Monday, April 21, 2025

How to plant peanut

Planting peanuts (also known as groundnuts) is fun and surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it! Unlike most plants, peanuts flower above ground but develop their pods underground. Here's a full step-by-step guide to growing them:

🥜 How to Plant Peanuts (Groundnuts)

🗓️ 1. Best Planting Time

Warm season crop: Needs at least 4–5 months of warm weather.
In tropical areas like the Philippines:
✅ Plant from February to April (dry season is best).

🌡️ Soil temp should be above 21°C (70°F) for best germination.

📍 2. Site & Soil Preparation

Choose a spot with:
- Full sun (6–8+ hours/day)
- Loose, sandy loam soil that drains well
Avoid heavy clay or soggy soil — peanuts need to push their pegs into the ground!

💡 Soil pH: 5.8 to 6.5 is ideal.

Loosen the soil to 6–8 inches deep and add compost or well-rotted manure.

🌱 3. Prepare Your Seeds

Use raw, untreated peanut seeds (in-shell or shelled).
You can plant them with or without the shell, but if using shelled seeds, handle gently to avoid damaging the seed coat.

🌾 4. Planting

Sow seeds 1–2 inches deep, spacing:
- 8–10 inches apart within rows
- 24–36 inches between rows

✅ Water well after planting, and keep the soil moist but not soggy.

🌱 5. Growing & Care

Peanuts bloom after about 30 days. Yellow flowers form above ground, then send “pegs” (stems) into the soil, where the pods develop.
Keep soil loose and weed-free to help pegs penetrate.

🔁 Hill up soil around the base of the plant gently once flowering starts.

💧 6. Watering

Keep soil evenly moist during early growth and flowering.
Reduce watering during the final weeks before harvest to avoid rotting pods.

🐛 7. Pest & Disease Watch

Watch out for:
- Aphids, armyworms, leaf spot, and root rot
Use neem oil, crop rotation, and healthy spacing for disease prevention.

🧺 8. Harvesting

Harvest in 90–120 days (3–4 months) depending on the variety.
Signs they’re ready:
- Leaves begin to yellow
- Inner shells are filled and brown
Gently pull up the whole plant, shake off soil, and air-dry the pods for a few days under shade.

🌟 Bonus Tips

Companion plants: Corn, okra, and beans go well with peanuts.
You can grow peanuts in large containers too — just use loose soil and give them room to grow down.

How to plant sigarilyas (a.k.a. winged bean or Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)

Planting sigarilyas (a.k.a. winged bean or Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) is a great idea! It's a super nutritious tropical legume — and best part? Almost every part of the plant is edible: pods, leaves, flowers, even tubers. Perfect for backyard gardens or farms!

Here’s a full guide to planting and growing sigarilyas:

🫘 How to Plant Sigarilyas (Winged Bean)

🗓️ 1. Best Time to Plant

Loves warm, humid climates.
Best planted during the start of the dry season (late November to February in PH) so it matures before too much rain.
Needs 5–6 months of warm weather to grow well and produce pods.

🌞 2. Choose the Right Spot

Full sunlight (6–8+ hours/day).
Loose, well-draining soil, rich in organic matter.
pH: 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal.

💡 Avoid heavy clay soil or soggy spots — roots will rot.

🌱 3. Prepare the Seeds

Winged bean seeds have a hard coat. To improve germination:
- Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting.
- Optional: Lightly nick the seed coat with a nail file or sandpaper (scarification).

🌾 4. Planting

Direct sowing works best (doesn’t like transplanting).
Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 8–12 inches apart.
Space rows 2–3 feet apart.
Water well after planting.

🧱 Trellis or support is a must — sigarilyas is a vigorous climbing vine!

💧 5. Water & Maintenance

Keep soil moist but not soggy.
Mulch around plants to conserve water and reduce weeds.
Once established, it can handle light drought but grows best with consistent water.

🍃 6. Fertilization

Being a legume, it fixes its own nitrogen, so:
- Add compost or aged manure at planting.
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers — too much leaf growth, fewer pods.
- A small dose of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) helps with flowering and fruiting.

🐛 7. Pest & Disease Watch

Generally hardy, but may face:
- Aphids, caterpillars, beetles
- Fungal leaf spots if too humid
Use organic sprays like neem oil, and practice crop rotation.

🧺 8. Harvesting

Pods are best when young and tender (4–6 inches long), usually 2–3 months after planting.
Harvest frequently to encourage more production.
Leaves, flowers, and tubers (if grown long enough) are also edible!

🌟 Bonus Tips:

Great for vertical gardens or trellised walls.
Companion plants: Try growing with corn or along fences.
If you let some pods mature fully, you can save seeds for next season.

How to plant turnips (singkamas)

🗓️ 1. Know the Growing Season

Warm-season crop — needs at least 5–9 months of frost-free, warm weather.
In the Philippines and similar climates:
✅ Best planted during the dry season (late November to February),
so it matures before the next rainy season.

🌞 2. Choose the Right Spot

Full sun (6–8+ hours/day)
Loose, well-draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5

📌 Important: Singkamas is a root crop, so avoid rocky or compacted soil.

🌱 3. Prepare Seeds or Seedlings

Plant seeds directly in the soil. (You can buy seeds or let mature pods dry out and harvest your own.)
Soak seeds in water overnight before planting — this speeds up germination.

🌾 4. Planting

Spacing: Sow seeds about 1 inch deep, spaced 10–12 inches apart.
Row spacing: 2–3 feet apart.
Water gently after sowing.

🌿 It’s a climbing vine, so provide support like a trellis or let it sprawl.

💧 5. Water and Care

Water regularly, especially early on.
Reduce watering a bit as the plant matures to encourage root formation.
Add mulch to help retain moisture and keep weeds down.

🌱 The plant produces lush vines and flowers — but only the root is edible!

🚫 CAUTION: Pods, leaves, seeds are toxic

They contain rotenone, which is harmful if eaten raw.
🥶 Only the ROOT is edible — and only when mature!

How to Plant Eggplant

Planting eggplant (aka brinjal or aubergine) is pretty easy once you’ve got the basics down! It’s a warm-season crop that loves sun, rich soil, and steady moisture. Here's the full process from seed to harvest:

🍆 How to Plant Eggplant (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. Start from Seeds or Seedlings

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last expected frost.
Use seed trays or pots with a light, well-draining mix.
Sow about ¼ inch deep, keep warm (75–85°F / 24–29°C) for good germination.
Transplant outdoors when the seedlings are 6–8 inches tall, and temps are consistently warm (above 60°F / 15°C at night).

🪴 Or buy healthy nursery seedlings if you prefer a shortcut!

2. Choose the Right Planting Spot

Eggplants love:

Full sun (6–8+ hours a day)
Warm temperatures
Loose, fertile soil (rich in organic matter)
pH of 5.5–7.0

💡 Prep the soil with compost or well-rotted manure 1–2 weeks before planting.

3. Transplanting to the Garden or Pots

Space plants 18–24 inches apart, rows about 2–3 feet apart.
Dig a hole deep enough to cover the root ball.
Water the hole before placing the seedling.
Gently firm the soil around the plant and water again.

🪴 In containers? Use at least a 5-gallon pot per plant with drainage holes.

4. Care After Planting

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during flowering and fruiting. Avoid overhead watering.
Mulching: Helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep soil warm.
Feeding: Apply balanced fertilizer every 2–3 weeks or use compost tea.
Staking: Some varieties grow tall or heavy—use a stake or cage to support the plant.

5. Pest & Disease Management

Watch out for:

Aphids, flea beetles, spider mites
Powdery mildew or wilt

Use neem oil spray or insecticidal soap for organic control. Crop rotation and good air circulation help avoid disease.

6. Harvesting

Eggplants are ready to harvest 60–90 days from transplanting.
Pick when the skin is shiny and firm, but before it turns dull or too hard.
Use scissors or pruning shears to avoid damaging the plant.

How to establish vegetable seedling nursery

Establishing a vegetable seedling nursery is a great move, whether you're doing it for your home garden or small-scale farming. It helps you get healthy, vigorous plants and saves you time later in the season. Here's a step-by-step guide to set it up right:

🏡 How to Establish a Vegetable Seedling Nursery

1. Choose the Right Site

Pick a location that has:

Good sunlight (at least 6 hours/day)
Good drainage (no waterlogging)
Shelter from strong winds
Access to water

If you're starting in trays or containers, a greenhouse or shaded area can work too.

2. Prepare Nursery Beds or Containers

You have two main options:

👉 Raised Beds (for open-field nursery)

Size: About 1 meter wide, any length.
Height: 10–15 cm high to prevent waterlogging.
Loosen the soil well and remove stones/weeds.

👉 Trays, Pots, or Seedling Bags

Use seedling trays for small-scale or home nursery.
Make sure containers have drainage holes.

3. Prepare the Growing Medium

Healthy seedlings need light, nutrient-rich, and well-draining soil.

Ideal mix:

1 part compost or well-rotted manure
1 part garden soil
1 part sand or cocopeat (for drainage)

You can also use sterilized commercial potting mixes.

🧼 Pro tip: Sterilize soil (with boiling water or solarization) to kill pests and diseases.

4. Sowing Seeds

Choose certified, high-quality seeds.
Sow evenly, not too deep (generally 2–3 times the seed's diameter).
Cover lightly with fine soil or compost.
Water gently after sowing.

📍 Label the rows or trays with seed names and dates.

5. Watering

Keep the soil moist, not soggy.
Use a fine mist or gentle watering can to avoid displacing seeds.
Water more often in hot weather, less in cool conditions.

6. Shade and Protection

Use a shade net (35–50% shade) or light cover to protect young seedlings from harsh sun and heavy rain.
Protect from pests with fine netting or row covers if needed.

7. Management & Hardening Off

Thin out crowded seedlings to reduce competition.
Apply diluted compost tea or organic liquid fertilizer if needed.
Harden off seedlings 7–10 days before transplanting: gradually expose them to outdoor conditions (sun, wind, etc.).

🪴 Transplanting Time

When seedlings have 2–4 true leaves and are sturdy enough, they’re ready to move to the main garden or field.

Planting of Sweet Potato (Kamoteng Baging)

Planting sweet potatoes is super rewarding — they’re easy to grow, don’t need much maintenance, and the vines are pretty too. Here's the whole process from start to harvest:

🌱 How to Plant Sweet Potatoes (Step-by-Step)

1. Start with Slips (Not Seeds!)

Sweet potatoes are grown from slips, which are shoots that sprout from a mature sweet potato.

To grow your own slips:

Place a sweet potato (organic is best) half-submerged in water (pointy end down) using toothpicks to hold it up.
Put it in a warm, sunny spot.
After a couple of weeks, sprouts (slips) will form.
Once they’re 6–8 inches long, gently twist them off.
Place the slips in water until roots grow (a few days), or plant directly in moist soil.

2. Prepare the Soil

Sweet potatoes like:

Loose, well-draining soil (sandy or loamy is best).
Slightly acidic pH (5.5 to 6.5).
A sunny location (full sun, 6+ hours daily).

Prep tip: Create mounded rows or raised beds to help with drainage and give the tubers room to grow.

3. Planting the Slips

Wait until soil temps are consistently above 60°F (16°C) — sweet potatoes hate cold!
Plant slips 12–18 inches apart, with 3 feet between rows.
Bury them up to the top leaves (about 4 inches deep).
Water well after planting.

4. Care & Maintenance

Water: Keep soil moist, especially the first month, but don’t let it get soggy.
Weeding: Weed regularly until vines spread (they’ll start to crowd out weeds on their own).
Fertilizer: Go easy on nitrogen (too much = lots of leaves, fewer tubers). Use balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer if needed.
Mulching: Helps keep weeds down and retains moisture.

5. Harvesting

Ready in about 90–120 days, or when the leaves start yellowing.
Use a digging fork to gently lift them — be careful not to bruise them!
Cure in a warm, humid place (80–90°F) for about 7–10 days. This helps develop flavor and toughens the skin for storage.

How to Propagate Bamboo

Bamboo Propagation

Bamboo propagation usually involves removing some bamboo plant parts and used this part create new bamboo plants. Bamboo often propagated thru asexual propagation such as cuttings or their rhizomes. The growing of bamboo cuttings can be carried out or grown in containers or in the ground.

🌿 Common Methods to Propagate Bamboo

1. Division (Most Reliable)

Best for both clumping and running types.

Steps:

Choose a healthy, mature bamboo clump.
Use a sharp spade or saw to divide the rhizomes and culms (stalks).
Make sure each division has at least 1–2 healthy shoots and a good chunk of rhizome with roots.
Replant immediately in soil or pots with good drainage and water thoroughly.

2. Rhizome Cuttings (for Running Bamboo)

This works well if you don’t need the above-ground culms right away.

Steps:

Dig up a piece of rhizome with buds (these are future shoots).
Cut into 6–12 inch segments, ensuring each piece has at least one node or bud.
Plant horizontally about 1–2 inches deep in moist soil.
Keep warm and humid until shoots appear.

3. Culm Cuttings (Less Common)

Some species allow this, especially tropical bamboos.

Steps:

Take a healthy culm and cut it into sections, each with at least one node and a bud.
Lay horizontally in moist, well-draining soil or bury upright with the node just below the surface.
Keep moist and humid; roots may form in a few weeks.

💧 Care Tips After Planting

Water regularly but avoid soggy soil.
Mulch to keep moisture and regulate temperature.
Protect young plants from intense sun or frost until established.