Training Program In Englishweb

Square Meter Garden Training Manual Editors Mai M. Phillips, Victor D. Phillips, Nicholas Syano, Ron Tschida Other contributors: Thomas Syverud, Arlen Albrecht

Global Environmental Management Education Center (GEM), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA Dietetics and Small Garden Systems (DSGS) For HIV/AIDS Communities in Kenya A GEM Project Collaboration with Marquette University, Wisconsin Supported by a grant from: USAID Cooperative Agreement No. GPH-A-00-02-00009-00

Square Meter Gardening Advantages • Simple method • Can be adapted to individual or family needs • No digging • Easy to maintain: 9 Less space 9 Less weeds 9 Less water 9 Uses fewer seeds Square Meter Garden array

Garden Basics • Set garden area with 6 hours minimum sunlight • Build 1 x 1 meter square frame of bricks, rocks, wood, sticks or any available local material • Fill with compost to 6 inches deep • Use successional planting • Locate close to kitchen • Do not walk in garden bed

Planning the Square Meter Plot • Divide each square meter plot into 9 squares • Use strings or sticks to divide garden • Plant different vegetable in each square • Number of seeds or plants depends on the final mature plant size • Can add additional plots as desired

Planting the Garden • Depending on vegetable type, plant either 1, 4, 9 or 16 seeds/seedlings per square • If planting seeds, sow in shallow holes • Cover with compost and firm • Water immediately after planting • Use kitchen gray water whenever possible

How Many Plants Per Square? 1 - tomato, kale, collard green, eggplant, chili pepper, Swiss chard, Amaranthus, cabbage, okra 4 - spinach, cilantro, soybeans 9 - onions, beetroot 16 - carrots

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Crotalaria species- Mito • Plant 1 per square • 1.2 meters tall • Does best in warm sites • High protein (9%) legume • Edible leaves of some types are bitter

Amaranthus species- Mchicha • • • • •

Plant one per square 1.8 meters tall Begin harvest at 30 cm Seed protein content 6.30% Nutritional quality decreases after flowering

Solanum nigrum – Kenyan Black Nighshade • Plant one per square • 1 meter tall • Caution: Most black nighshade is reported to be highly toxic • In Kenyan, local variety is commonly grown and eaten • Leaf high in protein (4.6%) and iron

Cleome species – Spider Plant • • • •

Plant one per square Half to 1 meter tall Leaf protein 5.1% Rich in minerals and vitamins • Harvest in 3 weeks • Plant 4 per square

Cucurbita species - Pumpkin • Fast growing ground cover • Plant 1 plant on corner square of garden • Need extra water and nutrients • Fruits, shoots, and blossoms are edible

Solanum melongena- Eggplant • Harvest fruit 25-40 days after flowering • Fruit should be glossy and feel heavy • Pale fruit color indicates low nitrogen • Potential pest - Red spider mite can cause serious damage

Spinacea oleracea - Spinach • Fast growing • Plant 4 per square • Two typessmooth leaved and crinkled leaved • Potential pest -cabbage worms

Abelmoschus esculentus - Okra • Plant one plant per square • Fast growing • Likes full sun • Edible pods high in protein • Fry pods or use in soups and stews

Brassica oleracea v. acephala Collard Greens • Plant one per square • Harvest leaves often • Potential pests: cutworms; aphids carry viruses • Use soapy water for aphid control • Destroy cut worm eggs early; sprinkle wood ash around plant

Capsicum species - Pepper • Plant one per square • Likes warm soil • Fruit rich in vitamins A and C • Can produce in 8 weeks from seedlings

Allium species - Onions • Plant 9 per square • Do not allow to dry out; needs consistent watering • Harvest leaves or bulb • Seed to harvest in 12 to 16 weeks

Spring Onions

Bulb onion

Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato • Plant one per square • Does best in warm conditions • Do not water leaves; stake plants up to keep leaves off ground to reduce blight potential • Shaking plants in flower improves production • Seed to harvest 17 weeks Leafminer on tomato leaf

Brassica oleracea v. capitata Cabbage • Plant one per square • Do not water head during formation - will cause rot • Harvest in 12 weeks • Rich in calcium, vitamin C

Daucus carota - Carrots • Plant 16 in a square • Allow 2 weeks for seeds to germination • Thin to 1 plant per spot • Avoid shade of other larger plants

Common Pest Problems in Mkia refu or mousebird Kenya

Damage on spinach

Fencing to exclude the bird

Blossom End Rot • Not an infectious disease • Caused by lack of calcium due to uneven watering • Affects tomato and pepper • Mulching helps • Add ground eggshells when making compost

Whitefly • Like humid, windless areas • Insects suck sap causing yellowing • Very small white winged insects; dart away when plant shaken • Spray with soapy water at night when insects not active

Cutworms • • • •

Many types of cutworms Moths lay eggs in plant debris Larvae feed at night Attack seedlings and young plants • Dig, find worm and destroy; then replace plant • Physical barrier helps deter • Ashes around plant may help deter, add again after rain

Cabbage Worm and Diamond Back Moth Worm (DBM) • White butterfly lays orange eggs • Moth lays yellowish green eggs • Larva attacks cabbage family • Destroy eggs and small larva early • Neem is effective against DBM, but do not use on tomatoes

Tomato Fungal Diseases • Can cause severe disease problems • Always water plants at base • Worse in rainy times when leaves are wet • Disease lives in plant debris • Stake plants up to keep leaves off the ground

Early Blight

Septoria Leaf Spot

Prevent Diseases First • • • • • • • • •

Grow plants in high quality compost Use mix of vegetables Water only at base of plants Constantly wet leaves and wet compost promote disease Plant different vegetable in each square after harvest Thin plants and garden keep weed free Remove dead or diseased plants Use organic sprays early before plants have disease Do not spray during heat of the day

Homemade Organic Disease Control Sprays • 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1 quart water • 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cooking oil, a little soap in 1 quart of water • Spray top and bottom of leaves • Spray until leaves just wet

Powdery Mildew

Homemade Organic Insect Control Sprays • A little soap in water • Repeat in 5 days for eggs • 3 oz. garlic, 2 tea cooking oil in water, repels caterpillars, flea beetles and cutworms • 2 teaspoons hot pepper, garlic, a little soap in water, repels thrips and beetles

Ladybug Beetle is a beneficial insect

Other types of Small Garden System- Portable Sack Garden • Old sisal bags filled with soil or compost • Best for use in cities • Place on flower pavements • Plant sukuma, spinach, tomatoes, pili pili,terere • Seedlings are planted on top and sides

What is Composting? • It is a natural process • Mixture of decayed organic matter • Valuable source of nutrients • Turns organic matter into a valuable material • The end product is called humus.

How to Compost • Use a mixture of plant materials • Chop into small pieces • Keep pile moist • Add a layer of clean wood ashes • Add a layer of completed compost or good garden soil

Gather and chop materials

How to Construct a Compost Heap • Start with dry and rough vegetation • Then add top soil or finished compost • Add another layer of green vegetation • Sprinkle ashes on top • Repeat the process • Manure also can be added

Measure 1 meter by any length

Compost Making Continued • Add ground eggshells • Water and cover with soil and dry grass. • Turn the pile ever 2 weeks until ready • Add to garden when replanting a square Adding water when pile is dry, keeps the process going

Compost Management • Drive the stick into the pile at an angle • Check temperature - high temperature will kill weed seeds and any diseased materials • Test for “fire fungi”-when you find whitish substance on the stick - water immediately – “fire fungi” depletes nitrogen content of compost

What Not to Compost • Charcoal ashes • Dog and cat manure • Eucalyptus, acacia leaves • Meat and animal fat • Colored or glossy newsprint • Diseased plants

Finished pile start in to heat

How to Make and Use Compost or Manure Tea • A shovelful of compost or manure in 5 liters of water • Stir once a day for a week • Nutrients will dissolve into water • Separate water from the solids • Dilute by ½ and use compost or manure water in garden

How to Make and Use Plant Tea • Chop green sappy leaves into small pieces • Put into drum or debe • Cover the drum • Stir every 3 days • Ready after 15 days • Dilute 1:2 then apply on plant leaves

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