Agriculture Business Week

Here’s an easy do-it-yourself guide to managing your own garden of high-value fruits and vegetables.

Blackleg may be controlled through crop rotation in three years as these diseases often survive for one to two years in the remains of the crops. Affected crops should be removed from the plant beds and plots. Seed treatment may be used to control black leg. This may be done by soaking the seeds in hot water for thirty minutes. Seeds should then be dried thoroughly before planting.

Black Rot. This disease is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris. Black rot primarily affects the above ground parts of the plant. Environmental conditions and the age of the plant affect the symptoms.

Black rot is characterized by yellow V-shaped lesions along to tips of the leaves. The point of the V is directed toward a vein. As the lesions grow, wilted tissue expands toward the base of the veins and veins may turn black or brown. Black rot may also spread into the stems. When stems are cut, a black-brown discoloration may be found as well as yellowish slime.

No chemical control measures are available for black rot. Prevention is therefore very important. Bacteria causing black rot can survive on plant residue buried in the soil for up to two years. Bacteria can also survive in and on seeds of infected plants. This disease may be transmitted through splashing water, wind, insects and garden tools. High temperature and humidity can also aid in the development of this disease.

To prevent black rot, make sure to use disease-free seed and transplants. Broccoli must not be planted on soil that has been known to have had black rot in the past two or three years. Good sanitation practice is also key in preventing the development and spread of the disease. Debris of plants from the garden should be destroyed as some of which may have been infected. Wetplant should not be handled. This reduces the spread of disease-causing organisms.

Cercospora leaf spot. This disease is also caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola and is characterized by ashy color on the upper side of the leaves. The leaves are then ultimately become covered with black fungus.

This disease may be controlled by crop rotation. It is also important to remove and burn infected leaves. Insecticide may also be used.

Downy mildew. Downy Mildew may manifest in any part of the broccoli. The upper portion of the leaves become yellowish and is then followed by the growth of a whitish substance in the lower part of the leaves. Ultimately thestem and the insides of the leaves become ashy and the plant dies.

To control this disease, it is necessary that the soil is dried well. Seed treatment is also recommended before planting. To do this procedure, seeds should be soaked in water with the temperature of 50 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Seeds should then be rinsed with cold water then spread thinly over a container to dry. Seeds should be then set in captan, chronil or thiram dust as seed treatment.

Harvest and storage
Broccoli grown in the valley may be harvested within 60 to 70 days. However, broccoli grown in high terrain should be harvested eighty to ninety days after transplanting. It is important to ensure that the plant is in its right age before harvesting. The head should be full and the buds should have not yet bloomed.

Broccoli may not be harvested all at once. This prevents oversupply in the market that causes the plunge in its prices. The plot should be visited regularly to identify which plant is ready for harvesting.

A sharp knife or cutter and baskets or kaing are needed for harvesting. Broccoli should be harvested individually, cutting the stem close to the ground. Stems should have 20 to 25cm from the head for easy handling. Older leaves should be removed by use of a sharp knife.

Harvested broccoli should be placed in a basket or kaing. Broccoli should be placed in storage boxes alternating head and stalk side up. This ensures no wasted space in the basket as well as preventing the heads to stick together which may damage the crop.

Costs and Return on Investment
Costs in growing broccoli vary according to the location on which it is grown. Broccoli grown in the highlands like Mt. Province may need approximately Php 63,500 per hectare. Broccoli grown in the lowlands like Ilocos and Batangas may need Php 62,500 per hectare capital. Primary capital in growing broccoli goes to the variable costs which include labor costs, and costs of seeds, fertilizers and insecticides. Fixed costs include land rent, equipment, and loans if applicable.

A hectare of land may yield twenty thousand kilos of broccoli. Should the harvest be sold at eight pesos per kilo, the hectare may yield 152% return on investment.

Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a cool-season vegetable from the cabbage family. It is closely related to broccoli and is known for fighting certain types of cancer. This vegetable is often used in stews and local favorites such as stir fry dishes.

Growing cauliflower

Moist, humus type soil is important in growing cauliflower as this vegetable tend to have weak root systems. Continuous rapid growth is essential to produce quality heads, therefore fertilizers must be applied to ensure maximum yield. A quarter to half a cup of complete fertilizer may be applied into the soil below the plant. Soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is essential for best development of cauliflower.

Approximately 200 grams to 30o grams of seeds are necessary to plant one hectare. The seeds require the same care as that of cabbage and broccoli, however greater care must be provided by disinfecting seed beds and providing rich moist soil. Pricking should also be done to produce uniform and stocky seedlings for field planting.

Cauliflower may be grown by direct seeding or transplanting method. Seeds must be sowed one-half inch deep in clumps of approximately four seeds, 24 inches apart and 30 inches between rows. Gradually thin to the best single plant. Crops should be fertilized regularly. One hectare may require five tons of manure for land preparation. 100-45-45 kilos of N-P-K fertilizer may be applied.

Seedlings are ready for transplanting 35 to 45 days after sowing. Newly transplanted seedlings require watering or irrigation. When plants are 15 cm tall, nitrogen fertilizer may be applied. Seedlings may be set in two rows 5ocm apart. The double rows may be too cm apart. These double rows may be bedded with the use of machines equipped with a plow. This is essential as the soil mulch prevents weed growth, and aids irrigation.

Cauliflower may grow best in loamy soil but can thrive in light soils. When planted in lowlands, proper drainage can aid in achieving good yield. Cauliflower may not withstand extremely high or low temperatures, dry weather and low humidity.

Cauliflower is affected by the same pests that affect broccoli and may be treated the same way. Label instructions must be followed accordingly and local agricultural experts may be consulted for further assistance.

Common diseases
Common diseases that affect cauliflower are alternaria leaf spot and downy mildew. Alternaria leaf spot is characterized by black or brown specks with concentric rings on the lower leaves. The leaves eventually turn yellow and drop. This disease is caused by the fungus Alternaria brassicae. Curds may be affected even if this disease mainly affects the leaves. This disease may be airborne and can be transmitted by splashing water, equipment and people. Warm moist conditions aid in the propagation of this disease.

Downy mildew is a disease that can affect both seedlings and mature plants. This disease is characterized by tiny yellow specks on the upper surface in the initial stages that eventually turn brown. White downy mold may appear on the underside of the leaf. Downy mildew may cause vascular discoloration and can cause soft rot on the plant.

Harvest and storage
Cauliflower is harvested by hand and by use of a sharp knife. Harvest should be done when the head is approximately six inches in diameter when the curds are compact and white and the leaves are lush, healthy and green. Cauliflower should be cut at the base of the head when harvesting. Undesirable heads that are deformed and defective are to be removed.

Leaves that are spreading should be removed and leaves that wrap around the head are to be trimmed two inches above the head to protect the curds. The head should be cleaned before storage and transport. Heads may be covered in perforated plastic but proper handling and a well ventilated storage should be provided. Cauliflower is highly perishable and should not be stored for long periods of time. High temperature can cause rapid deterioration and shelf life.

Return on Investment
Production costs of cauliflower include land preparation costs, labor costs, and cost of equipment, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. A hectare may yield approximately 12 to 18 thousand kilos of cauliflower.

The demand for cauliflower is constantly rising, in reference to the Department of Agriculture’s projected outputs for 2007 (12.65 metric tons) to 2009 (12.90 metric tons).

Celery
Celery is locally known as kintsay. Thos crop is considered a cool-season crop. Scientifically named as Apium graueolens, this crop belongs to the family Umbelliferse or Parsley. This crop has a strong scent and has small white flowers.

Celery is primarily grown in Benguet and the Mt. Province. An estimated 687 hectares is currently used for growing celery in the aforementioned locations. It is currently considered as a minor crop in the Philippines. This crop has two varieties: the stalk variety and the Chinese variety. The stalk variety is often found in the highlands and is characterized by its thick petioles. Chinese celery variety is characterized by its strong taste and is often used in soups. Chinese celery variety is often found in lowlands or near the ocean.

Growing celery
Both varieties of celery may be grown all year. However, celery may only be planted using the transplanting method.

During the hot season, celery should be planted on a seed bed one meter wide and fifteen cm high. During cold season, the seedbed should be thirty cm high.

Hay may be placed over the soil to protect the seeds. This keeps the soil from getting too dry which can cause problems in the plant growth. Use of hay also prevents the seeds from being drawn off during watering.

It takes two to three months before seeds grow into seedlings. At this time, seedlings may be transplanted to the plot. In transplanting, celery seedlings should be placed in two rows with rows 20cm apart and 4ocm for each column.

Celery roots do not grow longer than 60cm. Roots mostly grow 45 to 60cm near the top of the ground. It is therefore important to use fertilizers to ensure that the crops get their needed nutrients especially when it is nearing its harvesting age.

to be continued…

By Carmela Abaygar