KITCHEN GARDEN TECHNOLOGIES

Kitchen Garden Technologies in vegetables encompass innovative methods and tools specifically tailored to optimize the cultivation of vegetable crops in small-scale garden settings.

KITCHEN GARDEN TECHNOLOGIES.

Vertical sack garden

These are innovative gardens that consist of large sack with rich top soil and well decomposed compost manure.

These gardens are ideal for both seasons, they only need proper maintenance which is very easy.

Container Gardening

Container gardening is a method of growing plants in containers or pots rather than in the ground. It allows individuals with limited space or poor soil quality to grow a wide range of vegetables.

Raised beds

A raised bed garden is a gardening method where plants are grown in beds raised above the ground level. Raised bed gardening offers numerous advantages and is a popular choice for gardeners looking to maximize space, improve soil quality, and enhance growing conditions for their plants.

Hanging gardens

A hanging garden typically refers to a garden that is planted or cultivated in a suspended or elevated manner, often using structures like trellises or hanging pots. These gardens can be designed to grow plants in areas with limited soil or ground space.

Recycled tire gardens

Recycled tire gardens involve repurposing old tires as containers for planting vegetables, or other plants. Tires are filled with soil, and plants are grown directly within them. This practice helps reduce waste by giving tires a second life, and it can also be an efficient way to grow plants, especially in areas with poor soil quality or limited space.

Used Tired Raised Garden & Tree Ring : 6 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables

Cone garden / conical gardens

Conical gardening involves planting and arranging plants in a conical shape, either by selecting plants with naturally conical growth habits or by pruning and shaping plants to achieve the desired form. Conical gardening can also be practical for maximizing space in small gardens or for creating dynamic visual effects in larger landscapes.

Benefits of Kitchen Garden

Requires locally available materials
Supplies the household with fresh vegetables
Require small space to establish
Requires less labor when weeding or doing management practices
Require little amount of water
Surplus can be sold for income
Achieve dietary diversification

KITCHEN GARDEN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Good Agricultural Practices guidelines; good agricultural practices refer to the adoption and use of best possible sustainable production practices by the farmer, balancing between the needs of the crop, maintaining and improving the immediate farm and surrounding natural environment (soil, air and water).
Field hygiene; field hygiene refers to specific practices the farmer undertakes during the farming period to prevent the introduction and spread of pests/disease, weeds and harmful substance which may adversely affect crop production, quality and even introduce harmful substances which would affect the health of consumers of the produce.
Bio pesticide use; are required to help in pest and disease management.

Natural enemies of different pests to vegetables

Crop	Pest	Beneficial Organism
Kales/Sukuma Wiki	Diamond Back Moth, Aphids, Thrips, Caterpillars,	Lady Bird, Aphidian, Black Ants
Spinach	Red Spider mites, Caterpillars.	Phytoseilus, Metarhizium
Spider Plant (Dek)Black Night Shade (Osuga), Jute Mallow (Apoth), Amaranth (Ododo), Cow Pea(Boo), Crotalaria (Mitoo)	Diamond Back Moth, Aphids Caterpillars, Thrips, Nematodes Wilts (Fusarium and Bacterial Wilt), Red Spider Mite, Fire Beatles	Lady Bird Aphidias Black Ants PhytoseilusHover Fly
Capsicum, Chilies Egg Plant, Tomatoes, PumpkinsOnions	Red Spider mites, Caterpillars, Thrips White Flies, Nematodes, cut worms, bollworms	Lady Bird, Aphidian, Black Ants Phytoseilus, Hover Fly, Trichoderma,

Site Selection in Kitchen Gardening

If you already have a kitchen garden you may not need to choose a new site, it’s enough to improve the old site. If you are making a new garden, there are many factors to consider:

Well drained fertile soil with high organic matter content.
Avoid sites with poor field history e.g., disease infestation, low fertility, acidity, flooding, etc.
It should be close to a water source for ease of watering
Avoid steep grounds prone to run off in wet weather
Nurseries should be placed in full sunlight. Shading by trees result in delayed or poor – seed germination.
Create a fine tilth by mixing well-decomposed manure and working it in.
In wet areas or wet weather, raise the beds to 15cm in height to improve drainage
In the dry areas, sunken beds are preferred as they trap moisture.
On sloppy ground, beds should run along the contours to prevent erosion.

CROP ROTATION

Grow crops in rotation to prevent build-up of pests and disease which reduce yield i.e., plant vegetables of different families in succession, as illustrated below:

Simple Crop Rotation Program.