Feedback: All you wish to know on growing carrots, from the soil to market

GROWING CARROTS

I would like to learn more on farming carrots. What is its commercial viability and where can it be comfortably grown?

Jediel Muthuri

Carrots, consumed fresh or processed, are mainly grown for the local market, but baby carrots are pre-packed and exported.

The main carrot producing areas are Central, Coast, Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza and Nairobi.

Carrots can do well in areas with the following environmental conditions:

Altitude: Greater than 500m above sea level is necessary for production of economic yields.

Soil: Carrots require deep, loose, loamy soils that are well-drained because poor drainage encourages bacterial diseases to attack crops.

Heavy clay soils are likely to produce twisted and malformed roots of low quality. Optimum pH is 6-6.5. No yields may be obtained at pH < 5.2.

Temperature: This is a cool season crop but can tolerate to a certain extent warmer conditions. High soil temperatures encourage production of short roots and may adversely affect germination.

Germination best occurs at 25-300C, while vigorous growth and good colour development is best at 15-200C.

Temperatures greater than 250C results in pale yellow carrots that have strong flavour and are coarse textured. Too low temperatures induce bolting.

Rainfall: The crop tolerates a wide range of rainfall but excess may cause a reduction in root colour. Dry conditions cause cracking and branching of roots (as they search for water).

Diseases: Watch out for wireworms and flea beetles. Diseases to look out for include aster yellow, which discolours carrot tops and is spread by pests.

Harvesting: The crop matures after about three months. When ready, they will be about an inch in diameter.

Storage: To keep freshly harvested carrots, cut off the tops, wash to remove the dirt under running water, dry and seal in airtight plastic bags, and refrigerate if you are not taking them to the market directly.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

****

STARTING DAIRY FARM

I want to keep dairy cows in Ndaragwa, Nyandarua, please advise on best breed.

Solomon Nderitu

Nyandarua is one of the counties known for dairy farming because of the favourable climatic conditions, however, Ndaragwa is a fairly dry area in the county.

This calls for precaution when choosing breeds and production systems. In your case, breeds like Jersey and Guernsey together with their crossbreeds will do well because they adjust better.

However, there are farmers there who keep Friesian and Ayrshires (abundant in cooler parts of the county) with good feeding plans and they still do well.

Whichever way, the best system to adopt is zero-grazing if resources allow with hay (cheaper in Nyandarua County) and silage preserved to allow you feed comfortably.

Felix Akatch Opinya,
Department of Animal Science, Egerton University.

****

WHERE TO GET RENNET

I am looking forward to learning how to make cheese, where do I buy rennet?

Ngugi

Making cheese at home is an excellent way to preserve and add value to excess milk on the farm.

Most cheeses are made with a rennet coagulant, either animal or vegetable-based that sets the milk by causing the protein to form curd and allows the liquid to separate and runoff as whey.

It comes in either tablet, liquid or powder form from cheese suppliers and milk cooperatives involved in cheese manufacturing.

Liquid form is the easiest to work with because you can measure it. However, powder and tablet form stay better under adverse conditions.

The amount of rennet used in different cheeses varies because of specific requirements. Some need a firm curd than others and some need longer time frame for coagulation.

The curds for each cheese are different. Kindly get in touch with Promaco Limited Nairobi on 0723703032 or 0733557571.

Caroline Makau,
Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology, Egerton University.

****

FARMING VEGETABLES USING IRRIGATION

I am starting a vegetable farm that is near a stream that seems not to go dry. How do I get a water pump as I am currently watering by hand?

I am also interested in organic farming.

Beatrice Musiga, student

Organic manure supplies one or more nutrients in the soil, strengthening it. There are three types of organic manure namely green, farmyard and compost.

Before you apply manure to your vegetables, make sure that it is well decomposed. Roles of organic manure in the soil include:

i) Increases the water-holding capacity of the soil.

ii) Improves soil fertility by providing a wide range of nutrients into the soil.

iii) Provides food and shelter for soil micro-organisms which aid in decomposition of organic matter.

iv) Improves soil structure by binding particles.

Insecticides are only used in case the vegetables are attacked by pests and they vary from one plant to another.

Irrigation is done during the dry season. Drip irrigation is more economical in terms of water use and you can buy drip lines, a tank and a water pump from various stockists.

The water pump will pump water into the tank and then the drip lines will supply water to the crops.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

****

MY BANANA LEAVES ARE TURNING BROWN

I’m growing tissue culture bananas in Kisumu West and some of my crops have lately developed brownish leaves.

Could you advise me on the cause of this problem and how it can be dealt with?

Ayub Were, Kisumu West

This could be Black sigatoka, a fungal disease which attacks the leaves of bananas and causes reduction in yield.

The disease starts with small spots, which gradually enlarge to form dark streaks. It can be controlled by removal of infected leaves, ensure good drainage within the plantation and by use of fungicides.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

****

BREAKING OF DORMANCY OF GARLIC

I have attempted to grow garlic from cloves but the seed takes several months to germinate.

Kindly advise on what bio-stimulant solution to use to break the bulb dormancy such that it germinates/sprouts before planting.

Also, where should I purchase the stimulant and how is it used?

James 

Bio-stimulant hormones normally break garlic dormancy from months to two weeks. The hormone is mixed with water and garlic bulbs and then immersed in the solution for 12 hours.

The garlic is then stored in a room whose temperature is controlled at 200C for two weeks. The garlic is then sun dried for two days after which splitting into individual cloves is done.

For more information on where to purchase the bio-stimulant hormone, please contact farmer Moses Githaiga of Saumu Centre Ltd on 0729829532.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

****

ONIONS IN KIRINYAGA

I would like to grow onions for the first time in Gichugu, Kirinyaga.

Kindly advise on the type to farm (fast-moving in the market) and which is the best season to farm? Is the climate of the region favourable for onion farming?

Rosaline

Onions will do well in Kirinyaga.

Red Passion F1, Bombay Red and Red Pinnoy have high market demand and fetch good prices.

To know the time you should plant, count four-and-a-half months backwards so that harvesting coincides with the dry season in Kirinyaga.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.