What are the benefits of crop rotation?
Crop rotation is a systematic approach of deciding what to plant where during each year. Benefits include:
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Suppresses weeds
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Controls weeds and pests
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Improved soil structure and organic matter content
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Improved soil fertility
What are the benefits of intercropping?
Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. Benefits include:
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Higher yields due to utilizing more resources
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Balanced plant nutrients
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Limits pest and disease outbreaks
Should I utilize a nursery bed?
Nursery beds are a great way to get a head start on planting. By having a dedicated area for a nursery bed, seeds can begin germinating and then later be transplanted to their final planting destination.
Pros: |
•More control over nutrients needed by seedlings•Easier to tend to seeds•Saves water•Allows selection of the best seedlings |
Cons: |
•Time consuming•Seedlings are more vulnerable to obtaining the same diseases |
For example for tomatoes:
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Spacing from seed to seed: 2 cm
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Spacing from row to row: 15 cm
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Time in the nursery: 18-21 days
The steps for transplanting seedlings from a nursery to beds are as follows:
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Water the planting beds – this ensures that water will be evenly distributed in the final planting location
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Dig planting holes – Make sure planting holes are large enough to add fertilizer and loose enough for easy root penetration
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Apply fertilizer – Phosphorous helps proper root development
There are different kinds of nursery beds that can be utilized, each with their own benefits and disadvantages.
Options |
Raised Beds |
In-Ground Beds |
No Beds |
Pros: |
•Better control of the composition and nutrients in soil•Plants can grow closer together•Doubled yields |
•Financially economical•Lower water requirements•Less permanent and can be replaced |
•No initial start-up costs |
Cons: |
•Need to be constructed•Need to be filled with soil, can be expensive•Time consuming |
•Requires initial work and material•Less controllable conditions of soil |
•Soil may be tightly packed and lacking nutrients |
Follow these steps if you are interested in building in-ground beds:
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Designate how many beds you want to make and where they will be in your greenhouse, making sure you have room to walk between your crops
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Till the areas in which you will have your beds, and clear our any potential debris
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With your designated bed areas marked out, start raking the soil upwards into a pile along the line, and then flatten it out
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Repeat the process according to how many beds you want
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With any pieces of wood you have available, place them on the edges of your newly-made beds as borders to help you keep your crops organized
Remember these important points:
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Plant your seeds in a nursery bed so they can germinate first and then be transplanted into beds
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Seed beds of 1 meter width and plant the seeds at a spacing of 15 cm from one row to another and 2 cm from seed to seed
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The grower should plant about 15% more seeds in their nursery to cater for the seedlings that will be used for gapping
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Transplanting happens after 18-21 days, when seedlings can be moved to beds
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Standard spacing is 60-45 cm (gives high yields and easier control of pests and diseases)
Should I test the pH of the soil?
Testing pH can help with creating an optimal environment for the growth of specific crops. If you test your soil, these are the target values.
Crop |
pH Range |
Tomatoes |
6-7.5 |
Capsicum |
5.8-6.8 |
Sukuma Wiki |
5.5-7.0 |
If the pH of the soil is too high, sulfur is often used to lower the levels.
If the pH of the soil is too low, lime can be added before planting to raise the pH.
If you do not test the pH of your soil, here are some features to examine.
What do I need to do to my soil before planting seeds?
Once you have established what type of beds you are going to use and what nutrients you need to add to your soil, it is time to prepare the soil. Nutrients often need to be added to the soil to ensure proper plant growth and improved success. Begin by working manure, compost, wood, ash, or other fertilizers into the soil.
Applying small amounts of wood ash to most soils will not adversely affect your garden crops; it helps replenish some nutrients. Wood ash increases soil pH; therefore, adding large amounts can do more harm than good. Remember that wood ash that has been exposed to the weather, particularly rainfall, has lost a lot of its potency, including nutrients.
How long will it take for my plant to reach maturity?
The time it takes a tomato plant to reach maturity is dependent on the variety you are growing and if you transplant your seedlings or not (more on that later). Our advice is to start with hybrid tomatoes first because they are more hardy and are better at withstanding diseases. Indeterminate tomato plants are more of a bush compared to determinates, which are more vine like. Indeterminate plants will keep growing and producing fruit, unlike determinate plants which tend to produce all their fruit at once. Look on your seed packet for more precise information. Here are some examples of common tomato varieties.
Variety |
Time until maturity |
Type |
Characteristics |
Sun Gold |
65 days |
Indeterminate |
Golden orange cherry tomato |
Big Beef |
80 days |
Indeterminate |
4” to 6” in diameter |
Juliet |
60 days |
Indeterminate |
Ripens quickly |
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