Grapes: Lessons Learned in 2023

An update on grape farming experience in 2023: Atypical weather resulted in difficulties in pruning, hidden grape bunches, and varied fruiting among grape varieties. Suggestions include harvesting grapes optimally, controlling fungal infections and using alternating prevention methods, avoiding tight clusters during the rainy season, adding compost to fruit-bearing varieties, and reducing nitrogen-containing soil supplements for vine varieties.

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Grapes, What is thriving this season?
Chicory

Loose leaf Spadona chicory

Chicory is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant that grows in various soil types. It can be eaten in salads and cooked dishes, and the roots can be brewed into caffeine-free coffee or used for livestock feed and herbal remedies. Chicory plants protect soil and microbes, and the roots can be used to grow more chicory plants.

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Vegetables, Very Low Maintenance Plants, What is thriving this season?
Egyptian Spinach

Egyptian spinach (Corchorus olitorius)

Egyptian spinach, also known as Molokhia, is a nutritious annual vegetable that is easy to grow and can survive with minimal water. It provides a continuous supply of leaves and seeds throughout the year, making it a great addition to any vegetable garden. The leaves can be used to thicken soups, stews, and salads while also containing high levels of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, K, C, and E. We recommend storing the seeds in airtight plastic bags for up to three years. We highly recommend growing Egyptian spinach for a versatile and nutritious crop.

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Vegetables, Very Low Maintenance Plants, What is thriving this season?
Olive tree in summer

Welcome to 2024

In 2024, we faced climate challenges affecting product availability and prices. Despite this, we learned cost-effective propagation methods and pest traps, improving biodiversity. Our investments in resilient plant varieties let us produce enough food. We aim to propagate these species for customer availability. Welcome to 2024! #LoveHomeGrown.

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What is thriving this season?
birdseye chili

Bird’s Eye Chili

Bird’s eye chilli is easy to grow, produces abundant peppers, and can add a spicy kick to many dishes. It can also be used as a natural pest control. Caution should be exercised when handling it. Store it in oil, dry it, or turn it into powder to preserve it.

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Very Low Maintenance Plants, What is thriving this season?
Hass avocado fruits

Hass Avocado Tree

Avocado trees are popular for urban gardens, but traditional seed-grown varieties don’t work well for small spaces. The Hass avocado is an excellent option for growing in small backyards. It’s self-fertile, produces a lot of fruit, and stays small. The ripe fruits have a long half-life, are easy to pick, and have a smooth, rich flavour. Despite challenging weather in 2023, our mature Hass tree produced an excellent crop.

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What is thriving this season?
Outdoor breakfast assorted fruit platter

Merry Christmas to Our Customers, Subscribers, Friends and Followers

Despite challenging weather and pest pressures, growing edible and ornamental plants is still rewarding, especially with perennial plants. We have good harvests with pomegranates, mangoes, lychees, grapes, figs, bananas, apples, citrus fruits, assorted vegetables, and spices. We hope to inspire others to thrive regardless of the conditions. Check out a few of our harvests in this gallery. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you have a joyful, loving, and peaceful holiday season.

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Gallery
Black beans

Bean Leaves

Beans are low-maintenance, nutrient-rich crops, ideal for urban farming due to their rapid growth and soil-enriching properties. Their protein-rich beans and versatile leaves can be continuously harvested, providing a steady vegetable source. Growing them in pots can help conserve water and avoid root competition. Regular harvesting helps manage size and prevent disease while saving some beans for replanting, ensuring a year-round supply.

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Vegetables, Very Low Maintenance Plants, What is thriving this season?
Mangoes in November

Mango Fruit Fly Alert

Lusaka’s maturing mangoes attract a surge of fruit flies, particularly the invasive oriental fly, risking potential infection. Late-season exotic mangoes are especially vulnerable due to prior infestation in other early-ripening fruits. Measures to control this infestation include trap replacement and doubling, burying fallen fruits, pesticide use, and fruit bagging or netting.

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Pest Control

Growing Busala (Dioscorea Hirtiflora Benth)

Busala, a yam variety endemic to southern Zambia, is a vegetarian staple due to its meat-like preparation. Germination requires moist, dark conditions, with young rhizomes germinating more readily. Its growth in reusable polybags makes harvesting simple. Busala can be cooked in various dishes, mixing well with meat or vegetables. The yam is rich in fibre, Vitamin B, iron, and copper.

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Vegetables, Very Low Maintenance Plants, What is thriving this season?

Weather Proofing the Garden

Shifting plants from a nursery to a home garden can be demanding due to their sensitivity to weather extremes. While greenhouses can mitigate this issue, cost and space can be barriers. Using trees and vines to form natural greenhouses protects plants from harsh weather conditions. Cultivating grass further helps maintain moisture, moderate temperatures, and reduce dust, thus safeguarding both potted and ground-based plants.

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Gallery, Plant Care
Muscadine Grapes

Muscadine Grapes in Summer Drought

Muscadine grapes, native to the southern U.S., are recognized for their large, round, aromatic fruits and resistance to high heat, humidity, and heavy rain. These vine fruits, most of which are seeded, have a tough skin that protects them from birds and are hardy, though labour-intensive to maintain. They create lush shade ideal for heat-sensitive plants and offer a long harvest period despite our recent harsh climate.

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Grapes, What is thriving this season?
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