginger take to grow?

This step is crucial in ginger farming. The growth rate differs from crop to crop. For a ginger crop to reach adulthood, it takes approximately 8-10 months. Thus, it takes around 8-10 months of time to grow into a complete adult plant. Conversely, if ginger is required for the vegetable purpose it can be collected after 6 months.  The best method to understand that ginger is fully grown is to monitor the leaves. When the leaves start turning yellowish indicates the complete growth of the yield.

Ginger Farming Techniques

Various ginger farming techniques are implemented at commercial and non-commercial levels. The ginger planting techniques are majorly divided into two methods –  Direct method and Indirect method. Direct method of planting includes the Broad ridge system, and Flat-bed system. Transplanting is the indirect method used for ginger farming.

  • Broad Ridge System

This system is followed in soils which are medium to heavy. The beds are raised at a height of 20-30 cm. The beds are 75-100 cm broad at the tops. Depending on the slope of the land, the length of the bed varies from 6-10 m. The sets are planted 10 cm deep and 30 cm apart from each other. At a particular spot, only one set is plant and then covered by the soil. After planting the crop, light irrigation is immediately given. The yield is 50% more as compared to the flat bed system.

  • Flat Bed System

When the soil is light, flat bed method is used. The beds are of 4×4 m size. The sets are placed 20-30 cm away from each other and are 10 cm deep. Only one set per hill is planted and covered by soil. After planting, immediate light irrigation is given.

  • Transplanting Method

In order to produce a good variety of seedlings, the transplanting method is used as a standardized method. The technique uses single bud sprouts which are around 4-6 g in weight. The method has many advantages such as the reduction of seed rhizome quantity, reduced cost on seeds, and production of disease-free planting materials.

Also Read: Cabbage Farming Guide

How to Plant Ginger?

Usually, ginger is grown from rhizomes, seeds or by tissue culture method. Out of all these, tissue culture is the best and productive way of growing ginger.

In order to select the dormant rhizome, collect the fresh and healthy ginger. If the skin is not thick on the outside, ensure to keep them in direct sunlight for around 3-7 days. The skin of the ginger should be yellow-brownish in color.

Planting ginger is easy and beneficial by cutting into small parts. Cutting the rhizome is an easy method. The ginger plant considers rhizome as its own root and starts to grow new roots from it. The dormant rhizome is cut around 2-3 weeks before planting which is similar to potatoes.  

ginger cultivation

The part should contain at least one eye when it’s cut off and should weigh around 4-6 g. The cutting size can be from 1-3 inches and it solely depends on the preference. The rhizome that is bigger in size produces large food. This method causes the destruction of the rhizome and thus it is recommended to cut the rhizome.

Once the best rhizome is selected, keep them aside for some days to allow the split surface region to grow and recover a callus. It is essential to be patient while growing ginger as it grows gradually and predominantly outside. The sprout however might start to grow in several days.

During this phase, it is essential to water regularly or at least for 2 weeks. A movable tray bed is advisable and avoid placing the bed directly under the sun. This stage of the plant requires approximately 3-4 hours of sunlight during morning and evening time. An acre of land requires 600-800 kg of ginger seeds for sowing.

Ginger Cultivation Season

The ideal season for transplanting ginger roots is in early spring in North America and the USA. Spring and summer season is good for Africa and other subcontinent countries that depend on natural rainfall. The crop should be planted 2-3 weeks before the rainy season. Although it should be noted that heavy rainfall is harmful to the ginger plants. 

Climate Required for Ginger Growth

Ginger can grow in areas where there the weather is sunny with moderate rain. The climate necessary for ginger growth is a dry environment with moderate rain and sunlight. However, direct sun is harmful to the plant. A sheltered place is ideal where it can receive 2-5 hours of sunlight. Additionally, the manual watering or water from rain is required at regular intervals.

Soil Preparation for Ginger

Ginger roots grows best in moist, rich, well-drained, and loose loamy soil worldwide. The loaming soil restricts the waterlogging in the roots as it drains the excess water. Ginger roots are fond of acidic soils in a pH range of 5.5-6.5. The ginger rhizome can be grown at both rain-fed and irrigated conditions.

Varieties of Ginger

Different kind of varieties are grown in India. The important varieties are Varada, Wynad Local, Maran, Himachal, Kuruppampadi, Suravi, Mahima, Suprabha, Suruchi, Rajasthan, Assam, and Himgiri among others. Rio-De-Janeiro and China are the varieties that are imported.

Intercropping in Ginger Production

Ginger is a shade-loving crop and thus needs high moisture content in the environment for the normal growth. Ginger can be intercropped with other plants such as tree castor, banana, cluster beans, and pigeon-pea. At higher altitudes, it can be intercropped with chilli and tomato. Ginger can be mixed with orange, coconut, and coffee plantations.

Irrigation

During the crop period, ginger requires 1300-1500 mm of water. The significant steps for irrigation are rhizome development stages, germination, and rhizome initiation. Immediately after planting, the first irrigation is provided and consequent irrigation are done between 7-10 days. Drip system and sprinklers are used to enhance the yield by increasing the water efficiency.

Weeding

To handle the problem of weed, 2-4 hand weeding is always advisable depending on the growth stage of the crop. The weeding process is followed by the earthling process that helps to cover the rhizome.

Earthling-up

Earthling up is essential for the growing process of ginger. The soil is drawn around the plant with the help of spade. This process breaks the fibrous roots which ultimately supports the growth for better development of rhizome. The process further enhances the yield.

Mulching

In order to handle the post-sowing water stress, beds are covered using straws, plant residues, and dry leaves. Usually, farmers cover the beds using twigs and green leaves of Chillaune (Schimawallichii) but it varies as per the conditions.

The type of mulch differs from 5-20 tonnes/ha in dry form. The mulching process provides heat as well as moisture to the beds, protects young germinated plants from storms and heavy rains, reduces soil erosion, and increases germination. The post-decomposition stage transforms this mulch into a nutrition source for the soil and thus fulfilling the plant’s need.

Harvesting of Ginger

ginger harvest

The harvesting of ginger can be done when the leaves start to dry and turn yellow in color. It takes around 8-10 months for harvesting but it also depends on the planting time. The irrigation should be halted one month before the harvest. The lifting of the rhizomes can be done by digging with a spade.

The ginger harvested for 5-6 months can be utilised for preparing pickles, alcoholic beverages, candy, ginger preserve, soft drinks, and for vegetable purpose. The crop harvested during 7-8 months can be dried and used for the preparation of oleoresin, bleached ginger, dehydrated ginger, and ginger oil.

Fertilization

The plants need to be fertilized for 6-8 weeks. Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract can be used. The nutrition required for the growth of the ginger are –Potassium, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen.

Potassium is essential for transpiration, osmosis, opening and closing of stomas of leaves, and yeast activation.

Phosphorus is necessary for respiration in plants as well as for nucleic acids, enzymes, and phospholipids evolution. It also aids in stimulating fresh root extension.

Nitrogen is necessary for amino acids, chlorophyll, and proteins. It is vital in comprehensive portions.

Tips to Grow Ginger Faster

Following are some tips to practice while doing farming techniques:

  • Monitor the health and ginger root growth after 2-3 months
  • The pH of the soil should be maintained in the range of 6.1-6.5
  • Ensure to provide proper fertilizer to the ginger plant
  • Soil should be loose and well-drained for the rapid growth of ginger roots

Ginger Cultivation Profit per Acre

The net profit from 1 acre of ginger cultivation is approximately 3,31,162/ acre. However, this may vary depending on the market conditions.

Recommendation for Better Production

  • Prevent waterlogging in the ginger crop field
  • Try to keep the field weed-free
  • Crop rotation should be followed at least 3-4 years
  • Use disease-free rhizomes for sowing
  • Always try to avoid removing mother rhizome as it increases disease intensity

Control and Detection of Pests

Mites, slugs, nematodes, snails, and leafminers are the ones that harm ginger. The early stage is mainly prone to mite infestation. Insecticidal soap showers can be useful against mites. Slugs and snails mainly eat the fresh and adult leaves. To shield the leaves from these snails and slugs, farmers need to mulch the sand properly. The bulb tubers are affected by on-segmented roundworms that might cause bacterial or fungal infection. The pests can be controlled by keeping the plant clean.

Storing Process of Ginger

Ginger can be stored in dried as well as fresh state. The fresh and cleaned ginger can be stored in cold climate with a temperature in between 10-15°C. The storage of dried ginger involves following steps:

  • The ginger should be cleaned using fresh water
  • Cleaned ginger is then dried in the sun. The ginger can be cut into pieces to dry them faster
  • The dried ginger can be stored in the same form or can be powdered
  • The product obtained can be stored in a tin, glass or paper bags

Conclusion

Cultivating ginger in the same land might result in a low yield of the crop. The one-year break is mandatory after farming for 2-3 years. Organic compost can also prove useful in this condition.