FEB-MARCH 2013 ISSUE Final.ai - Hortinews.co.ke
FEB-MARCH 2013 ISSUE Final.ai - Hortinews.co.ke
FEB-MARCH 2013 ISSUE Final.ai - Hortinews.co.ke
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|| READER’S FORUM ||<br />
Purple passion<br />
I was very pleased<br />
to find the <strong>Hortinews</strong><br />
site. I have developed<br />
three acres at<br />
Mweiga in Nyeri<br />
County through<br />
borehole drilling<br />
and laying irrigation<br />
infrastructure and<br />
would li<strong>ke</strong> to be<br />
advised on the best<br />
crop with good<br />
return. Been thinking<br />
about purple passion<br />
but do not know<br />
where to get seedlings.<br />
Duncan Wachira:dunkawatetu@gm<strong>ai</strong>l.<strong>co</strong>m<br />
Mweiga, Nyeri is very high altitude (1,950 metres above sea level).<br />
This limits you on the type of passion fruit you can grow. What we<br />
have in Kenya is the purple passion fruit.<br />
You may thus get in touch with Grace Watani (0729-226-344,<br />
gwatani1@yahoo.<strong>co</strong>m; or Kori Njuguna (0722-365-752; jknjuguna@<br />
yahoo.<strong>co</strong>m based at KARI-Thika karithika12@gm<strong>ai</strong>l.<strong>co</strong>m<br />
karithika@africaonline.<strong>co</strong>.<strong>ke</strong>. Please <strong>co</strong>py all em<strong>ai</strong>ls to KARI-Thika.<br />
You may also <strong>co</strong>nsider growing hybrid macadamia (KMB-3 and KMB-<br />
4) and avocado.<br />
Irene Nzaui: irenethuku@yahoo.<strong>co</strong>m<br />
You need to plant a windbreak to slow down the wind (including<br />
grevillea, cyprus, K-apple). You may <strong>co</strong>nsider planting assorted<br />
vegetables, including cucurbits (butternut squash, pumpkin and<br />
watermelon); African indigenous vegetables (amaranth, African<br />
nightshade, spider plant); fruits (tree tomato, papaya, avocado,<br />
banana, custard apple, sour sop, pomegranate or passion fruit).<br />
Stevia<br />
Dr. (Ms.) Lusi<strong>ke</strong> A. Wasilwa<br />
Assistant Director<br />
Horticulture and Industrial Crops<br />
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute<br />
Tel: +254 - 20 - 4183310, Extn: 2329<br />
Cell: +254- 733-971-245, +254- 726-551-561<br />
lwasilwa@kari.org<br />
Onions<br />
Can onions be grown at the Coast<br />
Yes, onions can be planted in Mombasa and have been for a<br />
while.<br />
Some varieties that do well are:<br />
1. Red creole (can source from a Kenya Seed (Simlaw) stockist<br />
and any other stockists)<br />
2. Red nice (can source from a Kenya Seed (Simlaw) stockist)<br />
3. Red passion (can source from a Kenya Seed (Simlaw) stockist)<br />
4. Bombay red (can source from a Kenya Seed (Simlaw) stockist)<br />
5. Tropicana<br />
1 and 5 are the most <strong>co</strong>mmon.<br />
What should I grow<br />
I have a 40-acre farm in Lu<strong>ke</strong>nya with a borehole<br />
and lots of water. Kindly advice what crops are li<strong>ke</strong>ly<br />
to be profitable. I have tried tomatoes on a small<br />
scale of 1 acre but it proved too <strong>co</strong>stly. Advise me<br />
on onions, watermelons and other crops. Note the<br />
place is hot and windy with black <strong>co</strong>tton soil.<br />
More questions and answers: www.hortinews.<strong>co</strong>.<strong>ke</strong><br />
HORTICULTURAL NEWS I <strong>FEB</strong> / MAR <strong>2013</strong><br />
32 HORTICULTURAL NEWS I JAN / <strong>FEB</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
32<br />
We are in partnership with an international <strong>co</strong>mpany currently<br />
involved in procuring planting materials, tr<strong>ai</strong>ning, growing and<br />
mar<strong>ke</strong>ting of stevia. We are offering potential farmers advice on<br />
stevia farming and assured mar<strong>ke</strong>ts abroad.<br />
Kingstevia Enterprises:<br />
Kingsteviaent@gm<strong>ai</strong>l.<strong>co</strong>m
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