In most areas,planting of rutabagas is not recommended because they tend to become woody during hot season or summer.
Some areas of the south can overwinter rutabagas, though growing for a fall harvest is still generally preferred.
Rutabagas takes a lot of time to germinate, slow growing and susceptible to weed pressure, so be sure to prepare your beds well beforehand. This may involve irrigating, waiting several days and raking before you seed or or transplant.
Once seedlings come up, cultivate after every rain to contain weed pressure . This will ensure healthier, more productive plants, a larger yield and a marked reduction in the amount of time spent digging around to find the roots come harvest.
Rutabagas should be planted 90 to 110 days before the intended harvest. So if you hope to harvest your rutabagas in the beginning of November, they should be in the ground no later than the beginning of August to July is better in most areas. If direct seeding, sow seeds at about an inch apart and thin to about 6 inches. If transplanting, set plants with 6 inches between each. Rows should be 1½ to 2 feet apart.
Every crop planted by a farmer have got multi purpose use to both the farmer and livestock rared.
Nutrients available in turnips have got a range of health benefits,and they include the following.
One, lowering blood pressure
According to a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology , foods containing dietary nitrates, such as turnips and collard greens, can have multiple vascular benefits.
A plate of a meal served with turnips which have got a lot of nutritional values .
These include reducing blood pressure , inhibiting platelet aggregation, and preserving or improving endothelial dysfunction.
However, the long-term risks of a high nitrate diet and its effect on cardiovascular health remains unclear.
Turnips also have
potassium, which is thought to help decrease blood pressure by releasing sodium out of the body and helping arteries dilate.
Cancer treatment, Since the 1980s, consuming high amounts of cruciferous vegetables, such as turnips, cauliflower and cabbage, has been associated with a lower risk of
cancer.
More recently, studies have suggested that the sulforaphane compound that gives cruciferous vegetables their bitter bite might also be what makes them active against some types of cancer.
Promising results in studies testing sulforaphane’s ability to delay or impede cancer have been seen with multiple types of cancers including melanoma , esophageal, prostate and pancreatic cancer.
Foods containing sulfuraphanes could potentially be an integral part of cancer treatment in the future.
Curing Intestinal problems
Both the turnips bulb and the leaves are nutritious.
High-fiber diets have been linked to a lower risk of intestinal problems, such as
colorectal cancer and diverticulitis .
Turnips and other high-fiber foods can help reduce the prevalence of flare-ups of diverticulitis by absorbing water in the colon and making bowel movements easier to pass.
Fiber can help reduce pressure and
inflammation in the colon. One cup of cooked turnips weighing 156 grams (g)
provides 3 g of fiber.
Although the cause of diverticular disease is unknown, it has repeatedly been associated with a low fiber diet.
Weight loss and digestion
Turnips and other cruciferous vegetables that are high in fiber help to keep you feeling full longer and are also low in calories. Eating high fiber meals helps keep blood sugar levels stable.
The fiber content in turnips also may prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract. Regular, adequate bowel movements are crucial for the excretion of toxins through bile and stool.
Recent studies have shown that dietary fiber may play a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation. This may decrease the risk of inflammations related conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes , cancer, and obesity .
The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable generally grown in temperate climates, tropical and subtropical regions for its white, bulbous taproot.
The most common type of turnip is coloured in white. This root vegetable belongs to the family of “Brassicaceae”. The small and tender roots are used for culinary purpose where as bigger size turnips are used as animal feed.
However, the turnip varieties preferred for commercial cultivation are given below.
Early Milan Red Top
Purple Top White Glob
Snow Ball,pusa Kanchan,Golden Ball,Pusa Swarnima and many more.
Climate Requirment for Turnip Farming:- Turnips thrive best in cool and moist climatic conditions. These root vegetables can be grown even in the areas where summer temperatures are moderate.
The optimum temperature range of 10 °C to 16°C is ideal for development of good root texture, best flavour and excellent size. It requires short day lengths and cool climate for better development of roots.
Soil Requirement for Turnip Farming:- Turnip vegetable can be cultivated on wide range of soils. However, well drained sandy loam soils with high in humus are the best for its cultivation. Very light sandy soils or too heavy soils are not suitable for its cultivation.
Propagation in Turnip Farming:-
Turnips are propagated through seeds.
Sowing, Spacing and Planting in Turnip Farming:- The sowing time for Asiatic type of turnips is best from July to Sept where as for Temperate or European type of turnips from Oct to Dec in the plains. In hills regions, the best sowing season is from July to Sept. Generally, Turnip seeds are sown directly either in ridges or lines prepared during the land preparation. Usually flat beds are used for sowing the turnip seeds. However, in low lying regions or during monsoon, it should be done on ridges.
Carrot farming in Kenya still remains solid despite the market price fluctuating now and then.
Carrots are among the most universally grown,vegetables. Because of their broad appeal — radiant colors, diverse shapes and sizes, culinary versatility, and nutritional value .
Demand for carrots will always be strong. Horticulturally, though, they can be particular, and even seasoned growers find them exacting in their requirements. Because demand is reliably strong, however, mastering carrot culture can be well worth a grower’s while.
When beginning carrot enterprise there are four keys aspects that one should consider.
One the land or bed Preparation ,this achieved through secondary and minimum tillage where the soil is expected to be fine. Spacing ,
Weeding , and Watering . If you get these right, you will be off to a solid start.
Additional aspects of carrot culture that we cover include
Carrot Season Extension ;
Harvesting and post harvest Handling, Pests and Diseases , and how to g
row Colored Carrots.
Slightly acidic soil of pH level 6.0–6.8, a range favorable to growing many other vegetables as well.
Carrots like consistency, they grow best with no wide swings in temperature or moisture. They grow straightest and smoothest in deep, loose, fertile sandy loams and peat soils, with good water retention capacity to keep moisture levels even.
For the past so many years farmers in Kenya depend a lot on cash crops such as tea and coffee for their livelihood until the prices dwindled.
This left many hopeless as many resigned and gave up on agriculture. Fortunately or unfortunately, a research company introduced, tissue culture bananas which would come to transform the lives of locals in areas where other cash crops had failed.
The fast maturing banana variety became a source of hope for many who managed to get themselves back in the enterprise of cultivating.
Banana farming in Kenya has increased over the years as many people have started appreciating the need for fruits in their diets.
Commercial banana farming in Kenya is the direction that most farmers with the ability and resources have chosen to take. The markets are guaranteed, and the fact that the crop is fast maturing has been a great motivation.
Whether you are doing sweet banana farming in Kenya or have settled for the large variety of bananas, approaching this from a commercial perspective is the best way to guarantee profitable banana farming in Kenya.
Before venturing into this agribusiness activity, you need to come up with the advantages and disadvantages associated with this enterprise.
Whether you are going for banana production in western Kenya or central region of the country, there are certain basics that will be useful despite the different climatic conditions. The following is a step by step guide for anyone interested in starting a banana farming business from scratch.
Sheep farming in Kenya is one of the enterprise that farmers do fetch cash within a short period of time.
Sheep farming in Kenya is mainly kept for mutton and wool purposes.
The ewe or the female sheep has a gestation period of 142 to 152 days, topping to around 147 days and they come on heat every 17 days lasting for 24 to 48 hours enabling one to recoup capital in a short period.
Since they are hardy, sheep provide good source of income in barren, desert, semiarid and mountainous areas.
A sheep business requires little labour and small capital to start.
The animals further require little space and can be raised alongside with other livestock.
They eat wide varieties of plants, thus, utilising even the available low quality forage sufficiently.
When properly managed, a sheep farming in Kenya can be a great source of income as products such as wool and meat are in high demand.
One can practice either large or small scale farming on sheep,depending on their pocket power.
Sheep farming generates a lot of income within a short period of time.
Rabbits are herbivores. They eat no animal products, flesh, dairy, .
Their digestive tracts are not equipped to handle anything but a plant based diet.
The importance of a correct diet cannot be over emphasized. 95% percent of all rabbit vet visits are related to improper diet.
Besides plenty of clean fresh water, it is important to feed your rabbit a diet that is:
Low in calcium.
Recommendation for companion rabbits of calcium is 0.6-1%.
Low in carbohydrates
The overload of rapidly digestible carbohydrates (for example, sugars) in the large intestine increases the likelihood of digestive disorders.
Rabbits do not tolerate sudden changes well.
If you have to make changes in your rabbit’s diet, introduce them slowly over a period of weeks.
High in fiber.
The fiber recommendation for companion rabbits is a crude fiber level of 13-20% with a level of 12.5% indigestible fiber.
Not all rabbit breeds are suitable for starting an enterprise.
In Kenya choosing a suitable breed for commercial rabbit farming is the important factor.
The common rabbit breeds used for commercial production in Kenya are California White,New Zealand and Flemish Giant, and some other local cross breeds. All these breeds are suitable for commercial production according to the environment and climate of Kenya.
Making suitable rabbit housing is the most important part for rabbit farming in Kenya.
Rabbits are very clean animal. They love to stay in neat and clean house with good ventilation system.
You can raise rabbits in both deep litter and cage methods. Depending on your your production type and investment capability.
Some important factors to consider when constructing house for commercial rabbit farming in Kenya include the following.
One depending on the breeds, various breeds vary in their weight. Generally, an adult rabbit weights between 2-7 kg. And for commercial production 1200-1500 squire centimeter clean space is required for 1 kg weight. That means 80cm by 80cm space is required for a medium sized rabbit.
Doe needs extra space for proper growth. 80cm by 115cm space is perfect for an adult medium sized doe.
Keep the kids or young rabbits in a group until they reach 4 months of age. 20-30 young rabbits can be kept in each group.
In cold tempered areas, you can easily make a house with solid wall and roof.
Proper ventilation system in the house is very essential. You can cover the walls, doors, roofs of a hutch with chicken wire netting or made up of bamboo or wood placed 20mm apart. This system is suitable for hot tempered areas.
Make a drain inside the house so that you can easily clean the house.
Clean the feeding and watering equipment inside the house on a regular basis.
THE END…
gold soil 