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Question 1

Double Digging.

Answer 1

Mark area out.
Dig 30cm deep trench.
Place soil from trench at the opposite end of the area to be dug.
Fork bottom of trench over to a depth of 30cm.
Incorporate organic matter into forked over area.
Dig next trench, invert the soil onto the organic matter in the previous trench.
Continue to work in this manner until the whole area is dug.
Fill the final trench with the soil from the first trench..

Question 2

Vegetable suitable for direct sowing.

Answer 2

Carrot ‘Autumn King’

Question 3

Vegetable cultivar suitable for transplanting from seed beds.

Answer 3

Cabbage ‘Hispi’

Question 4

Vegetable cultivar suitable for sowing in modules.

Answer 4

Courgette ‘Defender’

Question 5

Runner bean cultivar.

Answer 5

‘Red Rum’

‘Enorma’

Question 6

Sowing runner beans.

Answer 6

Direct sow outdoors in May.
30 - 60cm apart.
5cm deep.

Sow indoors mid to late spring.
One or two seeds per pot.
5cm deep.

Question 7

Supporting runner beans.

Answer 7

Wigwam.
2.4m tall canes or poles.
Tied together at top.
One or two plants planted at the base of each cane/pole.

Question 8

Harvesting runner beans.

Answer 8

Harvest from July/August until first frost.
Harvest often to ensure continuous harvest.
Harvest 15-20cm in length.
Pull from stalk.

Question 9

Leeks disease and control measure

Answer 9

Leek Rust - plant resistant cultivar, practice crop rotation, burn/destroy badly infected leaves.

Question 10

Winter cabbage disease and control method.

Answer 10

Club Root.

Raise soil pH to 7 or 7.5 by liming or implement in a very long crop rotation.

Question 11

Onions. Pest and control method.

Answer 11

Onion White Rot.
Controlled by digging up and burning infected plants.
Sow pelleted seed which contains fungicide.

Question 12

Potatoes.

Pest and control method.

Answer 12

Blight.
Grow resistant cultivars.
Cut down and burn infected stems and leaves.

Question 13

Lettuce.

Disease and control method.

Answer 13

Downy mildew.
Grow resistant cultivars
Sow seeds thinly.

Question 14

Courgette.

Named cultivars

Answer 14

Courgette ‘Defender’, ‘Venus’ or ‘Sunstripe’

Question 15

Sowing courgettes

Answer 15

Late spring in protected environment.
One or two seeds, sown in pots or modules.
Sow 2-2.5cm.
Discard weaker seedling.
Sow outdoors in early summer when risk of frost has passed.

Sow outdoors in early summer, after risk of frost has passed.
Station sow.
Two seeds per station, 90cm apart, 2-2.5cm deep.
Discard weaker seedling.

Question 16

Harvesting courgettes.

Answer 16

Start harvesting approximately eight weeks after sowing.
Courgettes should be firm to touch.
10-15cm long.
Cut cleanly with sharp knife.
Harvest courgettes regularly to ensure continuous cropping.

Question 17

Pests of courgettes.

Slugs.

Answer 17

Symptoms - slugs eat young foliage, back of stem and make holes in young fruit.

Question 18

Pests of courgettes.

Red spider mite.

Answer 18

Leaves become rusted.

Question 19

Pest of courgettes.

Mice.

Answer 19

Mice gnaw holes in the courgettes at any stage.

Question 20

Cordon.

Suitable fruit and rootstock.

Answer 20

Apple, Pear, Plum, Gage, Damson.
Apples M9 or M26
Plum/Gage/ Damson - Pixy.

Question 21

Fan.

Suitable fruit and rootstock.

Answer 21

Cherry, Plum, Gage, Damson.
Cherry - Colt.
Plum,Gage, Damson - Pixy or St Julian.

Question 22

Affect of weed control on quality and yield on top fruit crop.

Answer 22

Weeds harbour pests and diseases eg. Red spider mite is found in the dry condition of wall trained top fruit.
Long grass beneath trees can create a damp micro-climate which can promote scab and powdery mildew.
Weeds compete for nutrition and water resulting in smaller fruits and lower yields.
Nitrogen and potassium deficiency can occur.
Competition for water may result in fruit split in apples and cherries and can contribute to bitter pit in apples.

Question 23

Producing a crop of summer fruiting raspberries.

Cultivar selection.

Answer 23

Raspberry 'Glen Moy' or 'Glen Ample'.
DEFRA certified stock.
True to type.
Virus free.
From good supplier.
Good flavour.
Heavy crop.

Question 24

Producing a crop of summer fruiting raspberries.

Planting.

Answer 24

Plant dormant plant in autumn/early winter.
Humus rich, moisture retentive soil .
pH 6.0 to 6.5.
Canes planted 38 to 48 cm apart.
Rows 1.5 to 2m apart.
5 to 8 cm deep with roots spread evenly and gently firmed in.
Prune canes to 25cm fro ground level.
Mulch.

Question 25

Production of summer fruiting raspberries.

Pruning.

Answer 25

Prune old canes, which have just fruited, to ground level.
Leave new canes to fruit the following year.
Remove, diseased, damaged and weak growth.
Tie in new canes into the support system, evenly spaced at 8-10cm.
Tips of canes are pruned above the top wire.