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Selection and Preparation of Containers, Preparation of the Growing Medium and Land Preparation


Selection and Preparation of Containers,
Preparation of the Growing Medium and Land Preparation
Identification and Selection of Appropriate Containers for Planting Crops
Some Guidelines when choosing your container are:
- Choose containers that are easy and safe to handle
– Edges should be smooth
– Replace containers before they deteriorate
– Use stable containers. They should rest
securely on their base - Choose containers that are easy to clean
- Make sure your container is durable so they do not fall apart when you
try to move them - Use containers of made with suitable materials
– Corrosion e.g. metal containers corrode because of water and fertilizers
– Weight e.g. wood becomes heavy when wet and eventually rot
– Cost e.g. concrete may initially be expensive but it will last longer.
– Heat e.g. black containers and bags cause heat to build up - Only use containers that had Non- toxic materials in them or which contained edible materials. E.g. Food grade containers.
- Ensure Containers are the suitable size for the crop.
– 10cm- shallow rooted crops e.g. Lettuce
– 45cm- Deep rooted crops e.g. Melongene
– 19 liter/5 gallon-bulky crops e.g. Legumes - Ensure containers have adequate drainage
– Porous container e.g. clay pots (cooler)
– Non- Porous e.g. plastic pots (less watering)
– Drainage e.g. plastic containers need adequate
drainage holes as they are not porous
Video – Selection and Preparation of Containers
https://www.facebook.com/103936031246037/videos/vb.103936031246037/898393213953008/?type=2&theater
Information courtesy the Extension Training and Information Services (ETIS) Division
Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries