SHIRE FARM

How can you protect & prevent leaf blight in tomato using vinegar & soda organically?

Late in the afternoon spray Soda solution at a ratio of 4 teaspoons in 16 litres water.The Soda will block growth of fungi on leaves of tomato plants & other organically by raising the leaf PH level.Is effect way to treat powdery mildew, leaf spot ,leaf blight (chiwawu) especially during rains and cold weather.

Early in the morning spray vinegar at a mixing ratio of 4 teaspoons in 16 L sprayer.Vinegar is a natural disinfectant, natural antibacterial, antifungal, which cleans up harmful micro-organisms at the surface of leaves or on other uses.

Note ; excess of vinegar may harm the plant organically, you make sure you spray once or twice a week but shouldn't exceed that interval.

How to Build the Best Compost Manure for Your Farm

Fellow farmers, compost manure is the key to healthy soil and thriving crops! 🌱🌾 If you want to boost yields while staying organic, creating high-quality compost is a must. Here’s how to build the best compost manure step by step:

1. Choose the Right Materials: Good compost needs a balance of “greens” and “browns.”

Greens: Fresh materials like vegetable scraps, fresh grass clippings, and animal manure. These provide nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth.

Browns: Dry materials like straw, leaves, sawdust, and cardboard. These provide carbon, helping to break down the compost.

2. Layer Your Pile: Start by placing a layer of coarse browns (like straw) at the bottom to create airflow. Then, alternate layers of greens and browns to ensure balance. A good rule is 2 parts browns to 1 part greens.

3. Keep It Moist: Compost needs moisture to break down, but it shouldn’t be waterlogged. Aim for a dampness similar to a wrung-out sponge. Water the pile if it feels dry, especially during the dry season.

4. Turn the Pile Regularly: Oxygen is crucial for composting. Turn your compost pile every 2-3 weeks to aerate it and speed up the breakdown process. The more you turn it, the faster you’ll get usable compost.

5. Add Organic Waste Consistently: Keep adding kitchen scraps, crop residues, or animal manure. But avoid adding meat, dairy, or diseased plants, as these can attract pests or spread pathogens.

6. Let It Mature: After 3-6 months of turning and watering, your compost will turn into dark, crumbly soil with a rich earthy smell. That’s when it’s ready to apply to your crops!

With proper management, your compost will enrich your soil with vital nutrients, improve water retention, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. 🌍💪 Let’s grow healthy and sustainable crops the natural way!

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GARLIC PRODUCTION: Managing of Weeds

• Garlic has shallow roots and sparse canopy;
therefore it difficult to compete with w**ds
especially at the early stage of growth.

• Weeding is done after germination to avoid
uprooting of garlic plants by hand

- 1st Weeding: 1 – 2 weeks after emergence

- 2nd Weeding: 4 – 5 weeks after crop
emergence

• Do Not w**d when the soil is wet to avoid
compaction

• Deep cultivation close to the plants should be
avoided

• Mulching is recommended in the following
reasons:
1) Suppressing w**ds

2) Maintaining soil moisture contents

3) Disease control

4) Mulching materials can be utilize as organic
matter for next cropping

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RAISING DAY OLD CHICKS TO GROWERS

■Day 1-day 7
- The chicks need to be in a brooder.
What is a Brooder?
- a brooder is a simple construction that is used to raise chicks until a point they are not so vulnerable.
- brooders maybe small rooms, wood construction, brooder boxes etc.
- chicks should stay in a brooder for at least 3 weeks - 4 weeks

●How to make a good brooder!
- make sure the brooder is not cold. ( provide source of heat ie. 100,watts Bulb, hot water bottles, brooder pots, etc)
- consider constructing brooders that's not too big and not too small.
-clean and disinfect the brooder before receiving chicks
- provide enough drinkers and enough feeders
- make sure the brooder is free from insects, rodents and mature chicken.
- provide dry dusting materials (saw dust or rice husks).

■Feeding chicks between day 1-day 7
- the best feed at this age is starter (crumbs or mash). - starter crumbs
- fugo starter mash
- pembe starter mash
- at this age avoid mixing of the feed with jenga, omena, pellets etc. You can mix starter crumbs and starter mash at a proportional ration.
- Avoid feeding broiler starter crumbs for chicks that are not broilers.

●Drugs .
- chick formula (egocin,veta chick start, poltricin, vitamet chick etc, dosage (one teaspoon for 5lts, ½teaspoon for 2 litres and ¼teaspoon for one litre)
- aliseryl (this is a blend of various vitamins that will help your chicks grow fast with strength and energy. Also helps chicks boost the appetite and also helps in preventing numerous diseases). Dosage same as chick formula
- liquid paraffin- this is not the normal paraffin we use at homes. This is a medicated paraffin that helps relieve constipation, helps in digestion, prevents injuries to alimentary canal and helps chicks to pass soft droppings.
- so week one give a combinations of chick formula, aliseryl and liquid paraffin

■Give Newcastle at day 7_
Day 8- day 14
■Feeds
-Same as previous week
-
●Drugs
-continue with chick formula
- use coccidios

AGRICULTURAL LAWS TO KNOW

1. Never target high seasons; high seasons come with their own challenges. Be a farmer, not a gambler.

2. Choose at least three main crops and a crop rotation plan. Switching from one crop to another is not directly in your pocket.

3. Plan your farm and always have crops at different stages of age to ensure a constant supply.

4. No crop is profitable in itself; just master the advantages and disadvantages of a particular crop.

5. Having a lot is not a guarantee for successful farming.

6. Have a spraying and manurering plan and stick to it.

7. Never follow the advice of agro-veterinarians and agrochemical sales agents. Most of them are salespeople, not agronomists.

8. Try as much as possible to reduce agricultural expenses without compromising the quality of products.

9. Never hold onto a product if it is perishable. Sell it at prevailing prices.

10. Never plant a new seed on a large scale before testing it, unless you have seen it somewhere.

11. Never entrust your million-dollar idea to a farm worker; make sure you are present during critical stages of crop development until commercialization.

12. Never employ a close family member to manage your farm; most of them will let you down.

13. If you are neighboring farmers, plant the same crop.

14. Never apply agricultural information you get online without consulting your agronomist.

15. Always have a farm plan.

16. Old is always good. Most old seed varieties and chemicals will never disappoint you.

Passion is key and patience is vital in agriculture ✅️❤️💥🧑‍🌾
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How to test soil pH in order to obtain good produce in your farm.

AREAS TO AVOID DURING SOIL TEST
1. Avoid taking soil along the boundary take at middle of your farm.
2. Avoid area where their is manure.
3. Avoid area their is trees .
4. Avoid swampy area.

METHODS USED TO COLLECT SOIL
1. Traverse method.
2. Zigzag method.

HOW TO TEST SOIL PH MATERIAL REQUIRED
1. Soil
2. Water
3. Vinegar
4. Baking soda

-Take soil from different areas of your garden.
-put 2 spoonful into separated container.
-add half cup of vinegar.

RESULT:
-if it fizzes you have alkaline soil with ph of 7&8.

BEST CROP AT ALKALINE SOIL
:cabbage,spinach,beans,leek,sunflower,watermelon etc.

NB;if it doesnt fizz after doing the vinegar test.
-add distilled water to other containers with soil until its muddy.
-add half cup of baking soda if fizzes out you have acidic soil with ph of 5&6

BEST CROP AT ACIDIC SOIL
:kales,beans,potatoes,onions,spinach,sweetpotatoes,pumkin,tomatoes,melon,carrots,bananas etc

NB;if it doesnt react either in vinegar or baking soda at all your soil is neutral with ph of 7 and you are lucky

BEST CROP AT NEUTRAL SOIL
:carrots,tomatoes,cucumbers,cauliflower etc