NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT

A vegetable nursery is a place or an establishment for raising or handling of young vegetable seedlings from seeds until they are ready for more permanent planting.

Reasons for nursery establishment

• For healthy seedling production
• Easier pest and disease management
• Promote uniformity in growth
• Minimizes seed wastage and ensures better germination rates

Factors considered in site selection.

• Accessibility; should be of reach for easy management.
• Security; should be more secure to avoid cases of theft and livestock/animal damage.
• Land topography; fairly gentle soils to check on soil erosion.
• Nearness to water source; to avoid water stress especially during dry periods.
• Site of the farm for transplanting.
• Soils; well drained fertile soils.

Materials for nursery bed establishment

• Jembe
• Panga 
• Rake
• Wheelbarrow
• Compost manure
• Watering can
• Water 
• Dry grass for mulching

Nursery bed preparation steps

1. Select a site with good drainage and fertility (high organic matter).
2. Clear the site to kill weeds.
3. Measure 1M wide by any convenient length.
4. Incorporate 1 debe of good compost into the bed.
5. Dig the site well to fine tilth.
6. Raise the bed 15-20cm high.
7. Levelized the bed using rake.
8. If possible, solarize the planting bed to kill diseases.
9. When having more than one bed, leave a space of 30 -45 cm between two beds which helps in weeding, nursery care against diseases and insect pest and also for draining        excess soil water from the nursery beds.

NB: The beds should be prepared in the east and west direction and furrows should be made from north to south direction on the beds.

Sowing

• Make drills 8cm-10cm apart using fingers/stick.
• Mix seeds with some soil and drill along (done to control population)
• Cover the seeds with light fine soils.
• Mulch the nursery using dry straw or grass to maintain moisture and soil temperature. Mulch should be removed immediately after germination is complete.
• Water the bed afterwards, and should continue every morning and evening except during rains.
• Most vegetables are ready for transplanting 3-4 weeks or forming 4-6 true leaves after sowing whereas onions are ready 6-8 weeks after sowing. But it is important to observe physical appearance and size of seedlings before transplanting.

Nursery Management.

• Remove mulch immediately after emergence of seedlings
• Erect a shade 1M high, it should allow some light to penetrate.
• Harden off seedlings by reducing frequency of watering and removal of shade. This allows seedlings to adapt field environments.
• Remove weeds by hand.
• Control of pests by spraying

Transplanting. 

• Ensure seedlings attain maturity before transplanting.
• Moisten the bed hours prior to transplanting.
• Select only healthy seedlings for transplanting.
• Transplant when the environment is cool; very early in the morning or late evening
• Uproot seedlings with a lump of soil using appropriate tool such as gardens trowel.

NB: Timely transplanting is important because late and early planting can lead to poor    establishment and death of plants in the field.