November 2022 - Batian Green valley

Leeks are a hardy biennial plant mostly grown as an annual. They belong to the same family as onions. They are thick white stems having a slight onion flavor. They are used as cooked vegetables and taste delicious in soup. Leeks need a warm to cool climate and can tolerate a wide range of soils.

Below are simple steps you can follow to grow your leeks.

Nursery

Prepare a nursery by digging deeply at least 15cm, the nursery should be I m wide. Spread a wheelbarrow of compost or farmyard manure on the soil and dig it in. Raise the nursery bed 15 – 20 cm high from the ground. Make thin lines at a spacing of 15cm apart. Make furrow and spread the leek seeds thinly along the lines cover lightly. After this cover with mulch and shade lightly. Leeks can also be raised in seed propagation trays

Transplanting

Prepare your land early and work compost into the soil. Lift seedlings from the nursery when half as thick as a pencil or after 6 weeks. Planting holes15cm deep and 3cm wide should be made. Use a spacing of 35cm between rows and 20cm between plants. The seedlings should be dropped into the holes. Do not fill the holes with earth; just pour a little water into each hole. This space will fill up with loose soil which will allow the plant to grow.

Management of leeks

Leeks require soils that are rich and well-drained. Incorporate the soil with organic matter like compost or farmyard manure. After transplanting add mulch around the plant to retain moisture and minimize weeds. Add a phosphate fertilizer before or when transplanting and top dress with a nitrogenous fertilizer 3- 4 weeks later.

Ensure regular watering to keep the soil moist and avoid too much soggy soil as it may accelerate fungal problems. Pests and diseases in leeks are rarely serious. Careful choice of varieties that are disease resistant and have good production practices help keep disease and pests at bay.

Onions thrips and onions maggots are common pests. Thrips cause leaf silvering and die back. The common disease includes powdery mildew and purple blotch. These fungal diseases occur during damp weather conditions.

Harvesting

Harvest your leeks when the shoots are about 4cm in diameter and 25-30cm long. The leaves should be brightly colored and crisp. Before dispatch to the market trim and wash the leaves and roots. The crop matures in 4- 5 months, they can be left in the ground for some months until they are required.

Leeks are easy to grow, and they require sufficient water, sunlight, and nutrients to effectively give you a good harvest. They are nutritious and have a host of health benefits. We have grown them on our farm and they have given us wonderful results. Share with us your experience with this crop on your farm.

Organic farming is a system of farming that relies on natural processes. That is animal and plant wastes, nitrogen-fixing cover crops rather than the use of synthetic inputs. Organic farmers rely on practices like crop rotation, composting to build fertility, and the use of mechanical methods to control weeds. They also use biological products for disease and pest control.

Organic farming reduces soil erosion, recycles animal waste from the farm, and uses fewer and less harsh pesticides. Further, it decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water. Its main objective is founded on soil management, conservation, ecological balance, promoting the nutrient cycle, and conserving biodiversity.

Characteristics of organic farm

An organic farm is about organic carbon in the soil
Presence of dry matter on the soil surface commonly known as mulching
Presence of microbes or earthworms below the dry matter
Presence of moisture in the soil
Absence of exposure of the soil to sun/ rain/ winds.
Natural livestock and poultry production
Variety of crops that support different types of soil microorganisms, and insects and promote soil management
Organic weed and pest control which includes mechanical tillage, mulching, cover crops, crop rotation, intercropping, minimal tillage, and green manure.
Dependency on beneficial predatory insects, and soil microorganisms for pest control

Benefits of organic farming

Environmental benefits

Organic farming is environmentally friendly, it’s chemical free hence safe for the environment. It promotes sustainable development. It reduces exposure to harmful chemicals or pesticides that leads to contamination of the soil and soil erosion. This farming discourages the use of harsh chemicals to preserve the natural environment. It also promotes the use of natural cultivation practices such as mulching and use of cover crops which retain the soil’s natural ability to thrive sustainably. A green environment promotes diversity and ecological harmony hence bringing about environmental sustainability.

Economic Benefits

In organic farming, you use locally available inputs (animal and plant wastes) with no exposure to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, therefore, reducing expenses. The growth of the organic food industry as well as farmers’ markets offering organic products guarantees high profitability. Other current trends are the establishment of natural foods; plant-based superfoods, alternative dairy products, and plant-based proteins.

Soil Health benefits

Organic farming majorly relies on natural ways of nourishing the soil. Such ways include using green manure, compost, and natural mineral powders. These methods improve the soil structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity. There are increases in the soil microbial activities that release soil nutrients.

Other practices such as the use of cover crops and crop rotation maintain the soil’s organic matter. Through organic residues that are recycled back into the soil.

Human health improvement

There is a huge demand for organic products since most people have become aware of their health benefits, they are also considered safer. An organic product contains lower levels of chemicals, therefore reducing health risks for consumers. For farmers, farmworkers, and their families there is minimal exposure to toxic and persistent chemicals on the farm, food, and water.

Generates incomes

Major opportunities in organic framing have come up. Organic vegetables and fruit production are notable ventures. These can generate income due to the high demand for organic products. Another option is the production of organic medicines from natural products. This can be another avenue of income generation.

Many people have embraced this new concept and new businesses have been set up.

Conclusion

The overall goal of organic farming is to create a sustainable and efficient system that works in harmony with the natural world. Organic farming extensively relies on nourishing the soil naturally and offers various benefits as outlined above.

How to grow and care for your leeks