Crop Production – Vegetable Growing

Introduction

At meal times, a variety of foods are served. If you are to be healthy you need to eat foods that are high in a variety of nutrients Vegetables are the non-starchy foods with a lot of water Vegetables are highly perishable and can easily be contardinated. They should be handled carefully after harvesting, especially as some are eaten raw.

Different vegetables are grown in different parts of the country This may be due to the climate and soil of the area. Some vegetables make up staple diets in particular areas and they are easy to market in those areas.

The pests and diseases in an area will also determine which vegetable to grow It is therefore important to find out which vegetable grows well in your locality Vegetables with very small seeds are first sown in a nursery bed where they can get special care. Some of the vegetables are planted directly in the main garden.

In this chapter you are going to learn how to select, grow and market vegetables that are suitable for your locality.

Vegetables Grown in Uganda

In Uganda, a wide variety of vegetables are grown. Some have been grown for a long time Many more vegetables have been introduced in the country in recent years. Which vegetables are grown in your area?

Why do you think these particular vegetables are grown? In activity 41. you are going to identity vegetables and the parts that are eaten.

Activity 4.1 Identifying the common vegetables and the part of the vegetable eaten

Market Value of Vegetables

Most of the vegetables grown are sold locally; in markets and supermarkets

Others are grown for export to get foreign exchange.

Do you know such vegetables? Give examples. Currently, there are a few vegetable processing industries in Uganda Mention some of the processed vegetable products Figure 4.3 shows a vegetable market.

Activity 4.3 Finding out the value of vegetables grown in the community

You will need: A plan of how to move, a list of what to look out for (Appendix “B”). camera or smart phone, notebook and pen.

As a class

-Write a letter to a market chairman seeking permission to visit the market

– Agree on what you should be paying particular attention to and questions your should ask, cross check with Appendix “B” Interview guide for market visits

In groups

1.Prepare to visit a local market in your area. Prepare the questions you plan to ask Consult appendix B

2.Wear protective gear (overcoat, gumboots)

3.Move out to the market you planned to visit.

4. Move through the market paying particular attention to places where vegetables are sold.

5. Ask the questions in the interview guide. Take note of the prices of different vegetables. How are the traders benefiting from their vegetable business?

6. Make a group report to be presented in class

As a class

7. Gather and discuss the group reports so that you come to conclusions.

Most vegetables have short production cycles so farmers can get money from them in a short time. Some require less money to produce than most crops.

Of the vegetables you saw in the market, which ones will give you fast money?

Choosing a Vegetable to Grow and Budgeting for it

You are going to take on vegetable growing as a business. However, you should start on a small scale and you increase as you gain experience. The choice of the vegetable depends on many factors, for example, the taste and availability of growing material. However you cannot choose to grow only the vegetables you enjoy to eat. You have to decide on those that are easily marketable and from which you can get a lot of money. You need to find vegetables that grow well locally and those which are preferred by the people.

Activity 4.4 Selecting a suitable vegetable to grow

You will need: Pen, notebook, calculator guide on current prices of agricultural inputs

In groups

1. Brainstorm on the vegetables you want to grow in your project. Which factors will you base on?

2. Make a list of the materials you will use and identify their sources. Some of these materials may have to be bought: find out their cost.
3. Select the vegetable you are going to grow basing on the factors you brainstormed on and the production cost involved
4. Discuss the sources of materials for the vegetable project. Some of the materials required for the project can be collected from nearby bushes or the school farm. You are saving money!

5. Make a report of your group work.
6. Present your report to the rest of the class.

Nursery Bed Establishment

What do you understand by the word nursery? What do you think takes place in the nursery? Young children are usually taken to nursery schools where they are given special care Similarly some young plants, including those of vegetables need special care This enables them to grow well before they are taken to the main garden. The place where young plants are taken care of is called a nursery bed. It is a small area where young plants are raised in a protected environment.

Activity 4.5 Establishing a nursery bed of vegetables

You will need: hoes, tape measure, pegs, seeds, manure, gumboots, gloves, water and watering can and a rake.

1. In groups, construct nursery beds for the vegetable you have already selected to grow.

-Select a site

-Select tool and materials (seed part of the materials).

-Clear the site of all surface vegetation, tree stumps, stones

– Dig the soil removing all roots. Beat up large soil clods to fine soil. Why should you beat up large soil clods?

-Apply and mix organic manure into the soil well. Why should you mix organic manure in the soil?

-Sterilise the soil by burning grass on top of the nursery

-Measure out the nursery that should not be more than 1metre wide and any length

-Put the barriers on the sides of the nursery bed. What materials can you use to make the barriers? Why are you putting the barriers? Create a raised platform if the area has a high moisture content of the soil

-Apply water to the nursery bed using a watering can and wait for four days Why should this be done?

-Make shallow channels using a small stick across the bed at 15cm intervals Why do you think this should be done?

-Make planting drills using fingers or a smaller stick and put in the seeds How will you make sure the seeds are not crowded in one spot?

– Cover the seeds using a thin layer of soil.

-Mulch the nursery bed. Which materials are you going to use and why? Construct a shade over the nursery.

-Monitor germination.

Planting Vegetables Directly in the Main Garden

Some vegetables are not planted through the nursery bed but directly in the main garden where they will grow to maturity. Can you suggest such examples?

Activity 4.6 Understanding the procedure for planting directly in the main garden

You will need: A notebook, pen, garden tools, protective gear and fertiliser.

1. In groups, study and discuss the steps followed when planting seeds in the main garden, that are shown in figure 4.8.

(a) Why do you think the fertiliser is covered with soil before seeds are planted?

(b) Why is the person planting putting more than one seed in the hole? If both seeds germinate, what would the farmer do?

2 Make the planting holes and sow seeds following the procedure shown in figure 4.8.

3. Prepare a report of what you have been doing in the field.
4. Monitor germination. If there are empty planting holes by the end of the second week, plant in fresh seeds. This process is called “gap filling”.

Nursery Bed Management

After you have established your nursery bed and sowed the seeds, you need to monitor your nursery bed to ensure the seeds germinate and grow well.

These practices you carry out may include watering, weeding, thinning, pricking out and monitoring for pests and diseases.

Management of Vegetables from Transplanting to Maturity

Each plant should be able to get enough sunshine air water and food materials or nutrients How can this be achieved? Vegetable gardens should be kept free of weeds Some vegetables like tomatoes require mulching The care given to vegetables greatly reduces infestation by pests and diseases it is also key to production of good quality vegetables

Transplanting Seedlings

The stage at which young plants are moved from the nursery to the field where they will grow to maturity varies from vegetable to vegetable They should be strong enough to be handled without breaking. Only healthy seedlings should be transplanted. A lot of care should be taken not to break of bend their roots In the new field they should be put at a spacing that will be big enough for the vegetable to grow and mature well

Activity 4.8 Caring and using stage followed during transplanting

You will need: a notebook and a pen, wheel barrow water spade watering can gardener’s trowel, hoe manure, shading material protective gear

In groups

1. Study the pictures (A) to (D) in figure 4 12:

2. In pairs, describe what is taking place in each picture

3. Discuss the steps followed in transplanting Why do you think each step is important?

4. Make your report and discuss with the rest of the class.

5. Follow the same steps when transplanting the vegetable in your garden.

1. Describe how vegetables are cared for in each picture in figure 4.13.
2. Mention the vegetables which would require staking. Give reasons for the crops you mentioned.
3. Examine the materials that are required to stake vegetables. Which of them are already available on the farm?
4. If you need to stake the vegetables, brainstorm on how you are going to get the materials you need. You will need to stake them a few weeks after transplanting.
5. Note how the fruits are kept off the ground as they grow. Discuss the benefits of this.
6. Mention other practices that may be carried out in your vegetable garden.
7. Prepare guidelines for caring for a vegetable garden and hang them up in the study corner.

Preparing Bio Pesticides in Vegetable Growing

Many homes in Uganda are usually attacked by the red ants especially during the iny season. What do they use to chase away these insects? This practice is an example of the use of bio pesticides. Farmers try out different combinations of materials or plant extracts. Then they continue to use what works bent on particular pests attacking particular plants Scientists are also carrying out research on bo pesticides and advise farmers on the pesticides that work best.

Activity 4.10 Exploring bio pesticides their effect on pests and the vegetables on which they can be used You will need: Pen, notebook, resource materials like the internet 1 In groups search on the internet or in the library and complete the table 4.3 about bio pesticides.

2 Research on how the pesticides in table 4.3 can be prepared at home: 3 Share your findings with the rest of the class

Now that you know which bio pesticide is more effective on a particular pest and particular vegetable, you can plan and prepare a pesticide that is suitable for the vegetable the class or the group is growing

Activity 4.11 Preparing bio Pesticides and using them for the vegetable project

You will need: Findings from activity 4.10, Pen, notes book plant leaves and

barks, animals wastes, water gloves, sprayers, face masks: mortar and pestle In groups, follow steps you have researched in activity 4 10 on how to prepare the preferred bio pesticide For example, tomatoes are usually infested by aphids Tobacco leaves can be squeezed into water and applied on the underside of the tomato leaves. This should be according to the vegetable you are growing.

2. Apply the finished products to the affected vegetables or use it to control pests in your garden

3. Keep monitoring the garden to see that pests are killed or are repelled

4. Why is it important to learn how to prepare pesticide from material around and on the farm?

5. Discuss your findings with the rest of the class.

6. Add to your vegetable record.

Vegetables are easily attacked by pests and diseases, even from a young stage One of the effective ways of protecting vegetables against pests and diseases is through the use of bio-pesticides. Chemicals are dangerous to our health since they stay in the environment and in the food chain.

Harvesting Vegetables

It is important not to harvest immature vegetables. They will not have attained full size and quality will be low thus fetching a lower market price Delayed harvesting may lead to most vegetables losing quality while still in garden. It may also lead to attack by pests like monkeys and weevils. Vegetables should be harvested at the right stage of maturity during the right weather properly and carefully to maintain their quality and minimise wastage.

Activity 4.12 Investigating maturity understand how harvesting should be done indicators for vegetables and understand how harvesting should be done.

1 In groups complete table 4.4 about indicators that the vegetable is ready for harvesting and parts harvested. You may use knowledge acquired from Activity 4.1

2. Complete table 4.5 about the best weather in which to harvest and how to harvest.

3. Discuss group findings as a whole class

4.Follow guidelines you have made to harvest the vegetable you grew.

Food safety Guidelines for Harvested Fresh Vegetables

Many vegetables are eaten without being cooked or when they have been lightly cooked. This requires that they are kept clean and free from chemicals in order not to make people who eat them sick Sorting vegetables to remove the cut or bruise will also make them last longer

Activity 4.13 Handling harvested vegetables safely to maintain quality

You will need: water knife plastic and wooden boxes, baskets, tarpaulin and freshly harvested vegetables.

In groups

1. Carefully study the pictures A-D in figure 4.14

2. Discuss what is happening in each picture

3. How does each activity increase the safety and quality of harvested vegetables?

4. Will the activity in each case increase the period that vegetables can remain fresh and safe? How?

5. Move out to a place where harvested vegetables have been put

6. Follow the steps in figure 4 14 to prepare the vegetables for marketing

7. Design a set of criteria you will use to explain harvesting guidelines and post-harvest handling of vegetables for the community. Write them on manilla paper

Marketing Vegetables

Most vegetables are perishable, so they need to be marketed immediately Marketing involves many processes. You have to identify the potential customers and how you can satisfy their needs throughout the year. You have to identify a place where you can set from, that customers can easily access Some customers may come to your garden and pick what they want to buy You have to select the price of your product that is within the purchasing power of the target customers. You have to communicate to your targeted customers through promotion or advertising. The vegetables have to be transported to the market and displayed well before they can be sold.

In Groups,

1. Brainstorm on how you are going to set prices for your vegetables.

2.What is likely to influence the price you set up?

3. Make a list of different vegetables and the price at which you intend to sell them. Look through old magazines, newspapers and journals and find out how vegetables are being advertised.

(a) Make a poster advertising vegetables.

(b) Make an online advertisement for vegetable sales, using an appropriate application like, jumia or jiji.

4 Study Jane’s display in figure 4 15 and Ali’s display in figure 4.16 (a) Which of the two farmers. Jane and Ali, is likely to get more buyers?

(b) How can Jane improve on her display? (c) How can Ali improve on his display?

5. Compile your work into a report.

6. Present your findings to the class and hang up the poster you make in the classroom.

7. As a class, decide on how you are going to market the vegetables you have grown.

8. Market your vegetables.