Feedback: Best spinach varieties in market and know how to grow the vegetable

FARMING SPINACH

Which is the best variety of spinach to grow? Also, supply all steps and measures to take when farming the crop to curb pests and diseases for better harvest.

Nicholas Nguti, Makueni

Ford Hook Giant is the best variety as it can do well in a wide range of environmental conditions and is also the most common variety of Swiss Chard in Kenya. Other varieties include King of Denmark, New Zealand, Bloomsdale Long Standing, Giant Noble and Early Hybrid No. 7.

Swiss Chard requires fertile soils and will do well when supplied with nitrogen. It requires regular supply of water throughout the entire growing period.

Swiss Chard can be established directly or can be started first in a nursery bed then transplanted. If directly seeded, the rows are spaced 30cm apart and the seeds are then drilled in the rows and later thinned to a spacing of 10cm between the seedlings.

Nursery bed preparation

i) Clear the land to remove all weeds.

ii) Measure 1m width and any length depending on the number of seedlings required.

iii) Prepare the land to a fine tilth.

iv) Level the nursery bed using a rake.

v) Make furrows which are about 2cm deep and 10cm apart.

vi) Apply well-rotten manure in the furrows and mix it thoroughly with the soil before placing the seeds. It is advisable to soak the seeds for 24 hours to enhance germination.

vii) Place the seeds in the furrows and cover lightly with soil.

viii) Apply mulch on top of the nursery bed and water the nursery bed.

ix) Keep watering the nursery bed.

x) The mulch should be removed as soon as the seedlings start to emerge.

The seedlings are ready for transplanting a month after planting. Two weeks before transplanting, hardening off should be done (gradual removal of shade and reduction of watering so that the seedlings can adapt to the ecological conditions prevailing in the seedbed).

Transplanting should be done late in the evening or on a cloudy day.

Water the nursery bed thoroughly before lifting the seedlings so that they come out with a ball of soil around the roots.

Transplant to the seedbed in rows spaced 30cm apart and 10cm between the seedlings. Water the seedlings after transplanting.

Hand weeding is recommended. Diseases and pests are manifested by discolourations on the leaves or the presence of holes on the leaves.

Use the recommended fungicides or pesticides to control diseases and pests. Practice crop rotation.

Harvesting
Older leaves are harvested first when the plants have about eight leaves.

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

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GROWING ONIONS IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY

Kindly advise if onions can do well in Mumias, Kakamega County. If yes, which variety should I grow? If not, which vegetables can I grow on my one acre?

Farmer

Onions require well-drained, fertile soils which are rich in organic matter, therefore this means that they can do well in most parts of Kenya.

The best varieties are Bombay Red, Red Pinnoy 1, Red Passion F1 and Red Comet F1.

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

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SEED COMPANY

I am interested in starting a small seed company in central Kenya and therefore would like to be supported by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation.

I would like to be linked with the Quality Seed Company. My email address is [email protected].

You can contact African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) through 254-20 422 3700 or email [email protected]

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

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BRACHIARIA GRASS

1. My desire is to plant brachiaria grass but the problem is how to get the seeds. I am a resident of Trans Nzoia County. Kindly please let me know where to get them.

Eliud papoi 

2. I am a farmer in Cheplaskei, Uasin Gishu. Where can I find seeds or cuttings of brachiaria fodder? Cheplaskei experiences severe shortage of fodder during dry season. 

Having read about brachiaria, I think it’s a good solution due to its hardiness and nutrition qualities. 

Jeptoo 

Fodder scarcity is not only a problem in the pastoral areas, but also for every dairy farmers seeking to stabilise milk production.

Most react by buying hay but still encounter difficulties with right quality, fluctuating (high) prices and availability.

The best solution however is for farmers to produce forage at farm level to fight shortage and produce milk at relatively lower prices per litre.

Brachiaria grass is a good option because it is hardy, nutritious, recovers fast after grazing or cutting and can also be baled as hay.

The ‘miracle’ grass can be grown from splits obtained from fellow farmers you may know or established from seeds.

Call DairyCloud on 0719125722 to help you connect to certified seed distributors.

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

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POOR EGG PRODUCTION

I have 50 mature layers (10 months) which have been laying consistently but the egg production has been poor. The maximum eggs I have collected in a single day are 30, which is discouraging.

From about two weeks now, they have ceased laying completely. What would be the problem and how do I fix it?

Henry Njoroge Gichumbi

Layers are dynamic in egg production but can adjust rapidly to changing management factors such as varying quality of feeds, water supply, disease outbreak, noisy environment and overcrowding, among others.

Yet again, not all hens in the flock will lay eggs at the same rate as some may go out of production earlier. This means, therefore, that you understand the egg production pattern (or curve) of your flock to help you identify good layers from the poor ones.

Basically, the first cycle of an egg production curve shows laying progressing towards peak then starts fluctuating (decreasing gradually) depending on management factors as the birds approach moulting.

It is most likely that your flock have peaked and are now starting to drop production. Moulting is a natural process where hens shed off feathers in a given pattern.

This process is associated with lowering egg production for a given period after which, depending on your management practices, they re-start laying (second cycle).

In a flock, good layers start moulting late and go through it rapidly while poor layers start early and moult slowly.

Laying in the second cycle will however not rise to the same peak as before. When you notice egg production is constantly below 50 per cent, it is not economical to keep the birds hence culling is inevitable.

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