HORTICULTURE – GROUP 1

Produce Vegetable Crops

Vegetable gardening in the Philippines is classified according to the purpose for which the vegetables are grown and the
methods used in producing, marketing, and utilizing the crops.

According to Soriano and Villareal (1977), the different types of vegetable gardening are home gardening, market
gardening, truck gardening, growing for processing, vegetable forcing, and vegetable seed production.

Home/Backyard Gardening

Home gardening is an intensive way of growing various kinds of vegetables which are adaptable in the locality. The
number and kinds of vegetable that the family can grow depends upon their choice or needs.

The ultimate objective for raising vegetables in the backyard is to have a ready supply of fresh, safe, and un-expensive
variety of vegetables for the kitchen all year round. Labor is shared among members of the family. Children are also
taught to value manual labor, industry, and cooperation through this endeavor. The rest of the produce from the garden
can also be for the market to provide additional income for the family.

According to Asuncion (1983), there are three kinds of home gardening: city/urban home gardening, town gardening,
and farm home gardening. The farm home gardening and the town gardening are home gardening where the gardener
can choose the best place and soil for his garden. Both types are done in a bigger scale. On the other hand, the
city/urban gardening give the gardener a little choice on the garden site and soil types. Generally, this type of gardening
is done on vacant lots, near a building’s porch or window, on wall plant boxes, or along the fences. Only a few kinds of
vegetables can be grown in these types of gardens to meet the requirements of the family’s needs.

Market Gardening

Market gardening as the name implies is a type of gardening located near centers of population which are ready market
of their produce. Soriano and Villareal (1977) emphasized that land and labor are expensive. Therefore, this type of
gardening calls for intensive and continuous cropping, wise use of fertilizer and irrigation, and efficient protection
against crop pests. These are required in order to produce quality products that will command high price to meet the
high production costs. Rapid growing of vegetables is important so vegetables are planted continuously so that the turn-
over from the land is fast.

Truck Gardening

Truck gardening is the opposite of market gardening since a large tract of land is used to produce vegetables for distant
markets. According to Soriano and Villareal (1977), the unit cost of production is lower than in market gardening. They
further stated that this type of gardening is a highly developed industry in places where there are good roads and
excellent transportation facilities. Places engaged in truck gardening in the Philippines are the growing of onions,
tomatoes, and eggplants in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan, and cabbages, beans, and white potatoes in Benguet.

Vegetable Growing for Processing

According to Soriano and Villareal (1977),growing vegetables for processing is a type of vegetable production wherein
vegetables produced are canned, pickled, frozen, or dehydrated. The advantage of processed vegetables is that the
vegetable produce may be held in storage until needed by the consumer. High quality as judged by acceptability of the
product, large yields, and low cost of production are the important features of growing vegetables for processing. The
cost of production is lower than that of the market and truck gardening because of mechanization and the generally
lower land value. Labor is remarkably reduced through mechanization of most of the farm operations.

Vegetables for processing are either grown by the processing company or by farmers on a contract basis with the
processing company. The contract specifies the price and other marketing arrangements even before production has
begun. It also states specific requirements to be fulfilled by the grower such as the variety to be grown and the size and
schedules of delivery. Examples of vegetable processors in the Philippines are Del Monte in Mindanao, RAM in Laguna,
and Purefoods in Metro Manila.

Vegetable Forcing

Vegetable forcing is the growing of vegetables out of season which means the vegetables are planted at any time other
than their normal period of growing. This type of vegetable production requires scientific procedures and the use of
special environmental facilities.

In the Philippines, off-season tomatoes and high value leafy vegetables are grown in plastic or glass greenhouses.
Recently during the cold months, specifically in Benguet and its neighboring towns, vegetables, cut flowers, and
strawberries were grown in greenhouses to protect the plants from frosting. Another example of vegetable forcing
commonly used in the Philippines is the use of rice straw beds to grow mushrooms (Soriano and Villareal,1977).

Vegetable forcing is a very intensive and expensive enterprise. This type of vegetable growing should, therefore, only be
resorted to when the supply is limited and Vegetables grown inside the greenhouse of the Jones Rural School, Jones,
Isabela the vegetables produced can be guaranteed to be of the highest quality so as to command high price.

Vegetable Seed Production

Vegetable seed production is the growing of vegetable to produce seeds for planting. This is the most specialized type of
vegetable growing because it requires knowledgeable and skilled workers with a good background of plant breeding to
ensure genetic purity and good quality of the seed crop. The seedman should also possess technical know-how on seed
preservation and methods of seed packaging and storing to maintain good germination (Soriano and Villareal, 1977).

Successful production of good quality vegetable seeds calls for specific climatic and location requirements.

Produce Vegetable Crops

Factors to consider in selecting the site for planting vegetable crops

Minimizing potential production problems is essential to all farming operations. This is especially true for vegetable
producers. One of the most effective means of reducing potential problems is through proper site selection.

1. Sunlight

The more sunlight the site receives the better for a vegetable garden because sunlight is the most important factor for
growing healthy vegetables. Most vegetables need full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day) to grow to their
maximum potential, so avoid spots that are shaded by trees or buildings during the heat of the day. Use the traditional
planting arrangement of rows running north to south to provide a maximum and even quantity of sunlight throughout
the day.

To determine if your site has the right light conditions, stand facing the south with your left hand pointing east (in the
direction the sun rises) and your right hand pointing west (in the direction the sun sets). Now take your east-facing
finger and follow it to the southern sky and then down behind the western horizon. This is the course the sun will take
throughout the day. If there are no major obstructions then you have a sunny spot.

2. Water and drainage

Water is the life-blood of vegetable production. Vegetable crops generally require more total water and more frequent
irrigation than most other horticultural crops. The water source should have the capability to provide the volume
required for the maximum needs of the highest water-using crop to be planted.

Vegetable crops develop water requirements which are specific to their variety, maturity, and the surrounding
atmospheric and soil characteristics. With respect to drainage, it is the physical topography of a particular site which
assumes the most significant role. The immediate elevation, slope, and soil structure need to be carefully assessed
before establishing the vegetable garden. The most suitable types of location have gentle surface slopes and contain
deep and well drained soils. Many vegetable growers prefer a moderately heavy loam with at least several feet of
topsoil.

3. Topography of the land

Topography refers to the physical characteristics of the overall field site and includes conditions such as the contour, soil
depth, water, air drainage, and the presence of rock. These characteristics can have a significant influence on crop
production and management. Poorly drained fields or those with low areas can become water logged during periods of
excessive rain. Such conditions can enhance the incidence of diseases, reduce plant vigor and yield, and, under excessive
conditions, cause plant death.

An ideal topography for vegetable production is one that is nearly flat to slightly sloping, well drained, and free of trees,
rocks, and low areas. Efficiency of crop maintenance, irrigation, and harvest operations are greatly enhanced in fields
with this type of topography.

4. Types of soil

Soil type refers to the physical composition or properties of the soil. Soil basically consists of decomposed mineral
matter (sand, silt, and clay) and decomposed organic matter. Optimum vegetable production is achieved on well-drained
sandy loam soils. Although vegetables can be grown on a wide range of soil types, most vegetables are not well adapted
to heavy clay soil types. Soils of this type tend to have poor aeration and drainage and can restrict root growth.
Consequently, these soils should be avoided. Soil is the fundamental resource base for all agricultural production
systems. Most vegetables require a mildly acidic or neutral soil with a pH reading between six and seven.

5. Accessibility to road and transportation

Vegetables are highly perishable. They are best liked when they are fresh and of good quality. If the site is accessible to
all forms of transportation, vegetable products are easily transported without much damage.

6. Climatic requirements

The climate is mainly governed by (a) temperature, (b) water, and (c) light.

a. Temperature affects some vital processes of the plant like photosynthesis, respiration, absorption of water and
minerals, and in the germination of seeds. There are three basic temperatures necessary for the germination
and growth of each plant species. First, the minimum temperature limits of the growth of plants. If the
temperature goes below the minimum temperature, the plant will not grow or will be stunted. Second, the
maximum temperature the plants can still survive. Third, the moderate temperature which is between the
maximum and the minimum temperature will make the plants grow fast. Plants which require cool temperature
like cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, snap beans, peas, and many others, should be planted during
the cool season and in mountainous or high places like Baguio and Benguet. However, crops like okra, eggplant,
tomato, and pepper require a high temperature.
b. Water serves as a solvent. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrient elements cannot be absorbed
by the plant unless there is water in the soil. It serves as a solvent for the plant nutrient which is in the form of a
solution absorbed by the roots.
c. Light affects the growth of crop plants mainly through affecting (1) their structural development, (2) their food
production, and (3) the time required of certain species of varieties to produce seeds. Light is necessary for
photosynthesis and is therefore required by green plants for the manufacturing of food. Many plants are
influenced by the length of day especially with regards to flowering, fruiting, and production of seeds. This effect
of light is known as photoperiodism. Some plants are known as long day plants and others as short day plants.
The long day plants need a comparatively long day for flowering and their vegetative growth increases when the
days are short.

7. Socio-economic condition. Socio-economic factors such as the peace and order condition in the area and cost of labor
should be considered because this will determine the profitability of the project

SOIL

According to World Education (INGO) Philippines Inc. (2005), soil is defined as the loose and friable material of the
earth’s surface for plants to grow. In certain places and under certain conditions, soil consists of two principal layers: a
more productive top or surface layer known as surface soil or top soil and a less productive under layer known as the
sub-soil. The soil is composed of mineral matter of different sizes of particles known as soil texture with a small
proportion of microorganisms and mixed with decayed animal and crop residues. The soil particles are arranged from
the surface soil to the parent rock. Such arrangement is called soil profile.

Soil texture, as defined by soil scientists, refers to the proportion of sand, silt and clay particles that comprise a
particular soil sample as described in Table 1.

Table 1.Types of soil and its characteristics

Soil structure refers to the physical arrangement of the soil particles in relation to each other. Unlike texture, farmers
can modify soil structure through their activities like tillage and water management. The action of worms, microbes, and
insects also affect soil structure.

Soil Sampling and Soil Analysis

The accuracy of the fertilizer recommendation depends to a large degree on the correctness of collecting representative
soil samples. The composite sample is sent to the laboratory for analysis. It should be noted that out of the one kilogram
soil sample representing an area of as much as 10 hectares, only a few grams are used in the actual analysis.

Soil analysis can be done using a simple tool or Soil Testing Kit (STK) for qualitative analysis for soil pH, nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium or by running a complete chemical analysis in the soil laboratories. Results of both tests
will serve as the basis for the farmers in making fertilizer recommendation on the amount of fertilizer materials to be
applied to satisfy the nutrient requirement of the crop.

Steps in Soil Sampling

Using the most common farm tools and materials such as shovel or spade, knife or trowel, small pail and plastic bags,
the following are the steps for a proper soil sampling technique.

1. Make a map of the farm showing sampling areas (SA).

Divide the farm into sampling areas. Each sampling area should be more or less uniform in cropping history, past lime
and fertilizer treatments, slope, degree of erosion, soil texture, and color. Each SA should not be more than 5 hectares.

2. Collect composite soil samples from each sampling area.

In each sampling area, dig from 5 to 10 pits and collect a sample from each pit. The number of spot soil samples depends
on the size of the sample. A spot sample is taken in the following way:

1. Before digging the pit, clear the soil surface of litter and vegetation.

2. Using spade or shovel, dig a pit to a depth of 20-30 centimeters.

3. From one vertical side of the pit, take a slice of soil 2-3 cm thick with a single downward thrust of the spade. Using a
knife or a trowel, trim the slice of soil on both sides to a bar 3-4 cm in width.

4. Place the bar of soil (representing a one spot soil sample) in a pail or any suitable clean container.

5. If subsoil sample is needed, take a bar of soil from the succeeding 20 to 30 cm soil depth. The subsoil and surface
sample should be placed in separate containers.

6. Cover the pit and move to another spot.

3. Take a composite soil sample.

After collecting all the spot soil samples of a particular sampling area, pulverizes, mix thoroughly, and remove stones and
fresh leaves. Place the composite soil sample (about ½ kg) in a clean plastic bag. After that, composite soil sample which
represents the soil sampling area is now ready for chemical analysis using a Soil Testing Kit (STK). This may also be sent
to a soil testing laboratory with pertinent label and information.