Seedlings and seedling trays

A Highveld farmer I knew once desperately needed seedlings and turned to a supplier in another region. I still recall his shock when the consignment arrived

Lettuce big-vein disease is transmitted by the soil-borne fungus (Olpidium brassicae).

Husband-and-wife team, Miki and Cathy Clark, knew nothing about farming when they began their small-scale herb production operation on 1,2ha of land five years

To produce optimal results, seedlings must be in good condition when planted, and thereafter cared for properly until they are established.

If allowed to flourish, predators and parasitoids can control certain pests almost entirely.

My interest in integrated pest management (IPM) was sparked many years ago when carrying out brassica trials.

Integrated pest management (IPM) combines various methods to control pests.

A uniform, full stand of lettuce requires hands-on management right from the start. One cannot over stress the value of walking the lands on a frequent basis.

A pathological condition in plants is caused by disease, whereas a physiological condition is caused by non-living (abiotic) factors such as physical injury

The international farming community must contend with numerous pest and disease threats to their crops, as the pressure of an increasing global population mount

There are two fairly common bacterial diseases of lettuce that most lettuce growers will come across from time to time:

This disease is easy to identify. When the plant is removed from the soil, a white cottony fungus will be seen on its underside. When the disease is advanced

We focus on spotted wilt and lettuce mosaic virus. Both can be controlled, and even avoided, with the correct agronomic practices.

The pea leaf miner (Liriomyza huidobrensis) probably originated in South America.

What should you ask yourself when deciding which vegetables to plant? Vegetable expert Bill Kerr explains.

Having already addressed bollworms, this week we discuss the control of aphid, cutworm and leaf miner in lettuce crops.

One pest has caused severe damage on almost every lettuce farm at some time or other: the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera).

The manner in which lettuces are transplanted makes all the difference to the profitability of a crop, as all subsequent practices and expenses up to maturity

Organic food advocates have long argued that health benefits justify the greater cost of organic compared to conventionally produced food