What is the nutritional value of vegetables
The nutritional value of vegetables is easily answered by the popular media, just slam a couple of very average numbers next to a couple of...
Trellising tomato plants in a greenhouse
Trellising tomato plants is only required when growing indeterminate types in greenhouses. Although trellising tomato plants it is labour intensive and must be done weekly,...
Protect your seedlings from extreme temperatures
Seedlings must be protected from extreme temperatures. Climates that vary from very cold to very hot and also from very dry to water logged conditions...
The basics of producing good seedlings
It is a proven fact that the production of seedlings in seed trays will on average provide a better quality seedling which will permit earlier...
Basic pest and disease resistance management strategies in greenhouses
Resistance to chemicals is due to the intense selection pressure exerted on the population that is controlled. There is only a limited number of chemicals...
Understanding the greenhouse environment
The protected greenhouse environment The greenhouse environment is designed to allow plants to perform close to their genetic optimum so that the grower achieves maximum...
Trellising cucumbers in greenhouses
Trellising and training of greenhouse cucumbers Trellising of cucumbers should not be confused with pruning. They do go hand in hand, but are very different....
How do I start a hydroponic farm
How do I start a hydroponic farm? A frequent and legit question to ask from all parts of the world; how do I start a...
Understanding nitrogen dynamics during cucumber growth season
We all know the basics of nitrogen in plants. The good and the bad. Every grower and student knows nitrogen is important for good looking...
Optimizing income of your farm using Fibonacci
This is something that has been on my mind for a long time. So many growers ask me what is the best combination of crops...
Fertigation of cucumbers – the basics
Cucumbers are sensitive to water stress (to little water) and to water logging (over watering). Any of these two conditions will reduce plant vigour and...
The feasibility of hydroponics as empowerment concept – and why you will fail too.
There is no doubt that hydroponic farming systems are feasible as a commercial operation. Proof is in the application of this technology worldwide. I do...
Solution heating of a tomato crop has limited effect on early yields
Heating the nutrient solution of a NFT hydroponic system may sound like a lucrative option for early yields. Tampering with the nutrient solution temperature is...
How to grow spinach hydroponically
Spinach or Spinacia oleracea L. belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family. The Chenopodiaceae family also includes crop such as beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) and...
When to harvest tomato fruit
The ripening stage when tomato fruit are harvested will depend on the variety, the market segment (do they want red full ripe tomatoes or does...
Nutrient interactions: Calcium and Boron ratio
Calcium and Boron have a close relationship in the plant. Their absolute concentrations and the relative ratio between the two affects how much of each...
Seedling transplant tolerances and germination characteristics
Seedling susceptibility to various climate conditions is important to growers, especially those wanting to venture into new crops. We all know that microclimate is crucial...
Manganese levels in nutrient solution do not influence tomato growth
The concentration of manganese (Mn) can vary significantly in re-circulating nutrient solutions. Crop uptake of manganese cannot be explained to this high variation and the...
Heating nutrient solution increases growth rate of tomatoes
Heating the nutrient solution in order to increase growth rate can provide growers an edge over competitors. This applies to all business categories. Heating up the...
