Farmers Academy

05/10/2022

18/11/2021

FARM FRESH TOMATOES NOW IN PRODUCTION...

Tomato Prices:

Crates / 20 kg:
A grade @ R170
B grade @ R140
S/M @ R150

Boxes:
5 kg
L @ R50
S/M @ R45

Pre pack:
1 kg
L @ R8
S/M @ R7

Feel free to place your orders with us at Cradle Farms, Plot 26, Zwartkrans Krugersdor0, R563, 1739.
Contact nr : 010 444 0252

07/10/2021

22/09/2021

Dear Diary

We are pleased to announce we are selling STARKE AYRES SEED.
And SEEDLING TRAYS.

CONTACT OR EMAIL US FOR:
🔸️Quatations
🔸️Orders

WEEK: 4 & 5

Fertilisation
It is essential to have a soil analysis done prior to fertilisation. Below are general recommendations:

🔸️N required (kg/ha) 125kg N/ha
🔸️P required (kg/ha) 20-25kg P/ha
🔸️K required (kg/ha) 125kg K/ha

🔸️Ca (Calcium) & Boron : Apply as foliar feed during the growing season.
🔸️Alternatively apply CaNO3 as a top dressing to plants during the growth stages.
🔸️Micronutrients : Apply a broad spectrum foliar feed that will supply all the micro nutrients to the plant.

As a general guide, use:
500-1000 kg 2.3.4(30) per hectare (depending on soil fertility at planting)

Followed by
175-225 kg LAN per hectare at 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Very important: The guidelines above are only general guidelines and may vary from region and soil types used for Swiss Chard production.

Major Pests and Diseases
🔸️Cercospera
🔸️Bacterial Spot
🔸️Downy Mildew
🔸️Damping Off (Seedlings)

Pests
🔸️Nematodes
🔸️Cutworm
🔸️Aphids
🔸️Leaf Miner
🔸️Snails

Scouting:
We Identified Thrips again, this week

Spray Program:
🔸️Did address the Thrips – sprayed in alignment with our Advisor 🔸️Recommendation
🔸️Preventative Program
🔸️Supplied by our preferred Insecticide Company

Follow us weekly on our Summer Planting Journey, for the next steps in planting Swiss Chard Ford Hook Giant…

13/09/2021

Don't miss out on our next Hydroponic Training 5 -8 October 2021!

Come and enrich yourself with knowledge of invaluable value..

🔶️AgriSeta accredited
🔶️ Exams will be written and Certificate will be issued after passing
exams.
🔶️ Limited space available
🔶️ Refreshments and Lunch will be served.

Book now to avoid disappointment!

07/09/2021

Dear Diary

BREAKING NEWS: We are pleased to announce we are selling STARKE AYRES SEED.
And SEEDLING TRAYS.

CONTACT OR EMAIL US FOR:
• Quatations
• Orders

SWISS CHARD - can be produced under mild to cool conditions. It is advisable not to plant Swiss Chard under conditions where frost is prevalent during the winter. Swiss Card can tolerate light frost but ongoing frost may damage the plant and suppress optimal production. Under hot conditions Swiss Chard grows well, but extreme hot weather may cause problems. Hot conditions are also not conducive to the holdability of the final product if this is not managed properly.

TEMPERATURE GUIDELINES
• Minimum Temperature 8-12 ͦ C
• Optimal Temperature 12-24 ͦ C
• Maximum Temperature 32 ͦ C

WEEK 2:

Irrigation:
• A total requirement of 380 – 450 mm of water /ha is needed for successful production of Spinach. Swiss Chard is sensitive to moisture stress and frequent irrigation with smaller amounts of water are better than heavy application at longer intervals.

• Broad guidelines for irrigation of Swiss Chard
• Post planting – emergence: 15-20 mm water / week
• Emergence seedling establishment: 20-25 mm water / week
• Seedling establishment maturity: 25-35 mm water / week at regular intervals

Very important: The guidelines above are only general guidelines and may vary from region and soil types used for Swiss Chard production.

Scouting:
• We Identified Thrips this week

Spray Program:
• Did address the Thrips – sprayed in alignment with our Advisor Recommendation
• Preventative Program
• Supplied by our preferred Insecticide Company

Follow us weekly on our Summer Planting Journey, for the next steps in planting Swiss Chard Ford Hook Giant…

24/08/2021

Dear Diary

PLANTING SEASON IS OFFICIALLY OPEN...

SWISS CHARD FORD HOOK GIANT is our chosen open land crop.

Swiss Chard belongs to the beetroot family of vegetables and has been cultivated in Europe for thousands of years. Due to its extensive cultivation in Switzerland, it has been referred to as Swiss Chard. In South Africa, it is often called Spinach and has been a substitute for Spinach.
It has thicker leaves and is higher yielding than true Spinach.
Technically Swiss Chard is not Spinach and is more closely related to Beetroot than it is to Spinach.
Swiss Chard is a very good source of Vit A, K, C, Magnesium, and Manganese.

The most sold cultivar of Swiss Chard in South Africa is FORD HOOK GIANT, a green-leafed white stalked variety. The leafy part is always deep green, while the stalk of different cultivars can be white, bright yellow, green, or red.

WEEK 0:

Land preparation:
• Harrowing
• Rip
• Harrowing
• Ridging
• Rotavate

Reason:
• To make suitable for crop establishment
• Releases nutrients to the soil
• Destroying / Reducing weeds
• Improves soil and plant contact

Pre Plant Fertilizer:
• 18 August 2021
• In alignment with Soil Analysis
• 105 (39)
• 300kg / ha

Plant Date:
• 24 August 2021

Spray Program:
• Preventative Program
• Supplied by our preferred Insecticide Company
• Direct after Planting – Product to prevent worms from eating our seedlings

Follow us weekly on our Summer Planting Journey, for the next steps in planting Swiss Chard Ford Hook Giant…

26/07/2021

Do you want to learn from us?
Don't miss out on our next Hydroponic Training 10-13 August 2021!

🔶️AgriSeta accredited
🔶️ Exams will be written and Certificate will be issued after passing
exams.
🔶️ Limited space available
🔶️ Refreshments and Lunch will be served.

Book now to avoid disappointment!