Homestretch Farming

  Written by Peter Otieno                 Amaranth,we call it mchicha or ododo, is an indigenous vegetable grown for its leaves and seeds. When cooked together with greens such as collards, African nightshade or spider plant, it adds a sweet tender taste. Amaranth exists in varieties including those eaten by goats and poultry but on this post we will consider the green variety which is great for family consumption and commercial use. It has a large oval shaped green leaf with a tall thick stem. During the first weeks of germination leaves appear reddish but later takes their normal green color. The leaves and stems can increase in size depending on ground fertility. This green variety produces white seeds that turn yellow after drying which are later grounded into flour. Seeding On a well tilled farm or garden, sow amaranth seeds in holes or furrows of 60cm apart. Add  well decomposed farmyard manure then cover with little soil. As you sow your seeds, consider a moist, well drained gro

          Written by Peter Otieno               Tree Collard is a vegetable from the Brussica family which includes other vegetables like broccoli, cabbage,cauliflower and lettuce. It a green vegetable grown for its edible, tasty, tender leaves. It rarely grows to seeds nor produce flowers  but if it does there are normally small in number.  In this blog we discuss how to grow perennial tree collards from cuttings and show you the health benefits of eating them. First, let's understand the term perennial crop. A perennial crop is one that is planted once till its maturity then you harvest and continue to do the same all year round (its shelf life is not limited to two years or three months). Perennial Tree Collards are not grown from seeds but rather from their cuttings. They do not need to be replanted every season or year and after harvest their leaves grow back automatically. In Kenya,we call it 'sukuma wiki' meaning 'push the week' .It can be eaten all week as i

    Written by Peter Otieno                     Have you ever sat back and thought, what are some of the things that push, motivate or guide me as I practice gardening? or what is that force that drives me in gardening? Do not worry if you haven't figured them out. In this post I summarize them as the 5 things you need to learn in gardening. I call them valuable lessons or principles as they have a great impact towards creating a successful garden. In gardening, growth takes time and many farmers and gardeners can attest to this fact. Its quite a process for plants to grow from seed to harvest, be it in two weeks, three months or even three years. Therefore these lesson will resonate with you, either as a beginner or experienced gardener. Here is my list. 1. Patience - Whatever plant you want to add on your garden, you need to be patient as it will take time for it to mature. When you look at this principle, it does boils down to the type of garden you are involved in or want to s

      Written by Peter Otieno           As a result of the increasing dry beans market in Kenya, many farmers are now growing different varieties, yellow beans farming being one of them, to meet consumer demand and boost their income. Yellow beans has a yellowish greenish appearance and thrives well in regions of warm climate with enough rainfall like in Eastern, Rift valley and Western parts of Kenya. It is mainly grown as a food crop. It takes 60 to 70 days to mature with prices going for Kenya Shillings 180 per Kg and this can change during planting and dry seasons. This guide gives you the steps you need to grow yellow beans from seed to harvest. 1. Preparation of Land and Buying Seeds First, plough your land a month earlier before planting season, either by using a tractor, oxen or farm workers. Second, get quality yellow bean seeds from a trusted grocery shop or a certified Agro vet outlet. Note:  a)   The method of ploughing will depend on your preference and size of your farm,

Written by Peter Otieno                   Taking a look at the history of agriculture to what it is currently in the twenty first century, we find that many new farming practices have come up but there are still traditional farming methods in use today, which enhance food production. Agriculture is a major sector in many countries as it is a source of livelihood to millions of people and we human beings need food daily and for our general health. Over the years there has been increased growth in economies as well as use of modern agricultural methods although not many farmers fully implement these methods. Its a fifty fifty kind of a situation whereby a farmer uses both traditional and modern farming methods whether in large scale or small farming. Furthermore, with the current environmental problems such as climate change there is need for continuous application of some traditional farming methods.  In this post I share the methods that we can and still use and their benefits too. 1.

    Written by Peter Otieno Eating fruits? What a better and faster way to get vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, A, calcium and fiber necessary within our body. All you do is just wash, cut or peel the fruit, then eat raw. As people all over the world continue to add fruits in their diet either as an appetizer or desert hence the need for more fruit gardens to meet the demand. A fruit garden is simply a type of garden whereby trees that bear edible fruits are planted. It can also be referred to as an orchard, vineyard or fruit farm. Some of the fruit trees grown include apple, mango, lemon, grapes, orange, berries, banana and avocado trees. Fruit trees are considered to be perennial crops in that you only plant once, take care and maintain them until they mature. Afterwards, they will start bearing fruits and you can harvest your produce season after season and year after year as opposed to a crop like maize which you plant then harvest the first season and in the next season you r