Tips On Vegetable Gardening

By: JOSEPH dela CERNA

DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEGETABLES LEAFY VEGETABLES Example: pechay, lettuce, cabbage, mustard, sweet potato, alugbati, kangkong. ROOT OR BULB CROPS Example: onion, radish, garlic, carrots, sweet potato BEANS AND LEGUMES Example: mongo, stringbeans, sweet pea (chicharo)

• FRUIT VEGETABLES Example: eggplant, tomato, sweet pepper

• FLOWER VEGETABLES Example: cauliflower, brocolli

• VINE FRUIT VEGETABLES Example: squash, cucumber, ampalaya

• TREE FRUIT VEGETABLES Example: malungay, camansi

SOURCES OF PLANTING MATERIALS • • • •

Accredited seed growers Accredited seed suppliers Government experiment stations NGO, municipal and provincial agriculturist offices

PRODUCING SEEDLINGS PREPARING THE SEED BOXES Construct seed boxes of uniform size and depths. Use the centimeter scale in measuring the inside dimensions. Set the width at 50 cm, the length at 75 cm and the depth at 7 cm-10 cm. Provide the box with about six holes to serve as drainage. If the pieces of board used for making the seed box are so laid that they allow water for drain, there is no need of putting holes on the bottom.

PREPARING THE SOIL TO USE Make 1:1:1 mixture of sieved, compost and garden soil. You can modify the proportion to suit the texture of your soil. If the garden soil is sandy loam, and less sand, this mixture will provide excellent drainage and adequate air spaces while holding a significant amount of water.

PRODUCING SEEDLINGS 1. •

STERILIZING THE SOIL MIXTURE: Sterilized the mixture to kill weed seeds, insects and numerous soil pathogens as those that caused damping off. THE HEAT METHOD Heat the soil mixture thoroughly under high temperature. The steam heat that builds up in a moistened soil mixture is a more effective sterilant than the dry heat in the dry soil mixture. Place the soil mixture in a two halves of a large metal barrel that is supported over a fire pit. Start the fire and make holes in the soil mixture with a rake handle. Sprinkle water on the soil mix to wet it thoroughly. Cover the wet soil with galvanized iron sheets to retain the heat that reaches the top of the soil. Heat the mixture for two hours Note: An alternative to this method of soil sterilization would be the application of boiling water to the soil medium. Let the soil cool before sowing.

PRODUCING SEEDLINGS •

Soil is placed up to 1 inch from the top of the seed box.

•

Make furrows in the seed box with a wood stick.

•

Sow the seeds evenly along the furrows.

•

Cover the seeds lightly with fine soil

•

Water the seeds sown.

•

Cover the seed boxes with banana leaves and open it about 3 to 5 days after sowing as soon as the seeds start to germinate.

PRICKING OF SEEDLINGS • Saturate the seed boxes with water for the first 3 days. Regulate watering after germination. Approximately 5 days after emergence prick the seedlings. Seedling trays maybe used as alternative to raise strong and healthy seedling. A well developed and undamaged root system will reduce planting shock resulting in faster recovery and earlier harvest. Fill seedling trays or small pots made out of banana leaves with same soil mixture as used for sowing.

LAND PREPARATION • The field should be prepared very well. The soil should be pulverized and the plot leveled.

TRANSPLANTING • Three weeks after pricking, transfer the seedlings into a field at a distance of 75 cm. between rows and 75 cm. between plants. Transplanting should be done during cloudy days or late in the afternoon.

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE • If rainfall is insufficient, irrigation should start immediately after transplanting and as needed afterwards. Hilling up should be done one week later in order to protect the plants from water logging, provide proper aeration and weed control.

WEED CONTROL • Control includes light cultivation, spot hand weeding, tillage and mulching.

FERTILIZATION • Basal application of organic fertilizer such as chicken dung, cow or carabao manure, goat manure is recommended or 25 gm per hill of complete (14-14-14) fertilizer should be applied. First side dressing should be done 20 to 25 days after transplanting at the rate of 7 gm per hill of urea (46-0-0) mixed with muriate of potash (0-0-60). It should be repeated every 30 days.

PEST AND DISEASES • Use of integrated pest management (IPM) approach is recommended.

HARVESTING • Harvesting starts 60 to 80 days after transplanting, harvesting can be done twice a week over a period of 3 to 6 months depending on the variety and the condition of the crop.

RAPID COMPOSTING USING TRICHODERMA TRICHODERMA – a fungus that is used to hasten decomposition of crop residues with the help of animal manure. WHY CHOOSE TRICHODERMA • It is a fastest decomposer • No reports of human diseased caused by it • No side effects such as allergy

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR COMPOSTING 1. Water – It is one of the most critical factor that determines the rate of decomposting. Dry materials will decompose slowly. 2. Compost pen or platform – It is important that the heap must be raised above the ground by about 10 – 15 cm. for aeration. 3. Substrates for composting – All crop residues can be composted. Weeds can also be utilized but avoid using weeds with flowers and fruits. 4. CFA – Trichoderma hastens the process of decomposition since it increases the population of cellulose decomosers. 5. Cover – The ideal is white, transparent plastic, because the activator wants a diffused light. 6. Metal fork or shovel – This is needed in turning the compost after two (2) weeks. Don't turn the compost if it is still hot because plenty of amonia will evaporate.

RAPID METHOD OF COMPOSTING STEP 1 Gather materials STEP 2 Prepare the area STEP 3 Add water to bottles (¾ full) containing trichoderma, mix thoroughly STEP 4 Wet the materials thoroughly using tap water STEP 5 Pile the materials about 6” thick STEP 6 Add animal manure STEP 7 Pour trichoderma STEP 8 Repeat the process until 5 – 6 layers STEP 9 Cover the compost heap STEP 10 Turn the compost heap after 3 weeks STEP 11 Harvest the compost STEP 12 Apply the compost