Understand The Principles Of Vegetable Crop Production Flashcards
Describe the production of runner beans
Time of sowing outdoors - mid may, june after risk of frost has passed.
Provide shelter from the wind, good drainage, no frost pockets, good moisture retention. Light, neutral soil.Dig in organic matter to site.
Sow double row in drills 30cm apart and 5-7.5cm deep, leaving 15cm between each seed.
Water well and mulch when first truss of flowers is well developed.
Harvest - July, August, September. Harvest regularly to encourage a higher yield.
Named cultivar - Phaseolus coccineus ‘Achievement’
Describe the production of winter cabbage
Cultivar - Cabbage ‘F1 Wirosa’
Sow in drills 1.5 - 2.5cm deep, 15-25cm apart in April/June
Space 60 x 45cm
Plant deeply and firmly and water to establish the plants. Keep weed free while young. Earth up stems in autumn to prevent wind rock. Remove any yellow or rotting leaves and inspect for pests and diseases regularly. Irrigate when dry. Start to mature in October and can be harvested through to late March.
Describe the production of Brussels sprouts
Named cultivar - Brussels Sprout ‘Genius’F1
Sow outdoors in April
Sow in shallow drills 2.5cm deep and 15cm apart.
Water the seedlings before lifting and transplanting to the cropping site, spacing at 60cm x 60cm
Hoe occasionally to destroy weeds until crop leaves cover the soil and smooth weed growth. During dry weather water well and apply a liquid fertiliser.
Harvest from October to February. Snap off the largest and lowest sprouts as soon as they are big enough to use.
Describe the production of carrots
Named cultivar - Daucus carota ‘Autumn King 2’
Sown in April and June in rows 15cm apart in shallow drills 15-20mm deep. Sow thinly to save thinning which can attract carrot root fly. How between row to remove weeds. Thin seedlings when the first rough leaves appear. Thin again, twice, until the final distance between plants is 10cm. Thin on dull days to avoid carrot root fly. Firm and water the rows thoroughly after thinning. Remove debris.
Pull when they are large enough for eating. The roots for storage should be lifted in Ocotober with a fork. Store is boxes of sand or soil in a frost proof shed.
Describe the production of courgettes
Cucurbita pepo ‘Defender’
Sow seeds in a glasshouse in April in 7.5cm pots. Sow the seeds 25mm deep and keep the temp. At 15 deC. Transplant to the cropping site in June. Sow outdoors in late May - 3 seeds per site to thin and leave the strongest one once germination has taken place.
Keep well watered and hoe between them to control weeds. Cross pollination by hand will increase cropping. Pick courgettes once desired size has been reached.
Describe the production of onions
Cultivar - Allium ‘Red Baron’
Seed can be sown in Jan/Feb indoors into modules with 1 seed per module. Place in temp 10degC-16degC. Grow on indoors in a cool greenhouse (frost free) and harden off in March. Plant out in late March/April, spacing the plants 10cm apart in rows 30cm apart.
Keep the area weed free by hand weeding/hoeing.
Allow the foliage to die down naturally and then lift the bulbs carefully with a fork. Leave bulbs on soil surface for the skins to dry and the roots to die. Once dry, remove any loose skins and store in a cool dry shed which is frost free.
Describe the production of leeks
Named cultivar - Allium porrum ‘Musselburgh Improved’
Harvest from October to March
Sow in Feb/March under cover. Transplant seedlings in May. Space plants 23cm apart in the row, with rows 30cm apart.
Water seedlings well before transplanting. Use a dinner to make a hole 2.5cm in diameter and 15-20cm deep. Drop the young plant into the hole and water it in.
Control weeds by hoeing between rows. Water as frequently as possible. Draw up soil around the stem a little at a time to lengthen the blanched stem. Dig up leeks as you need them from October to March.
Describe the production of beetroot
Named cultivar - Beta vulgaris ‘Boltardy’
Sow the seeds in drills March/April. Sow 2.5cm deep with 30cm between rows.
Thin seedlings to 5cm once the first rough leaf appears. Thin again until the final distance between plants is 10cm. Hoe occasionally.
Pull the early showings as required as soon as they are large enough for eating. Roots grown for storage should be lifted with a fork in October. Twist off the tops and shake the soil from the roots. Store in boxes of sand in a rodent free and frost free shed.
Describe the production of potatoes
Potato ‘Maxine’ (Main crop)
Seed tubers should be set up to a sprout in light, frost free condition in Feb (only for earlies)
Earlies - plant mid march to early April in 30cm apart rows. Main crop - plant out in mid to late April. Allow 67.5cm between rows and 37.5cm between tubers. Cover shoots with soil or straw when an early frost is likely. A top dressing of fertiliser should be given before earthing up. Draw soil up to near tops of shoots when large enough. Irrigate to field capacity when the tubers are the size of a marble. Dig earlies as required but store main crops in dark, dry, frost free shed. Allow tubers to dry before storing. Do not store damaged tubers.
Describe the production of lettuce
Named cultivar - Lactuca sativa ‘All Year Round’
Harvest March to July
Sow in spring in succession or for autumn sowing. Broadcast seeds thinly and then prick out seedling into modules. Plant out in March and space at 200mm apart. Plants are set shallowly. Guard against slugs. Water reguarly, but not in bright sunshine. Cut and come again by cutting plant down to approx 25mm high, leaving the centre leaves intact. or harvest when the plant has developed to desired size, but before it can bolt. By cutting away the entire head in one go.
Describe the production of radishes.
Named cultivar - Raphanus sativus ‘Perfecto’
Sow April to July
Sow seeds 5cm deep and 2.5cm apart. Water well and keep soil moist. Harvest when they reach 2.5 - 3cm in diameter. Gently pull from the soil. Pick them before they become ‘woody’
Describe how quality and yield may be determined by the following - base and top dressings, thinning, weed control, crop support, irrigation and pest and disease control. Include examples of veg crops to illustrate effects on growth and yield.
