book for PDF - John Snow International Europe

Text and illustrations: Anna BrazierPhotographs: David and Anna BrazierEditors: Nicky Davies and Judith ShermanOrigination and Printing: Sable PressEating a healthytraditional dietkeeps your bodystrong.1

AcknowledgementsThis book has been produced usinginformation taken from Living Wellwith HIV/AIDS: A Manual onNutritional Care and Support forPeople for HIV/AIDS; FAO,Permaculture Nutrition TrainingManual and other materialsdeveloped by Kristof andStacia Nordin in Malawi2003 and 2004.I would like to thankNicky Davies, JudithSherman of JSI Europe,Basil Sithole of AIDSCounselling Trust,Walter Nyika of theSchools and CollegesPermacultureProgramme and DianeStevens of UNICEFZimbabwe, for theircomments.2

ContentIntroductionHow to use this bookPart 1A healthy dietWhat is a healthy diet?The components of a healthy dietHow much do we need to eat?Who needs a healthy diet?Positive eatingCareful cookingPositive growingHealthy food sourcesPart 2 Nutrition gardensSteps in establishing low input gardensLooking at resourcesExamples of mapsPlanning what to produceExamples of goalsDesigning different areasVegetable areasExample of a household designFruit tree areasCropping areasExample of cropping area designMaking an action planPart 3 Management techniquesCrop managementIntercroppingLayout of bedsFood securityCrop selectionCrop characteristicsSowing times for different cropsPropagation and plantingSaving seedsTaking cuttingsGrowing seedlings in containersTransplantingWeedingPage56788910111314151819212224242525272829303234343436373839404141424244453

ContentWater managementWatering vegetablesWatering fruit treesWater harvesting in the cropping areaSoil managementFeeding the soilSoil improvement for vegetables and fruitsSoil improvement for annual cropsPest and disease managementKeeping crops healthyUseful plantsUseful animalsTrapsHand pick pestsBarriersHome made spraysControls for common pests and diseasesHarvestingHandlingProcessingDryingMarketing produceKeeping recordsPage4646485054545559606062636566666769737373747476GlossaryAppendix 1: Useful plantsAppendix 2: Names of plants in English, Latin, Ndebele and ShonaAppendix 3: How to grow and use nutritious crops788285884

IntroductionThis book aims to help householders, schools and communities to growand eat their own healthy, nutritious food using Low Input Gardening(LIG) techniques.In the past people got all of the energy they needed from the sun byusing the products of plants and animals. Livestock provided meat,milk, eggs, manure, transport and power for tilling the soil. Animalswere kept in healthy conditions and would control weeds and pests asthey grazed. People grew many different types of crops together andgathered other food plants, medicines and other products from the wild.People were strong and healthy and there were few problems of pollutionand environmental destruction.These days many people live in cities and towns. We now depend onenergy from fuel such as coal, petrol or diesel for our daily lives. Webuy most things we need from shops instead of making them ourselves.The waste from fuel and chemicals pollute our air, soil and water. Theycan also make us sick.Low Input Gardening is auseful system for growinghealthy, nutritious foodwithout damaging theenvironmental resourceson which we depend.A productive householdgarden established byNew dawn of Hopehome-based-carevolunteers in Mufakose,Harare5

Part 1A healthy dietRural Zimbabweans used to eat a rich and varied diet with over 180traditional food plants harvested from the wild or grown in gardens.They used to eat an average of 150g of fibre per day from fruit,vegetables, pulses and unrefined grains.Traditional cooking methods used verylittle fat, salt or sugar.Today urban Zimbabweanscommonly eat less thanten food plants (maize,rape, covo, onions,tomatoes, cabbage,tsunga and seasonallysweet potatoes,pumpkins and pumpkinleaves). We consume less than20g of fibre per day and useunhealthy amounts of fat, saltand sugar. Over-cooking andadding bicarbonate of soda destroys many of thevitamins and minerals in fruit and vegetables.Our modern eating habits are leading to poor-health conditions thatwere uncommon in the past such as cancers of the digestive system,diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.7

What is a healthy diet?To stay strong and healthy, our bodies need seven important components:proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, water and fibre. Thetable below explains the seven components of a healthy diet when wecompare our bodies to a homestead.The components of a healthy dietProteinsMineralsProteins are like the bricks of the house whichourbodies use to build hair, skin, muscles etc.The minerals are like the cement. They join thebones, blood and other parts of our body together.Carbohydrates The carbohydrates and fats provide the energy forour bodies to function. Carbohydrates are likefirewood. Our bodies burn them to give us energyfor living, working, thinking etc.FatsWaterFibreVitaminsThe fats burn more quickly so we say they are likeparaffin. Fats are easy to store in the body. Whenwe eat too much carbohydrate or protein our bodiesturn the extra into fat for storage.Like our homes, our bodies need cleaning out andfor this we use water and fibre. Water helpsdilute and wash out waste.Fibre is like a broom that sweeps away dust. It helpspush the waste out of our bodies.Finally every safe home needs a watchdog. Ourbodys’ watchdog are the vitamins. These protectour body from sickness. We need 16 different kindsof vitamins in order to stay healthy.8

Who needs a healthy diet?Everyone needs a healthy diet. Vulnerable groups may suffer frommalnutrition.These groups include:• orphans and vulnerable children• pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers• the elderly• people living with HIV and AIDSWe can all stay healthy by making sure that we eat a varied, balanceddiet. Eating healthy food can help the body to stay strong to fightsickness. Eating healthy food can also make us feel energetic andpositive about life.Growing healthy food using LIG helps families to:• have a healthy balanced diet by growing a wide range ofcrops including staples (such as maize, sorghum, cocoyams, rice,wheat), fruit and vegetables and animal products (such as meatand eggs)• save money by reducing the need for expensive inputs andthe need to buy food• help others in the community by sharing ideas and information• conserve resources including soil nutrients, water and energy• make money by selling surplus.10

Positive EatingHIV positive people who are not illshould eat a normal, healthy balanceddiet with three good meals a day.People who are sick may not getenough food because:• medicines, sore mouth, nauseaand vomiting make it hard to eat• tiredness, loneliness anddepression may reduce appetite• they cannot afford to buy food,seeds or agricultural inputs• they may not have the energy togrow food• some of the symptoms of illnessreduce absorption of food.A selection of healthy traditional dishes. Nutritious traditional dishesinclude pumpkin, pumpkin leaves, amaranth, cleome (nyeve),sorghum or millet sadza and wild rice.11

Save energy and time with a haybox cookerThis is a good way to cookfood that needs to boil for along time such as beans,rice, pumpkin or greenmaize. Soak beans, rice orother dried food beforecooking to reduce cookingtime. Put the food in a potwith a tight-fitting lid, addwater and bring to the boil.When the food has beenboiling for about 30 minutes,remove the pot from theheat, and put it in acardboard box filled withinsulation material such asdried grass, newspaper orrags. Cover the pot withinsulating material and closethe box. Leave for a fewhours depending on the foodyou are cooking. The box willkeep the pot hot and the foodwill continue to cook. Aftersome hours the food iscooked.People living with HIV / AIDS experiencing weight loss can try:• Eating more staples, pulses, meat and dairy products• Eating soy products, peanut products, sunflower andpumpkin seeds and fruit especially bananas and avocados• Eating snacks between meals• Slowly increasing the fat content of foods unless diarrhoeaoccurs• Avoid sugary foods, fizzy drinks, jam or honey as sugar canworsen thrush.12

Careful cookingTo get the most from the food you eat try the following:• Eat fresh food (as soon as it has been harvested). Food grownwithout chemicals is healthier than food grown with pesticides.• Eat unprocessed or unrefined foods. Home-milling preservesmore vitamins, minerals and fibre.• If you are drying food for preservation, dry it in the shade ratherthan direct sun, or use a solar dryer in order to preserve thenutrients.• When cooking cut large pieces to save nutrients. Tearing isbetter than cutting to preserve Vitamin C.• Leave the skin on vegetables such as pumpkin, potatoes andcarrots.• Avoid cooking vegetables for too long. Cook until the food istender but not too soft. For most vegetables 3-8 minutes issufficient.• Try eating more soft-leaved green vegetables such as spinach,pumpkin leaves, cassava leaves and amaranth which take lesstime to cook than hard-leaves vegetables such as covo andrape.• Eating raw food such as in salads, is the best way to get themost nutrients.• If you do cook vegetables use a small amount of water to steamthe food rather than boiling it. If you boil the food add thedrained water to stews and sauces. Try stir-frying vegetablesfor a few minutes in a little oil.• Do not use baking soda as this destroys vitamins.Positive growingEven small gardens can produce a wide range of nutritious food. Ifthere is nowhere to grow near the house, community centres or schoolsmay give you some land to cultivate. Lodgers can grow food incontainers to save water and space.13

Healthy food sources in urban areasCarbohydrates, vitaminsand fibre.Eat unrefined staple foodswith every meal.• Buy or grow whole grainssuch as maize, sorghum,millet and wheat and takethem to a grinding mill.This is cheaper andhealthier than eatingrefined meal.• Use ground whole wheat flour to make your own bread, biscuitsand cakes.• Cook sorghum or millet porridge. It is high in fibre, vitamins andminerals.• Grow cassava as a windbreak around the garden. Eat the tubersand leaves.• Grow sweet potatoes, cocoyams and wild rice in summer in waterloggedareas.• Plant Irish potatoes in winter.Protein, iron and B vitamins.Eat beans and soya products.• Plant a wide rages of beansand pulses amongst yourvegetables and beneathgrain crops. They will helpto improve the soil as wellas providing protein.• Soya beans contain moreprotein than chicken meat.Soya mince is a tastysource of protein.14

Protein, iron and B vitamins continued.Eat meat, milk and eggs whenever you can afford to.• Buy or make sour milk (lacto).• Eat liver as a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals.• Fish, termites and mopane worms are good sources of proteinand calcium.• Keep chickens for eggs and meat or rabbits for meat. Theseanimals will also provide manure and pest control for the garden.Vitamins A, B, C, E calcium,iron and fibre.Eat yellow, orange, red or darkgreen vegetables and fruitevery day.• Grow many different kindsof vegetables includingcarrots, spinach and greenpeppers.• Grow traditional vegetablessuch as amaranthand herbs to flavourcooking such as marjoram,basil, parsley, chives andthyme. Traditionalvegetables and herbs aregood sources of Vitamin C and calcium. The strong smell of theherbs helps to repel pests.• Grow cucumbers, pumpkins, chouchous and squash on fencesand up walls.15

Vitamins A and C. Eat plentyof fresh fruit for Vitamin C everyday. You can also dry fruit ormake it into juice or jam.• Grow pawpaw, tree tomatoand citrus trees amongstvegetables and in sunnyplaces.• Grow mangos, Mexicanapple and avocados on thesouth-side of your garden ifyou have space.• Grow fast-growing indigenous fruit trees in maize areas and alongboundaries; such as Ziziphus spp. (masau), Syzigium spp.(mukute) and Azanza (mutohe).• Grow mulberries and guava and banana trees on boundaries.• Grow granadillas on fences and grapes on trellises.• Grow strawberries in beds and gooseberries and raspberriesaround the edges of gardens.Fats. Eat healthy sources ofessential fats. These foodshelp weight gain and tostimulate the appetite.• Grow pumpkins,sunflowers and sesame.Eat the seeds for fat andprotein.• Plant groundnuts andmake and eat peanutbutter for fat and protein.• Plant avocados if youhave space. They are agood source of fat.16

Liquid. Drink at least 8 cupsof clean water (boiled orfiltered) each day. Avoiddrinking tea or coffee witha meal as they can reduceabsorption of iron fromfood. Instead drink herbteas, to stimulate theappetite.• Make herb teas. Growsmall herbs in beds suchas marjoram, basil, andthyme in beds. Growlarger herbs such as Lippia (zumbane), rosemary, mint andlemongrass around the edge of gardens, along the edge of paths,under fruit trees or as part of a windbreak. The strong smell of theherbs helps to repel pests.• Plant fruit trees (orange, lemon, guava, mulberry, granadilla). Drinkfruit juice.Warning: If you take herbal remedies make sure that you take thecorrect plant. Some herbs are poisonous and must not be eaten.Make sure that you take the right dose. Eating or drinking too muchof a herbal remedy can make you sick.Some healthy traditional dishes and snacks:• Cowpeas crushed roasted or as a soup• Dark green vegetables (including spinach, pumpkin leaves,cassava leaves, cowpea leaves, sweet potato leaves, amaranth,and black jack) cooked in peanut butter• Pumpkin cooked in peanut butter• Roasted pumpkin seeds• Sorghum or millet sadza• Sweet potatoes, cassava and cocoyams• Wild rice17

Part 2 Nutrition GardensThere are three main types of gardens in urban areas:HouseholdgardensCommunalgardensSchool gardensSmall beds or container gardens outsidehouses for vegetables and fruit trees.Areas at community centres, clinics andchurches for vegetables and grains.Portions of school grounds that are given tocommunity members for vegetables andgrains.LIGdemonstrationgarden atZororoCommunityCentre,Highfield18

Steps in establishing Low Input Gardens1. Assess available resources - see page 21• Make a map of the area available with all who use the garden orwho make decisions about it. This will help you plan how toimprove the layout of your activities to save water and energy.• List problems such as poor soil, lack of water, lack of money tobuy seed, theft.• List opportunities such as water harvesting from roofs, usingkitchen waste for compost, using fences and walls to grow cropson.2. Define goals - see page 24• Form clear, simple, achievable goals about what you want toproduce (especially nutritious crops). If there are only one or twobeds then sale of produce is unrealistic.• List the annual and perennial crops that are to be grown anddevelop a planting calendar to ensure food is produced all yearround, (remember that different crops do better at different timesof year).• Talk about saving and storing seeds and propagating seedlings.• Talk about the importance of keeping records of garden inputsand outputs, income and expenditure.• Discuss the importance of using the garden to demonstrate lowinput gardening techniques to others.3. Design your plot - see page 25• Using the map, begin to plan the land use areas. Put crops andactivities that need plenty of water closest to the water sourceand those that need less water further away.• Plan ways to save space such as reducing paths between beds,planting crops up walls and fences, planting in containers andplanting tall, shady plants on the south-side of the garden andshorter plants on the north-side.19

4. Manage resources sustainably - see page 34 onwards• Plan ways to save water such as using mulch, plantingwindbreaks, harvesting rainwater from roofs and roads, usingwaste-water, drip-irrigation or bottle watering.• Plan ways to maintain and improve the soil such as minimizingtillage, growing soil improving plants and making compost, pitbeds and liquid manure.• Think about ways to integrate small livestock such as poultry andrabbits.• Plan natural pest and disease control methods includingintercropping, use of repellent plants, attracting predators andhome-made sprays and traps.5. Make an action plan - see page 32• In the plan state resources needed and dates for the planting,soil, water and pest and disease management activities listedabove.• Implement the plan. Keep clear records of your activities.• Develop monitoring indicators to evaluate the progress of yourgarden.20Kuwangira PrimarySchooldemonstrationgarden, Highfield,Harare

Looking at resourcesResources are things that you can use such as water, soil, plants, theslope of the land and sunlight. Before you plan how to use your landdecide what resources you have. To do this make a map of the areawhere you plan to put the garden. You can have a garden around yourhouse, at a community centre or at a school. Note that it is illegal tocultivate areas closer than 30m from a stream bank.Mapping resourcesA map will help you plan the layout of your garden. Mapping should bedone with all of the people who are going to use the land such as afamily, a school (parents, staff and students), a garden club or acommunity. You may be surprised at how different people noticedifferent things about the land.Draw the map on paper. Use symbols to show different things. Pretendyou are a bird in the sky. How would trees, buildings and rivers lookfrom above? Guess the distances between things or pace them out. Usethese measurements to make your map.On the map mark:• buildings, fences and boundaries• the direction the land faces (where is north, south, west or east)• the wind direction at different times of year• paths, roads and gates• existing gardens and cropping areas• landforms such as large rocks, anthills and slopes• vegetation -large trees and useful plants• water sources e.g. taps, gutters, rivers, wells, bore holes, dams• different soil types, capped soil, gullies and any other problems• areas affected by frost.Use the map to help you see what problems exist in your land, whatresources are available and how you can improve the land.21

Map of a community centre in Mabvuku, Harare22

Map of Chikanga Primary School, Mutare23

Planning what to produceForming goalsA goal is something you aim to achieve. Before you begin to growthings you need to decide what you want to achieve from your garden.Hold a meeting with all those who use the land. If you are planning agarden at a school or community centre make sure you involve all ofthe stakeholders such as the staff and students, the SDA, themunicipality, the social worker, the groundstaff. Talk about what youvalue about your land with your family, school or community.Example of goals for a household gardenWe want to:• produce healthy nutritious food all year round to feed the family• produce enough to be able to sell a surplus• conserve and manage our soil and water resources so that wecan use the land productively for years to come• sell surplus produce and grow seedlings to generate an income.Example of goals for a school gardenWe want to:• produce healthy nutritious food all year round to feeddisadvantaged students• encourage all of the staff and students to benefit from the garden• avoid stigmatising disadvantaged students• produce an excellent example of low input gardening which wecan use to demonstrate techniques to all those from thecommunity who are interested• propagate seedlings, fruit trees, herbs and other useful plants togenerate income and help others start gardens in their homes.24

Designing different areasVegetable areasYou can grow fruits,vegetables and herbsaround the house orwherever water isavailable. Plant mixturesof different crops togetherto save space and water,improve soil, and reducepests and diseases. Plant atleast five different vegetables in each bed including beans for soilimprovement and repellent plants such as herbs or members of the onionfamily. See the crop management section for more ideas.Saving space and resources• Grow climbers such as e.g. granadilla,pumpkins, chouchou and grape onfences, walls and car ports.• Keep chickens and rabbits in pensclose to the house.• Grow vegetables and herbs in keyholebeds, pit beds, fertility trenches orcontainer-gardens (see the soilmanagement section).• Plant tall shady plants on the south-sideof the garden. Keep the north free oftrees to give your plants more sun.• Reduce the size and number of paths.Use stepping stones for weeding andharvesting.• Small fruit trees such as pawpaws, bananas, tree tomatoes, guavasand citrus, can be grown close to buildings without damaging them.• Use bottle watering or drip irrigation.• Make a protected seedbed or nursery in a shady, sheltered placeclose to a tap.25

• Avoid big bushy herbs. Plant these incontainers, along paths or on boundariesand cut them back.• Plant soil improving plants and small fruittrees between beds.• Prune trees if they cause too much shade.• Use the clippings for mulch, livestock fodderor compost.• Make a compost area. If you do not havespace make pit beds in the garden to use uphousehold waste.Useful cropsSoil improvers/groundcovers forplanting beneathother cropsPeas, beans, cowpea, bambara groundnuts,peanuts, comfrey, sunnhemp, sesbania,leuceana, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, capegooseberry.Pest control plantsfor growing on theedge of gardensWindbreaks/ livefence plants for theedge of gardensFruit crops for theedge of gardensClimbing crops forwalls and fencesWater-loving cropsto plant close totapsMarigolds, garlic, onions, chillies, basil,marjoram, chives, elderflower, sunnhemp,lemon grass, fennel, milkweed.Sesbania, acacias, leuceana, sugar cane,bana grass, pigeon pea, cassava, moringa,jatropha, elderflower, mulberry.Orange, lemon, coffee, pomegranate, treetomato, pawpaw, guava, fig, feijoa,bananas.Beans (especially Madagascar beans,)pumpkins, oyster nut, passion fruit, kiwi fruit,grape, chouchou, loofahPumpkins, bananas, sugar cane, mint,cocoyams, comfrey.26

Example of a household design27

Fruit tree areasSome trees grow slowly, but grafted varieties, and tree tomatoes usuallyfruit after one or two years. Plant fruit trees along boundaries of yourgarden. Indigenous fruit trees can be grown in the cropping area oncontours between maize or as part of your windbreak.Saving space and resources• If you have space grow large shady trees such as avocados andmangos on the south-side. Plant smaller fruit trees such asguavas,citrus and bananas around buildings on the west andeast side.• Keep the north-side free of trees to allow light into your garden.• Plant herbs, groundcovers and soil improvers around fruit trees.• Use movable chicken or rabbit units to control weeds, pestsand diseases, and improve the soil around fruit trees.Useful cropsFruit treesplant between bedsTall treesfor the south-sideStone fruits for coolfrosty areasSoil improvers/groundcovers toplant under treesPest control plantsto plant under treesOrange, lemon, coffee, pomegranate,banana, tree tomato, pawpaw, guava, fig,feijoaAvocados, pecan nuts, macadamia nuts,mangos, Mexican apple, litchis, loquatsPeaches, plums, apples, apricotsCowpea, comfrey, sunnhemp, cowpea,bambara groundnuts, peanuts, velvet bean,sweet potatoes, pumpkins, melons,gooseberryMarigolds, lavender, rosemary, elderflower,sunnhemp, lemon grass, zumbane,tephrosia28

Cropping areasDuring the rainy season you can get permission from schools orcommunity centres to cultivate unused land for maize and other rainyseason crops. Maize is a heavy feeder and is hard to grow withoutfertilizer. Try planting some sorghum and millet with maize in case themaize crop fails. Plant soil improving plants (especially cowpeas orsoya beans) beneath the maize to give extra nitrogen. Densely plantedgroundcover crops such as beans and pumpkins will also help reducethe number of weeds in the maize area. Feed the maize with animalmanure, compost and liquid manure.Soil and water management• Avoid annual ploughing. Use minimum tillage or conservationfarming methods (see the soil management section).• Harvest water and protect your soil with swales, pits, and plantingon contour (see the water management section).• Plan paths carefully to avoid soil erosion.• Protect stream banks and vlei areas by planting indigenoustrees, sugar cane, bananas and sesbania. Where there is plentyof water, such as near a vlei or well, plant cocoyams, pumpkins,sugar cane, banana, wild rice and sweet potatoes.• Inter crop maize and other grains with groundcovers such ascowpeas, pumpkins and soya beans.WindbreaksMake windbreaksaround your croppingarea to protect cropsvegetables fromlivestock, wind, frostfire, the sun’s heat,pests and disease. Use perennials suchas cassava, pigeon pea, moringa, indigenous fruit trees,vetiver grass and soil improvers such as sesbania, leuceana oracacia.29

Moringa oliferaThe Moringa tree is anexcellent source of vitaminsand minerals especiallycalcium and Vitamin A. Theleaves, green pods andflowers can be cooked asvegetables. The leaves maybe dried and made into apowder to sprinkle into soupsand stews. This fast-growingtree can be planted alongboundaries and pruned toavoid it shading other crops.It can also be grown in bedsas a vegetable and harvested after one year. The dried seeds canbe used to purify water. Moringa tolerates hot, dry conditions andsandy soil. Give the tree some water to ensure leaves all year round.Useful cropsSoil improvement/groundcoverplant under maizeand other grainsPest controlplant on contoursand in windbreaksLive fence/windbreakplant on contoursSoil protectionplant on contoursCowpea, bambara groundnuts, soya beans,sugar beans, groundnuts, sweet potatoes,pumpkins, watermelon.Sunnhemp, lemon grass, tephrosia, vetivergrass, zumbane and other indigenous herbs.Rubber hedge, figs, erythrina, carissa,dovyalis, lannea, jatropha. sesbania,leuceana, pigeon pea, cassava, acacia,moringa.Bana grass, vetiver grass, sugar cane, fingermillet30

Example of acropping areadesignSurround thecropping areawith useful trees,such as sesbaniaand moringa,bushes such aspigeon pea andcassava and bunchgrasses such as vetiver toprovide shelter and reduceerosion.Intercropmaize or othergrains such as sorghumand millet with beans, cowpeas,groundnuts or bambara groundnutsand pumpkins. These groundcovers protectthe soil, conserve moisture and smother weeds. Inaddition the legumes help improve the soil fertility.31

Making an action planThe next step is to work out a plan of action with all others involvedwith the garden. Take another look at the goals that were agreed for thegarden and the problems to be addressed.Steps• List activities that will need to be carried out to solve the problemsand achieve the goals.• List the resources (tools, money, materials) you need in orderto implement the activities.• Write down who will be in charge of implementing the activities.• Write down dates for the activities including realistic deadlinesfor completion of implementation. Some activities are ongoing.• Draw a chart such as the one below and put it in a place so thateveryone can see it.Example of an action planGoalActivitiesResources/ materialsTo reducewater lossfrom soilTo improvesoil fertilityTo havenutritiousfood allyear round• Plant windbreaksround the garden• Mulch soil• Plant soil improvers• Make compost• Make liquid manure• Plant seedlingsevery two-three weeks• Plant a range of grains,pulses and other crops• Tools, seedlings, water,compost• Mulch, tools• Seeds, seedlings, cuttings• Leaves, grass, manure, tools• Comfrey, container• Seeds, tools, containers,potting mixture, record book• Tools, seed: maize, sorghum,millet, beans, pumpkins.Cuttings of sweet potatoesTo growplants forsale• Take cuttings of herbsand fruit trees.• Plant sleeves, potting soil,cuttings32

Part of anactionplan forahouseholdgardenPerson responsibleAmai ShumbaTime-frameJ F M A M J J A S O N DX XAmai Shumba,Baba ChirenjeAmai Shumba, Baba ChirenjeAmai KunakaBaba ChirenjeX X X XX X X X XX X X XXXX X X X X X X X X XBaba Chirenje, Amai Kunaka,Amai ShumbaXX X X XAmai ShumbaX X X X33

Part 3Management TechniquesCrop ManagementIntercroppingThe more different plants and animals that you keep, the fewer inputs(such as fertiliser, manure, pesticides or herbicides) you need to use.Growing different crops together helps to reduce pests and diseasesand to improve the soil. During times of drought, frost or pest attack,some crops will be killed but others will survive. When only one typeof crop e.g. rape, is planted in a bed, pests and diseases multiply andsoil nutrients are quickly used up. You have to use fertilizers andpesticides to keep your crops alive.To avoid this, plant many different crops in the same bed. Grow soilimproving crops and trees (see the soil management section) , pest anddisease repellents (see the pest and disease management section), shadeand shelter crops and groundcover crops to reduce erosion, conservemoisture and reduce the space for weeds to grow. Intercropping allowsyou to harvest many crops from a small area. If one crop fails you willstill have others to harvest.soil improvementpest controllive fencingGrow plantsthat have morethan one useshade/shelterfibresoil protectionlivestock foddermedicine mulch timberfoodgroundcoverFor more information on useful plants turn to appendix 2 on page 8234

How to mix cropsGrow at least five crops in each row of each vegetable bed. Think aboutthe size and shape of the crop to help you fit them in the bed. Thinkabout how long each crop lasts. Different plants use different amountsof space and last for different lengths of time. For example, rape growstall so you can plant other crops beneath. It can last for many monthsand you can harvest the leaves each day while it is still growing.Cabbages use a lot of space and they also need a lot of nutrients. Youcannot harvest the cabbage leaves while the plant is growing if youwant the plant to form a large head. Once the cabbage is ready youharvest the whole plant. If you have a small garden it is better to growrape than cabbage because it takes up less space and lasts longer.When you harvest one crop you need to replace it with a seedling ofanother crop from a different family. This means that you need to growseedlings all year round.SpacingPlant small to medium-sized vegetables about 15cm (one hands span)apart. Tall narrow crops such as carrots and onions can be plantedbetween low bushy crops such as lettuce or bush beans. Some cropslive only a short time such as lettuce. Others take longer to survive.Make sure you leave enough space between the crops so that they donot get smothered. But it is better to have many crops in a bed ratherthan leaving gaps for weeds to grow.Practice a rotation system within the beds - when you harvest a heavyfeeder such as cabbage, replace it with a legume such as beans that willput nutrients back into the soil.35

Layout of bedsRape and covoare tall andnarrow so theyleave plenty ofspace beneathto grow othervegetables suchas onions,tomatoes,spinach andcarrots. Beansshould beincluded in allbeds for soilimprovement.Plant tall crops such as peas, climbing beans, brinjals and tomatoeson the south-side of beds so that they do not shade the othervegetables. Use sticks as trellises to support tall plants.36

Food securityAlways include perennial crops (such as fruit trees, moringa, pigeonpea, Madagascar bean, cassava,) in the garden and maize area so thatthere will always be something growing even during the dry season orduring dry spells. This will ensure that your family has healthy food allyear round.Because water is often scarce during the rainy season you may not beable to grow any vegetables or crops. To have a good supply of healthyfood all year round you can grow crops that can be stored such aspumpkins, squash and sweet potato. Other vegetables can be dried suchas green vegetables, tomatoes, onions, carrots and green beans. Topreserve nutrients dry vegetables in the shade or use a solar drier.Crop selectionThe type of crop that you choose to grow depends on:• the size of your land• water availability• soil type• waterloggingChouchous are a usefulcreeping perennialcrop that can be grownup walls and on fencesin urban areas. The leavescan be eaten like pumpkinleaves once the stringhas been removed.The fruit can beadded to stews orused to thicken soup.37

Crop selectionThere are five main types of crop: leaf, fruit, root, leguminous, andgrain. See the section on pest control for more on crop rotation.See the table opposite for crop characteristics.Some crops do better in winter while others grow better in summer.You can get high prices for crops grown out of season but they must beprotected from heat or frost.Grow plants in beneficial groups with pest controllers, soil improvers,groundcovers, climbers and shelter plants.Crop characteristicsWinter cropsSummer cropsSun-loving(10-12hrs/ day)Semi -shade(8-10 hrs/ day)Shade-tolerantWater-lovingcabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peas,garlic, potatoes, onions, carrots, leeks,lettuce, broad beans and beetrootmaize, sweet potatoes, cucumber,pumpkin, cowpeas, brinjals, chillies,peppers, paprika, and runner beansfruit and vine vegetablesleaf and root vegetablescocoyams, amaranth, tumeric, gingersugar cane, banana, cocoyams38

Drought-tolerantHeavy -feedersModerate feedersgroundnut, pigeon pea, okra, cowpea,cassava, lablab bean, sweet potato,amaranth, brinjalsolanaceae (tomatoes, potatoes,gooseberries, peppers and chillies),cruciferae (cabbages, rape, covo,tsunga, radishes), cucurbitaceae(pumpkins, squash, cucumber andmelons)liliaceaefamily (onions, garlic, leeks),umbelliferae family(carrots, coriander,dill, fennel, parsley)Madagascar beans planted on a fence in Highfield39

Sowing times for different cropsCROP VARIETY SOWING WHEN TO SOWMETHOD J F M A M J J A S O N DBush/ runner beans Direct X X X X X XButter beans Direct X X X X X XSoy beans Direct X X X XBeetroot Transplant X X X X X XBrinjal Transplant X X XBroccoli Transplant X X X X XCabbage Transplant X X X X X X XChinese cabbage Transplant X X X X X XCarrot Direct X X X X X X X X X X X XCassava Direct X X X XCelery Transplant X X X X XChouchou Direct X X XCovo Transplant X X X X X X XCowpea Direct X X X XCucumber Direct X X X X X XGarlic Direct X X X XGinger Direct X X X XBambara groundnuts Direct X X X XGroundnuts Direct X X X XGooseberry Transplant X X X X XKale Transplant X X X X X XLeeks Transplant X X X X X X X X X X X XLettuce Transplant X X X X X X X X X XLoofah Direct X X X XOkra Transplant X X X XOnions Transplant X X X X X X X X X XPeas Direct X X X X XPigeon peas Direct X X X X XPepper, chilli Transplant X X X X XPotatoes (irish) Direct X X X X X XPotatoes (sweet) Direct X X X XPumpkin and squash Direct X X X X X XSpinach, swiss chard Transplant X X X X X X XTomato Transplant X X X X X X X X X XCocoyams Direct X X X X XSee the appendix for more details on crops40

Propagation and plantingIf you want to grow vegetables all year round you need to sow seedlingsin specially prepared soil in a nursery or seedbed. By protecting seedlingsfrom wind, rain, sun and pests you will have higher production. Plant afew vegetable seeds every 3-4 weeks. Keep seedlings of different stagesin the nursery so that you can replace those harvested with matureseedlings. Sell any extra seedlings you produce.Saving seedsSeeds are very expensive to buy. You can collect and store your ownseed. Let some of your vegetables go to seed. Collect seed from themost productive, healthy plants. Avoid hybrid plants as the seed youcollect from these crops may not give reliable results. Buy openpollinatedvarieties.Collection and storageFor plants which produce pods (such as peas andbeans) or other dried seed (such as onions, beetroot,spinach, rape, tsunga and cabbage) wait until theseeds have dried on the plant before harvesting.These seeds can be stored for many months. Placethe dried seed in paper envelopes and seal them indry, insect-proof containers such as a coffee jar.Place some ash and dried herbs such as lavender inthe jar to repel pests.For fruit crops and fruit trees such as gooseberry, tomato, pepper,pawpaw or tree tomato, harvest the fresh fruit then remove and cleanthe seed. Plant this seed as soon as possible as it does not store well.Share and exchange seed and seedlings with your neighbours.41

Taking cuttingsThe cold dry season is the best time to take cuttings. Most herbs(lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, rue, oregano) and fruit trees (such astree tomato, mulberry, fig, citrus and avocado) can be grown fromcuttings.To take cuttings:• Find a productive, healthy plant.• Use a clean sharp knife or pruning shears and cut woody stemsno thicker than your little finger and 5-10cm long.• Cut the stems at a sharp angle. Remove most of the leaves fromthe stem.• Dip the base of the cuttings into ash to prevent fungal infection.• Place the cuttings into containers of damp sandy soil mixture.• Keep the cuttings moist but not too wet.After some weeks you will noticenew leaves appearing. This showsthat roots are beginning to from.When the leaves are well establishedyou can plant the cuttings into largercontainers or into the garden.Growing seedlings in containersVegetable seeds are expensive. To get the best germination form yourseed, plant them in containers in a nursery close to your home. Seedsplanted in a seedbed in the garden can suffer from pests and diseases,too much heat, frost, wind or lack of water. Young plants need cool,moist conditions and protection from pests and diseases. Seedlingsgrown in containers raised off the ground suffer from fewer diseases.42

Seedlingsgrown byvolunteersfrom NewDawn ofHope LIGoutreachprogrammeTo grow vegetables from seed you need:• seeds• a soil mixture of soil, river sand and compost• containers such as bags, tins or boxes• a shady, sheltered place protected from animals• a clean source of water.Planting method:• Find a shady, protected area in your garden or make a strongstructure from poles with shelves to raise the seedlings off theground. Cover with shade-cloth or thatch grass.• Mix the soil using 4 buckets of loamy soil, one bucket of wellrottedcompost and one bucket of river sand. Sieve the mixtureto remove any stones, twigs or clods.• Make drainage holes at the base of the containers.• Line containers with a thin layer of stones then fill upto 7.5 cm ofsoil.• Plant the seeds in rows, then mulch the soil. Water the seedlingsregularly.• Label the container with the crop variety and the date of sowing.Keep records of when you planted the seed, how many seedsyou planted and how long they take to germinate.43

Plants that can be growncontainerstomatoes, brinjals,chillies and peppers,beetroot, onions and leeks,cabbage, rape, kale, tsunga,cauliflower, broccoli, lettuces.Plants that can beplanted directly into bedsbeans, peas, spinach,carrot, beetroot, onion,cucumber, squash, melons,okra, sweetcorn.TransplantingWhen the seedling is 10-15 cm high it is ready for transplanting. Ifyou do not have space in your garden for the seedling, transplant itinto a larger bag or container.To transplant: gentlydig up the seedlingwith a spoon or stick.With your other hand,make a smallplanting hole in thebed. Gently place theseedling in the holeand cover the rootswith soil. Press downthe soil around theplant and water it.Design tips for planting:• put tall plants and trees on the south-side of the garden• make strong trellises for tall plants and climbers• intercrop with soil improvers and pest repellents• plant at least five different types of vegetable in each bed(for example: tomatoes, onions, rape, spinach and carrots).44

Protecting the seedlings:• remove a few leaves from the seedling to reduce water loss• mulch the beds• shade the seedlings with thatch grass• protect the seedlings with old tins, plastic cartons or sectionsof banana stem.Banana stem collars can be cutfrom sections of young bananastem. The collar deters manycrawling pests and willeventually break down as richorganic material for the plant.To protect young seedlings fromcutworm, push two small sticksinto the soil on either side of theplant. This prevents the cutwormfrom reaching the plant.WeedingWeeds should be kept under control so that they do notcompete with vegetables. Some weeds are useful. Theyrepair disturbed and damaged ground. They provideorganic material for pit beds, fertility trenches and compostheaps. Amaranth and black jack can be made into liquidmanure. Black jack and khaki weed leaves make stronginsect repellent sprays. Milkweed is a good trap crop (seethe pest and disease management section).Tips for weeding:• pull up all unwanted weeds before they seed• put weeds at the bottom of pits or heaps to kill them• use thick mulch between vegetable plants to smother weeds.45

Water managementWater is the main factor limiting crop production in urban areas.Water management tips• Mulch all soil with organic matter. Cover paths with dry grassor crop residue.• Harvest water from roofs, gutters, rocks and roads into trenches,pits or tanks.• Use waste water from washing clothes or dishes to water cropsin pit beds or for fruit trees.• Plant water-loving plants such as sugar cane, bananas, comfrey,cocoyams, pumpkins and sweet potatoes near taps or in wet areas.Watering vegetablesGive two buckets of water twice a week for each metre of bed. Watergently to avoid soil erosion and damage to seedlings. Save water bymulching and intercropping vegetables with groundcover crops suchas beans and pumpkins, beneath tall crops such as maize, covo andrape. Add organic matter to the soil to help it hold water. Use drip kits,clay-pot or bottle-watering methods to save water in dry areas.Container gardensTo save water and space,plant vegetables and herbsin containers such as old oildrums or maize meal sacks.Fill the container with richsandy soil. If it is a sack, tiethe open end and thenmake small holes in oneside of the sack for theseedlings. Plant a mixture ofvegetables in the holessuch as tomatoes, rape, beans, onions, carrots and spinach. Put arepellent plant such as basil or marjoram in one of the holes.46

MulchMulch is any material used to cover andprotect the soil. If organic material is notavailable then use rocks, twigs or barkchips.Mulch helps you:• protect the soil from erosion• improve the soil with organic material• save water by reducing drying outof soil by the sun and helpingwater sink into the soil• reduce the numbers of weeds• repel pests, using mulch such asash or leaves from strong-smellingplants.WindbreaksWind causes plants and soil to dry out. If we plant trees, shrubs, grassesand herbs around gardens, orchards and cropping areas we help to stopthis drying action. This means you use less water and the plants growbetter.Windbreaks can also help:• prevent pest and disease attack (include repellent plants in thewindbreak)• reduce the effect of frost• prevent the spread of fire (plant evergreen trees and shrubs)• improve the soil (pigeon pea, acacias, sesbania)• provide fodder for livestock• provide fuel wood• provide fruit and food crops (mulberry, banana, indigenous fruits)47

Watering fruit treesThe amount of water needed by fruit trees depends on the types of tree,the age of the tree and the time of year.Tree tomatoesneed most waterPawpawsBananasStone fruits (apple, peach, pear, plum, apricot)Citrus (orange, lemon)AvocadoMangoMulberryGuavaMexican appleIndigenous fruit treesneed least waterGive fruit trees water as soon as the weather begins to warm in August/September. Water fruit trees when flowers begin to form. Avoid wateringdeciduous trees during the cold season.Pit BedsThese are good ways touse waste water fromwashing as well asweeds and other organicrubbish. See page 58 forinstructions on how tomake a pit bed48

Water harvestingoff roofs and roadsDitches and pits can be made tochannel rainwater off roads intoareas for food production.Rainwater from roofs canbe channeled into pits.Plant crops which willbenefit from the extrawater around the pit suchas bananas, cocoyamsand sugar cane.Half-moon ridges should beconstructed down-slope of fruit trees toharvest water to the tree root zone.Mulch the basin with a thick layer oforganic material. Repellent herbs suchas lavender and rosemary can beplanted on the ridge.49

Drip kits can help save time and water. The kit consists of a watertank and a system of pipes which are laid out along the rows ofcrops. The water slowly drips out of the tank into the pipes.Water harvesting in the cropping areaIf you grow maize and other grains in sloping areas you need to protectthe soil from erosion. Make contour ridges or swales to slow down theflow of rain water and sink it into the soil. On very steep slopes youneed to build flat terraces so that the vegetable beds are level. Terracesmay need reinforcing with stones.SwalesA swale is a contour ditchthat collects and sinks runoff water into the soil.Before you make swales,peg out the contours ofthe slope using an A-frame.The steeper the slope the closer together the swalesshould be. Make strong spillways — places for the water to flowover the bank during floods to avoid breaking the swale. Plant soilimproving trees and shrubs and bunch grasses such as vetiver, napierand elephant grass on the swale banks or terrace walls. Dig pits atintervals along the swale to sink more water into the soil. In dry areasmake the pits larger and closer together.50

Finding the level point of an A-frame.Using an A-frame to measurecontours.How to make an A-frameFind two long, stiff poles (about2 metres) and one short stiffpole (about 1 metre). Join thepoles using nails to make an A-shape. Tie a 1 metre length ofstring to the top of the A-frame.Attach a stone to the bottom ofthe string so that the stringhangs across the short centrepole.51

Finding the level pointTake the A-frame to a slope. Placeone leg (A) higher up the slope thanthe other leg (B). Mark the positionof the legs on the ground withstones. Mark the point where thestring crosses the centre pole of theA-frame with a pen. Now turn the A-frame around so that leg A isdownhill from leg B. Mark the newpoint where the string crosses thecentre pole. Measure the pointhalfway between the two points onthe centre pole. This is the levelpoint.1 2Using the A-frame3At the area you want to survey, collect stones to help you mark out thecontour. Place the A-frame on the ground. Mark the position of leg Awith a peg or stone. Move leg B until the string passes through thelevel point on the centre pole. Now mark the position of leg B. Keepingleg B in its position, swing leg A round until the string touches the levelpoint on the centre pole. Now mark the position of leg A. Keep movingthe A-frame across the slope and marking the position of the legswhen the string touches the level point. This will give you an accuratecontour line.52

Using grey waterDivert waste water fromsinks and washing sothat it can water plants.If you are using anearth trench to divertgrey water you need toscrape off the surfacesoil each week as it willget clogged with soapand this will preventwater from sinking intothe soil.Conserving water around a tapTaps often have areasaround them wherewater is splashed. Plantwater-loving plantssuch as cocoyams,lemon grass, pumpkinsand mint to takeadvantage of this extrawater.53

Soil managementSoil contains minerals from rock, organic matter from plants andanimals, and many living creatures such as worms, termites, bacteriaand insects. The living creatures are important for healthy and fertilesoil. Too much digging, ploughing, burning or use of chemicals can killthe soil creatures and destroy organic matter.To have healthy soil we need to:• reduce digging• mulch with organic matter• grow soil improving plants• avoid burning• avoid ploughing every year.Feeding the soilVegetables and maize need many nutrients. Fruit trees need compost ormanure before the fruiting season. Zimbabwean soils lack some of thenutrients needed by crops. In cities the soils can become poor quickly.If livestock manure is not available, and fertilisers are too expensive,you need to use the above methods to improve the soil.Chemical fertilizerFertilizer may help improve fertility in the short term but only organicmethods improve soil in the long term. Do not become dependenton fertilizers. They are expensive and do not help the soil to storenutrients or improve soil structure. Fertilizer is easily washed out ofthe soil by rain.There are many ways to feed the soil in urban areas. Urban areas producea lot of rubbish such as waste paper, cardboard, maize husks, sugarcane scraps etc. This waste could be collected and used to makecompost. We can also grow soil improving plants in beds, aroundgardens and as windbreaks in maize areas. We can keep chickens formeat and eggs and rabbits for meat use the manure on our gardens.54

Soil improvement for vegetable and fruit areasFertility trenchesUse these for disposing ofmaterial that is too rough forcomposting such as thornybranches and twigs. The bedsbecome more fertile as thematerial breaks down.• Dig a trench about 2mlong by 1m wide by 1mdeep. Separate the topsoil and subsoil intopiles as you dig.• Fill the trench with organicmaterial, e.g., food scraps, twigs and branches, leaves,grass and, old bones. Avoid plastic.• Replace the soil, putting the subsoil first and then the topsoil.Mulch the bed and plant vegetables.Livestock manureAnimal waste contains lots of nitrogen, the main nutrient for plantgrowth. Fresh chicken manure contains high levels of nitrogen. Rabbitand horse manure are low in nitrogen. Fresh chicken manure will burncrops. Use it in compost with lime to reduce acidity. Keep chickens orrabbits close to the home and use the manure in the garden. Poultry inmoveable units can be used to clear the land of vegetation and weedsand improve the soil with their manure.Liquid manureThere are two ways to make liquid manure. Either half-fill a sack withanimal manure then hang it in a drum full of water for about one week.Or collect leaves from leafy green plants such as weeds, comfrey,elderflower, stinging nettles or amaranth. Fill a drum or container with55

the leaves and quarter fill with water. Close (but do not tighten) the lid.Leave in the sun for two weeks. Dilute: one part liquid manure to fiveparts water before applying to plants. Avoid crop leaves when applyingthe liquid manure. Apply it to seedlings and plants which look unhealthy.Warning: It can cause crops to grow very quickly with large soft leaves.This makes them attractive to pests.Soil improving plantsPlant soil improving crops (such as soya beans, sunnhemp, cowpeas,bambara ground nuts, velvet beans) in an area that you want to use forother crops the following season. Intercrop with soil- improving plantssuch as sesbania, leuceana, pigeon pea, and comfrey. Prune-back theleaves to prevent the plants shading your crops. Cutting the leaves andbranches of soil improvers causes some of the roots to die and releasenutrients into the soil.CompostCompost is a dark, crumbly material formed by bacteria, insects andworms. It stores nutrients and slowly releases them for plants. Try tomake compost four times per year. If you lack material, plant soilimproving crops and trees on the boundary ofyour land. Harvest the leaves to makeinto compost. Once you havemade the heap do not addnew material to it56

How to make compost:• Find a cool, shady, sheltered place, close to water.• Collect many different materials before you make the heap.• Use materials that contain carbon e.g. dried grass, leaves,sawdust, paper, cardboard and nitrogen e.g., green grass, leaves(especially comfrey, banana, amaranth, sesbania) food scraps,animal manure. Do not add soil, plastic, metal, thick twigs orbranches.• Fork the surface of the soil where you want to make the heap.Put down a layer of coarse material, such as maize husks ortwigs.• Add a thin layer of manure or other high-nitrogen material.Add lime if you are using fresh chicken manure.• Next add a thick layer of carbon material. Water each layer asyou add it.• Keep adding layers of nitrogen and carbon material until theheap is as high as your chest. Use dry material for the last layerto keep away flies.• Make air holes in the heap with a sharp pole.• Cover the heap with old sacks to conserve moisture.• Check the heap each day to make sure it is not too dry. It shouldfeel damp but not dripping wet. Check that the heap is getting hotby pushing your hand in to one of the air holes. If it is not hot, addmore manure.• After about a week the heap will begin to cool and it is the timeto turn it over to mix the layers together. The more you turn theheap, the quicker your compost will break down. Well-madecompost can be ready in six weeks.• When using compost apply it on the soil surface as mulch. Neverdig-in fresh compost.57

Pit bedsIf you do not have enough material to make compost, throw wastematerial into pit beds. Pit beds are less work and are a good way ofusing up every day kitchen waste. You can make many pits in yourgarden. The roots of the vegetables planted around the pit feed off thiscompost.How to make a pit bed:• Dig a pit 75 cm deep by 50-75cm diameter.• Use soil dug from the pit to make a bed around the edge. Leavea gap for an entrance path.• Line the pit with old sacks or banana leaves.• Fill the pit with organic material. Use dry leaveson top to repel flies.• Make an air hole through the material in the pit.• Plant vegetables around the pit.58

Soil improvement for annual cropsTraditional crop systems took care of the soil. Farmers practised mixedcropping. Rows were made by hand and seeds (such as maize, millet,sorghum, cowpea and pumpkin) were mixed in a basket and broadcastin rows. This meant that the soil was covered and protected. Thecowpeas improved soil fertility. Burning, ploughing and planting onlymaize is not good for the soil.Minimum tillageThis is a system for urban areas that protects and improves the soil andprevents pest and disease build up.Preparing the fields:• Avoid burning or ploughing.• Clear the weeds into piles and make them into compost.• Make rows using a hoe. Plant four rows of maize or other grainssuch as millet and sorghum then plant a strip of dense cropsuch as finger millet or soya beans.• Once the maize plants begin to appear plant crops between themaize rows such as groundnuts, cowpeas, sugar beans andpumpkins. You will get many crops in the area where you usuallyonly get one or two.• The next season rotate the strips so you plant the maize wherethe strip crops were grown and the strip where the maize wasgrown. The mixing of crops helps keep the soil fertile and keepspests under control.For extra protection of crops plant windbreaks of cassava, pigeon pea,sesbania and moringa around your fields. If you are planting in wetareas grow wild rice, sweet potatoes, cocoyams and sugar cane.59

Pest and diseasemanagementChemical sprays can harm peopleand beneficial insects, whetherthey are made at home or bought in shops. Pests quickly become resistantto them so you end up having to use stronger and stronger methods. Setup a natural balance in your garden to control pests. Avoid using sprays.If you do use sprays, make sure you know exactly which pest you aretargeting and how to use the spray.Pest management tips:• Keep crops healthy• Use repellent plants• Use animals• Make traps• Hand-pick pests• Make barriers• Make spraysAnts and aphidsBlack ants do not harm crops but they attract aphids, scale andmealy bugs, which spread diseases. These are serious pests in avegetable garden. Control black ants to avoid the other problemsthey bring.Keeping crops healthyGive crops enough nutrients and water so they use their own defencesagainst pests. Avoid over-watering and using chemical fertilizers. Thesemake plants grow too fast and make them weak. Buy or grow healthyseedlings. Collect your own seeds. Avoid hybrid seeds.60

TrellisingSlugs, snails and manybacterial and fungal diseases,thrive in wet conditions. Makestrong trellises to lift plants offthe wet ground. Use poles andstring for climbing crops(cucumbers, pumpkins,tomatoes, beans and peas).Plant climbers close to trees sothey can use the tree as atrellis. Plant cucumbers andpumpkins on mounds of welldrained soil or compost.Tomato trellis at the Sithole’sgarden, HighfieldMulchSpiky grass or leaf mulch repels nematodes, cutworms, grasshoppers,ground beetles, termites, thrips, slugs and snails. Mulch made fromclippings of strong-smelling plants such as herbs, Mexican marigold,lippia, lantana, gum trees and tobacco, repels insects. Wood ash detersants, which attack strawberries, beans and carrots.WindbreaksPlant barrier plants and windbreaks of strong-smelling plants such asrosemary, lavender, marjoram and lemon grass around gardens andorchards to reduce pests and diseases spread by wind. In the croppingarea use indigenous herbs such as zumbane, wild basil and tagetes.Destroy infected plant materialPlants that have been infected with a disease should be removed andburnt or placed in the centre of a hot compost heap.61

Useful plantsAvoid planting only one type of crop in a row. Practice intercroppingand crop rotationRepellentsPlant large herbs such as rosemary, lavender and lemongrass on the edges of gardens or around the base of fruittrees to repel pests. Plant smaller herbs such as basil,marjoram, garlic and thyme in beds. Avoid planting mintor nasturtiums in beds as they can become troublesome.To control flies and mosquitoes around buildings, plantstrong-smelling herbs in pots. Prune the leaves of the herbsand use them as a strong-smelling mulch. Plant sunnhemparound your cropping area or vegetable garden as it repelsnematodes and improves soil. Vetiver and lemon grass repelsoil insects and moles.Trap cropsThese are plants that are grown to attractpests drawing them away from your main crop. Aphidswill collect on milkweed rather than on crops. Alwaysleave some milkweed plants in vegetable beds.Sunnhemp is a trap crop for armyworm.Crop rotationAvoid planting the same crop in the same soil timeafter time. In your rotation first plant legumes (peas,beans), follow with leaf crops (spinach, cabbage, covo,lettuce) then root crops (onions, potatoes, carrots) andfinally fruit crops (tomatoes, brinjal, pepper, chilli).Plan a long rotation between crops of the same familyto prevent them spreading diseases.62

Crop familiesChenopodiaceaeCompositaeCruciferaceseCucurbitaceaeGraminaeLiliaceaeSolanaceaeUmbelliferaebeetroot, spinach (swiss chard)lettucebroccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale,tsunga, rapecucumbers, pumpkins, squash, melonmaize, sweet corn, sugar cane.chives, garlic, leeks, onionstomatoes, potatoes, peppers, chillies,gooseberries, brinjalscarrot, parsnip, celeryUseful animalsChickens are very useful in the garden. They eat pests, destroy weedsand apply manure to the soil. Keep chickens beneath fruit trees to controlfruit flies that breed in fallen fruit.The Sitholehouseholdchicken andrabbit units63

Predator attractantsNot all insects attack crops. Many animals and insects help improvesoil and some, called predators, eat pests, which destroy our plants.These include ladybirds, preying mantis, assassin bugs, parasitic andpredatory wasps. Attract useful insects by growing flowers e.g.marigolds, calendula, dandelions, dill and fennel.Important predatorsTop left: adult lady bird, top right: ladybird larvae, bottom left: spider,bottom right: praying mantis64

Traps• Light traps placed in the chicken-run help catch night-time pestssuch as moths.• Catch fruit flies in traps made from old plastic bottles containingsweet liquid.• Hang traps in affected trees or near pumpkin or cucumber beds.• Trap slugs and snails in shallow containers filled with old beer.Put one or two traps in each bed especially during the rainyseason. Feedthe drowned snails and slugs to chickens.• Place old cabbage leaves or half orange skins or gem squashshells on vegetable beds in the afternoon. Early next morningcollect the slugs, snails, caterpillars and cutworms that havehidden under the traps.To make a fruit fly trap:Take an empty plasticbottle. Unscrew the lidand make a small holein it for the flies to enterthe trap. Screw the lidback onto the top of thebottle. Cut the top partfrom the bottle to make afunnel. Fill the lower partof the bottle with waterand rotten fruit. Turn thefunnel upside down andplace it in the lower halfof the bottle. Hang thetrap in a fruit tree.A beer trap for slugs65

Hand-pick pestsEach morning collect pests in a bucket part-filled with water. Coveryour hands in plastic to avoid being stung by insects. Swarms can beremoved by brushing plants with a soft broom. Feed them to thechickens. If pests are too small to pick, squash them on the side of theplant. The smell repels other insects.BarriersSmear stems or trunks of plants with a ring ofcooking oil or Vaseline to prevent insectsfrom reaching the juicy tips.Protect young plants from caterpillars, miceand grasshoppers using old plastic containersor tin cans with the base cut out. Press thecontainer a few centimetres into the soil toprevent cutworms.Mix sawdust and a sticky substance such asmolasses, syrup or tree resin and sugar. Thesweet smell attracts cutworms, which then getstuck in the mixture.PowdersDust leaves with dry clay, lime, flour, chalkand rock dust to kill aphids, mites, andwhitefly. Lime dust kills loopers, slugs andsmall beetles. Spread dust around the base ofplants to repel most crawling pests.Home-made spraysIf the above methods have failed you can make your own sprays.Dishwasher or soap sprays are also effective on their own. Most pestsare so delicate that water from a hosepipe will kill them.66

Chilli and garlic sprayThis useful spray does not harm people or predators but targetsmost pests.• Grind up five red chillies and five cloves of garlic.• Put in a container and pour over half a litre of boiling water. Leaveto soak overnight.• Add a teaspoon of dishwasher or washing powder or green soap.Spray affected parts of plant.Pawpaw leaf sprayTargets: aphids, bugs, caterpillars, cutworm, root-knot nematodes,termites, fungal and bacterial diseases.• Add 1kg finely shredded leaves to 1 litre of water, shake well.• Sieve. Add 4 litres of water, 2 teaspoons of paraffin and about20g soap. Spray or water into the soil for cutworm.• Extract the juice from immature pawpaw fruit to control termites.Lantana spray• Crush 1 handful of leaves in 1 litre of water.• Add a little soap, spray affected plants.• You can also burn lantana branches and dust the ash over beetlesand leaf miner.Castor plant leaf sprayTargets: Aphids, leaf cutting insects, caterpillars, cutworm, mites,stinkbugs, termites, nematodes, fleas, lice, moles, fungi,anthracnose, brown patch, damping off, root rot.• Soak green seeds and leaves in water for 24 hours, filter andspray.• Dry green seeds and leaves and grind for dusting powder.• For cutworm place 4 cups of crushed, shelled seeds in 2litres water. Boil for 10 minutes; add 2 teaspoons of paraffinand some soap. Dilute to 10 litres and water directly onto the soil.• Put green seeds into mole holes or rat nests as a repellent.• Dig seeds or leaves into the soil to kill fungal diseases.• Mulch with branches and leaves to repel termites.67

Important pestcontrol plantsFrom top left tobottom right:Lantanacamara,Tephrosiavogelii, garlic,chilli, pawpawPesticides are dangerous• Never buy chemicals in unmarked containers.• Make sure the chemical is right for the pest you want to kill.• Always read the directions and safety instructions on thecontainer.• Wear protective clothing when applying the pesticide.• Avoid contact with your skin.• Do not eat, drink or smoke when applying pesticides.• Pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and children must notuse pesticides.• Do not eat vegetables that have been recently treated.• Store pesticides away from food. Keep out of the reach ofchildren.• Wash your hands carefully with clean water and soap afterhandling any poison including homemade ones.68

Controls for common pests and diseasesAntsApply grease or vaseline, dung or clay to trunks and stems. Mulchwith ash or fine powder. Spray with African marigold, chilli and garlic,lantana, zumbane, tephrosia.Aphids, (inda) mites, thrips and whitefly• Avoid use of manures and fertilizers, especially liquid manure.• Avoid over-watering plants.• Intercrop with garlic, chives, marigold, nasturtiums, onions andmilkweed.• Spray with a mixture of 4 cups flour, half a cup of sour milk andtwenty litres of water.• Spray with cooking oil mixed with 100g soap in 15 litres water.• Spray with 1 teaspoon of salt with 20ml vinegar in one litre ofwater with half a teaspoon of liquid soap. Or spray with liquid/barsoap diluted in water.• Spray with a mix of three tablespoons vinegar, three tablespoonsliquid soap, 2 tablespoons liquid manure and 10 litres of water.• Soak 10-100g onion peel in 1 litre of water for 4-7 days. Sprayplants.• Make tomato spray from any fresh part of the plant. Boil 1kg ofleaves in 2 litres of water. Filter. Add a little soap. Spray plants.• Crush 1 handful of lantana leaves in 1 litre of water. Add a littlesoap and spray.• Crush leaves and branches of zumbane. Leave to soak in waterfor 2-3 days. Add a little soap. Spray plants.69

Army worm, caterpillars, grubs• Avoid killing owls, bats and night-flying birds, which eatcaterpillars.• Plant low-value grains such as millet as trap crops.• Avoid burning grassland and overgrazing as this causes swarmsto hatch.• Spray with vegetable oils (away from plants) and oil (onor near crop).• Dust caterpillars and plants with lime.• Place 3 cloves of crushed garlic in a glass jar. Cover with liquidparaffin. Soak for two days. Add ten litres of water and sprayplants.BeetlesUse repellent plants, chilli and garlic spray and oil.Coddling mothPaint trunks of fruit trees with a paste of cattle manure and clay.Use it to seal wounds and cuts after pruning.Cutworm• Use lime on acid soil to repel.• Use mulch of repellent plants.• Use chickens to clear beds before planting.• Only transplant seedlings when they are large enough or toostrong for the worm to cut.• Protect individual plants with tins or sticks pushed into the soil.• Make pawpaw leaf spray from 1kg shredded pawpaw leavesshaken in 1 litre of water. Filter and dilute in 4 litres of water. Addtwo teaspoons of paraffin and a little soap. Spray the soil.70

Diseases, fungi, bacteria and viruses• Keep plants healthy — avoid over-feeding and over-watering. Usetrellises for tomatoes, pumpkin and squash.• Use crop rotations. Avoid planting the same crop or crop familyin the same bed.• Use mulch on all bare soil.• Plant windbreaks around gardens and cropping areas.• Destroy infected plants by burning.• Apply 1 litre milk in 10-15 litres water to diseased areas.• Spray plant with a mixture of compost in water. Use liquid manureor urine.• Spray plant with a mixture of 100g baking soda or washing sodawith 50g of soft soap. Dilute with 2 litres of water.Grasshopper• Intercrop vegetables with marigolds.• Use ash mulch.• Use tomato leaf spray or tephrosia spray. Crush 50 tephrosialeaves in 1 litre water. Leave for 24 hours. Filter then spray plants.Warning — this spray is toxic to all insects.Maize stalk-borer• After harvesting knock the whole plant onto the ground includingthe exposed root. This prevents the borer larvae fromdeveloping. Chop maize residue into small lengths to expose thelarvae to the sun.• Practice crop rotation with wide gaps between members of thegrass family.• Block central funnel of the maize plant with dry soil. Pour soil intothe area where the leaf meets the stem. Use the method whenmaize plants are small and repeat when they have grown larger.71

Nematodes• Keep soil organic matter levels high. Avoid digging and ploughing.• Intercrop with garlic, cassava, leeks, mustard, onions, pawpaw,and marigolds.• Pour a mix of 2kg sugar in 5 litres of water on the affected soil.After 24 hours flush the sugar out of the soil with plenty of water.• Use tomato leaf spray or pawpaw leaf spray.• Crush cassava roots and dilute the juice with an equal amount ofwater. Spray immediately.Red spider mite• Practice crop rotation and intercropping especially between hostplants such as cotton, tomatoes and members of the cruciferaceaefamily.• Plant crops close together and water regularly.• Plant a hedge of pigeon pea round the garden to encouragepredators.• Spray with 1 litre of milk mixed with 10-15 litres water.• Spray with 10 drops of rubber hedge sap in 1 litre of water.Slugs and snails• Make beer traps. (See page 65)• Mulch with ash or fine powder. Sprinkle grains of salt on slugs orsnails.• Rotate poultry throughout vegetable garden to get rid ofinfestations.• Dust affected areas with dry builder’s lime, or mix lime and waterand leave to stand for a few days. Spray plants.72

HarvestingRemember food contains more vitamins if eaten fresh and just afterharvesting. Harvest vegetables at the correct stage, when they are mature.For tomatoes, peppers, chillies or brinjal, inspect each plant and selectonly mature fruit for picking. Do this regularly, every 3-4 days. Rapeand pumpkin leaves can be harvested as needed. Make small regularpickings so that the plant will not be damaged.HandlingDo not bruise or damage the produce. Timing of harvesting is important.For example pick tomatoes when they are slightly green for easierhandling. Wash your hands before harvesting and wash produce in cleanwater. Make sure you do not eat or sell vegetables that have been recentlydosed with pesticides.ProcessingWhere water is scarce we cannot grow vegetables all year round. Thismeans that during the dry season we may lack important vitamins andminerals in our diet.How to have a healthy diet all year round if water is scarce:• grow perennial plants such as cassava, cocoyams, sweet potatoesand moringa which give leaves all year round if watered• grow vegetables such as pumpkin, squash, cassava and sweetpotatoes which produce food that can be stored for long periods• harvest and dry some of the vegetables that are grown duringthe rainy season.73

DryingYou can dry bananas, tomatoes,peppers, many other fruits and anygreen vegetables. Avoid sun-drying.Drying in the shade reduces damage tovitamins. Garlic and ginger can bestored in jars of oil. Produce should bestored in places with good airventilation to avoid mouldy conditions.Drying allows for a longer shelf lifeand adds value to a product. Forexample drying and storing onionsallows sale when prices are higher.Solar driers can be made simply using wood, black plastic and clearplastic. The food to be dried is placed on drying trays. The blackplastic part of the drier is placed in the sun. It heats up pulling warmair through the drying trays. The drying trays are in the shade.Marketing produceIf you want to sell your produce you need to find out what people wantto buy so that you can plan to grow crops for sale.Where to sell• Find out what you can sell locally before trying to sell things furtherafield. Sell produce to your friends, neighbours, traders, localshops, churches or schools.• If your market is far away form a club in your community so thatyou can share transport costs and other expenses.• Sell unusual products such as rabbit meat, lettuce, broad beansand herbs to restaurants, supermarkets and hotels.74

What price?Aim to make a profit. Your selling price must cover your input costsincluding labour, seed, packaging and transport.Work out your selling price: Selling price = costs + profitYour price must be competitive with the goods of other producers.Find out how much other retailers and wholesalers are charging.Marketing tips• Find out which products sell best at different times of year andwhen you can get a high price. Customers pay high prices forout-of-season crops.• Choose products that can be stored or processed by drying orbottling to give them a longer shelf life.• Protect crops from pests and diseases so that they look appetizingto your customers.• Avoid spraying with pesticides (even home-made sprays) for afew days before harvesting.• Wash your hands before harvesting and wash harvested producebefore sale.• Store harvested produce in dark, dry, well-ventilated places.• Protect from pests and mould.• Sort and grade products according to size, weight and quality.• Put vegetables in packets for better prices. Crops such astomatoes, onions and potatoes need air so use baskets, crates,sacks or bags with air holes.PromotionDisplay samples of your best-looking products. Use adverts, signpostsand price announcements to attract customers.Customer careBecome a good sales person by being polite and friendly to customers.Look tidy and clean when you are selling your produce.75

Keeping recordsTo find out whether your garden is successful you need to keep recordsof inputs and outputs of your garden. Inputs include your labour, manure,seedlings, seeds and mulch. Outputs include amount of food (in kgs,bundles or bags), seedlings, seeds, animal products such as eggs ormanure, compost and money from sales of produce. Here are examplesof some garden records:Nursery recordsDate Crop Amount Date Numbers Notessown planted out25.04.05 Rape 5g 15.06.05 3030.04.05 Tomatoes 10g 25.06.05 5230.04.05 Spinach 10g 30.06.05 12 Attackedby pests30.04.05 Lettuce 3g 25.06.05 3812.05.05 Onions 3g 20.06.05 24 Sufferedfrom frost12.05.05 Cabbage 5 25.06.05 2812.05.05 Broccoli 5 25.06.05 36General RecordsInputsDate Seeds sown Seedlings sown Manure Total cost27/11/04 10g beans 1 tray onions 2 buckets $250001 tray spinach02/12/04 5g tomatoes $ 200010g rape $ 100004/12/04 1 bucket76

Poultry recordsDate No. eggs No. eggs Total $ Noteslaid sold income18.03.05 8 5 5000.0019.03.05 10 5 5000.0020.03.05 5 Eggs taken byrats?21.03.05 8 8 8000.0022.03.05 3 Hen sitting on 8eggs22.03.05 423.03.05 324.03.05 4 4 4000.00OutputsProduce harvested Produce sold Total income1 bundle rape 3 bundles rape2 bundles pumpkinleaves $60000.001 bag onions1 bag tomatoes 1 bag tomatoes3 bundles pumpkinleaves $ 3000.001 bundle rape1 bundle mint77

GLOSSARYAction planA chart or list of activities that need to becarried out in order to achieve goals. Foreach activity, resources needed, peoplewho are responsible for organizing orcarrying out the activity and the date ortime-frame for the activity is written down.Annual plantBiennial plantClimbing plantCompostCreeperDeciduous plantDesignEvergreen plantA plant that lives for one year thenproduces seed and dies.A plant that lives for two years thenproduces seed and dies.A plant that has a long stem and needs tobe grown up a trellis.A soil-improving material made fromorganic material such as manure, grass,leaves and kitchen scraps. Compost isrich in most soil nutrients and is a goodway to improve soil structure, fertility andmoisture content.A plant with a long stem that grows alongthe ground or up a support.A plant which loses its leaves in winterA plan, picture or image of what you wantto do.A plant which keeps its leaves all yearround.78

Fertility trenchGoalGrey waterGroundcoverplantHerbHybrid seedLegumeA trench, which is dug and filled withwaste material. The soil is replaced andcrops are planted directly.Something that you want to achieve.Waste water from washing. This cansafely be used to water crops.A plant that grows densely on the groundreducing soil erosion and conservingmoisture.A plant with soft leaves which growsunder 1.5m. Herb is also the name givento strong-smelling plants that can be usedin cooking, for medicine, for cosmetics orto repel pests.Seed that is produced by crossing purebreed plants to get a plant that has goodqualities such as drought resistance. Theseed collected from hybrid crops is notreliable. Hybrid crops may need morefertilizers and pesticides in order toproduce good results.A plant belonging to the leguminosaefamily (e.g. peas, beans, sesbania. Mostplants that produce pods are legumes.The roots of many legumes house tinybacteria, which take nitrogen from the airand make, it available to plant roots.79

Liquid manurePerennialPesticidePit bedResourceShrubSoil improver/ soilimproving plantsSpillwayA soil-improving substance made fromplant leaves or animal manure, which isleft to decompose in water.A plant which lives for more than one yearand produces seed each year.A chemical, which is made to kill croppests.A pit dug for waste disposal and soilimprovement.Crops are planted aroundthe edge to benefit from the nutrients fromthe compost in the pit.Something which we can use (e.g. soil,water, labour, the slope of the land).A plant which has woody stems under1.5m.A plant that adds fertility to the soil. Mostsoil-improvers are legumes. Their rootshouse tiny bacteria which take nitrogenfrom the air and make it available to plantroots.Part of a water-harvesting structure suchas a swale, pit or dam which channelsflood water to prevent it from breaking thewall of the structure.80

SubsoilSwaleTopsoilTrap cropTreeTrellisWater harvestingWindbreakSoil below the surface, which is lessfertile. It is usually a different colour fromthe top soil.A ditch and bank that is dug across theslope on contour to harvest water. Theswale catches the water and sinks it intothe soil.Soil from the surface which is more fertilethan that below it. It is usually a differentcolour from the subsoil.Plants that are grown to attract pestsdrawing them away from your main crop.A plant which has a woody trunk andbranches over 1.5mA stick or structure made to support a tallor climbing plant.Collecting rain water for use on crops.Water may be harvested off slopes,roads, roofs or any areas where waterflows.Trees and plants grown around a gardenor cropping area to shelter it from wind.81

APPENDICESAppendix 1: Useful plantsPigeon peaSesbaniaComfreyVetiverMadagascar beanSunnhemp82

ComfreySymphytumofficinale -MadagascarbeanPhaseoluslunatusPigeon peaCajanuscajana fast-growing perennial herb up to 90cm. Plantaround the edge of the vegetable garden, underfruit trees and along paths. The leaves can beused to make, liquid manure, compost andmulch. The leaves may be fed to chickens andrabbits in small amounts. The thick roots helploosen compacted soil and protect it fromerosion. Comfrey prefers wet areas but cansurvive dry spells. To plant, divide up sectionsof the root and sow them.A perennial climber. The beans can be eatengreen or dry. Plant them up trellises or alongfences in the vegetable garden or around fruit treesin the orchard. The leaves can be fed to livestock.Madagascar beans prefer well-drained, fertile soilswith water during dry spells. Soak the seed beforeplanting to help germination. Plant on mounds inwarm weather.Pigeon peas are drought tolerant, shrubs that liveup to four years and can reach 4m. The driedbeans are a nutritious pulse. The green beans maybe eaten. The young leaf tips make good livestockfodder. Leaves may be made into liquid manure.Plant pigeon pea as a windbreak, alongboundaries and on contour ridges. It is an excellentnitrogen-fixer. They are grown from seed planteddirectly. Pigeon pea is susceptible to aphids andfungal diseases during moist conditions. The plantis sensitive to frost.83

.SesbaniaSesbaniasesbanSunnhempCrotalariajuncea, C.orcroleucaA toughannual herb.VetivergrassVetivariazizanioidesA fast-growing indigenous tree. There are annualand perennial varieties. Plant in the vegetablegarden, or cropping area for soil-improvement,shade and shelter. Prune back the lower branchesto avoid shading crops. Use the wood for poles orfuel. The leaves can be made into mulch, compostor soap. This tree tolerates dry conditions butprefers being watered. It likes sandy, well-drainedsoil. Grow sesbania from seed soaked in hot waterovernight. Plant in sleeves then transplant in therainy season.A tough perennial shrub. Plant on the boundaryof the vegetable garden, around fruit trees andin between row crops as a green manure. Slashthe plant as flowers are produced and use asmulch. Sunnhemp grows densely so is good forsmothering weeds and protecting the soil fromerosion. The plant can be made into fibre, twineand paper. Seeds can be used as an insecticideagainst borer. Sunnhemp roots repelnematodes and attract earwigs – importantpredators. Note: sunnhemp is toxic to mostlivestock. This plant is fast growing and droughtresistant,tolerating most soils. Sow the seeddensely at the start of the rains.This tough bunch grass can be used in areaswhere there is not much water to hold the soil andact as a hedge or windbreak. Plant vetiver alongpaths, on boundaries or on contour strips in maizefields. The roots smell strongly and help repel soilpests. The grass should be cut twice per year andused as mulch.84

Appendix 2:Names of plants inEnglish, Latin,Ndebele and ShonaCape gooseberryPhysalis peruviamubherimuguzubheri85

86English Latin Ndebele ShonaEnglish nameAcaciaAfrican marigoldAmaranthBambara groundnutsBananaBlack jackCape gooseberryCassavaChilliesChou chouCowpeaFinger milletGranadilla/Passion fruitGroundnuts/ peanutsJatrophaKei appleLablab beanLanneaLippiaLucky bean treeMadagascar beansMarulaMelonsMexican appleLatin NameAcacia spp.Tagetes minutaVoandzeia subterraneaAmaranthus hybridusMusa spp.Bidens pilosaPhysalis peruvianaManihot essculentaCapsicum spp.Sechium eduleVigna unguiculataEleusine coracanaPassiflora edulisArachis hypogaeaJatropha curcusDovyalis CaffraLablab purpureusLannes discolorLyppia javanicaErythrina spp.Phaseolus lanatusSclerocarya birraCucumis meloCasimora edulisndebeleisingaimbanje yonxiwaindluba, ditlaoimbuyaibhananaucucuzaikhasavaibelbiledinawamazhovolenzungumupfuta, munjirimonoamaqogolo, umkokoloisigangatsha,umpwanda, umpwaneleumsuzwaneumgqogqogqoumanguimbanje yonixwashonamuungambandanyimo, nzamamowa, bonongwemubhanana, mutsoromuuwamubheri, muguzubherichinangira, mufarinyamhiripirinyembazviyo, rapokomagiranderaamazambanemutsvoritsvotochizemberachizhenje,muhumbukumbu,muganachazumbanimutitimupfuramubvembe, majodamuzhanje chirungu

English Latin Ndebele Shona87Mexican marigoldMilk weedMilkwoodMillet (bullrush)Monkey orangeMulberryNatal plumOkraPawpawPigeon peaPumpkinsRubber hedgeSesbaniaSnot appleSorghumSunnhempSweet potatoesTaro/ CocoyamTephrosiaVetiver grassWaterberryWild custard appleWild figsTagetes spp.Sonchus spp.Mimusops zeyheriPennisetum glaucumStrychnos spp.Morus albaCarissa edulisAbelmoschus esculentusCarica papayaCajanus cajanCucurbita maximaEuphorbia tirucaliiSesbania sesbanAzanza garckeanaSorghum bicolourCrotalaria juncea, C.OrcroleucaIpomoea batatasColocasia esculentaTephrosia vogeliiVetivaria zizanoidesSyzigium spp.Annona senegalensisFicus spp.ulimilwenkhomoumbumbuluinyawuthiihlala, umhaliumabhurosiumluguluindelelemupapaya, mupopomunhangalugotshauxaxakuamabeleumbandatshashambambayila, isibulamuphumambeneumdoniububeselikwani, umkhiwanyakambanjerurimirwemombemuchechetemunga, mhungamatamba, mutambamun’onomuaburosi, mushingimudzambaro,muraramombe,muruguruDederenyandoro, ndzodziithangarusungwemumwahukumutohwe, mutowemashava, mapfundemubotangowamumbambairamadhumbenyakanyimo, kachaymukutemuroroikuwu, mukuyu,muvonde

Appendix 3: How to grow and usesome nutritious crops88

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsBananaPotassiumThe fruit can beeaten fresh ordried.Plant these aswindbreaks on thesouth edge of thegarden, in between fruittrees and around waterharvesting pits. Theleaves make goodlivestock fodder andcompost or mulch. Theleaves can be madeinto sleeves forseedlings. Sectionsfrom the stems can bemade into protectivecollars for youngseedlings.Bananas can be grown fromsuckers. They prefer rich, welldrained soil with plenty of water butwill tolerate dry spells. The mainstem dies after fruiting but isfollowed by new stems, whichshould be thinned out, leaving oneor two to follow the fruiting motherplant.Bush beansContender, Topcrop, RunnerbeansBlue Peter, LazyHousewifeButter BeansMadagascarbean,Protein, mostvitamins andmineralsespeciallycalcium andvitamins B and E.The green podsare eaten fresh ordried.Heavy yielding crops.Plant after heavyfeederssuch ascabbages, Cauliflowersor potatoes for soilimprovement.Madagascar bean, live for fouryears. Make a strong trellis forclimbing beans or grow on a fence.These tough plants are resistant tomany pests and diseases and helpimprove soil fertility. They preferwell drained soil with water duringdry spells.Soak the seed before planting tohelp germination. Plant on moundsin warm weather. Make collarsfrom old tins to deter cutworm,Hand-pick CMR beetles. In humidhot conditions they can be affectedby fungus, rust and Bacterialblight.89

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsSoya BeansProtein, mostvitamins andminerals especiallycalcium andvitamins B and E.Dried beans aresoaked thencooked.Usually a field cropbut can be a usefulintercrop in thevegetable garden forsoil preparation. Canbe planted in rowswith maize.Inoculation may berequired for soilimprovement.Harvest when the heads are 15-20 cm across. Further smallheads are produced. This cropprefers cool, moist conditions.Protect seedlings from chewinginsects with plant collars. Protectfrom grey aphids, caterpillars,Downy mildew and black rot.BeetrootProtein, mostvitamins andminerals especiallycalcium andvitamins B and E.Vitamin A.BroccoliCalcium, vitaminsC and K,magnesium.CabbageFor best nutritionalvalue eat cabbagesliced raw as asalad with gratedcarrot. Calcium,Vitamins C and K,iron andmagnesium.Beetroot help tosoften compactedsoil. The globularroots are eatencooked. The leavesmay be eaten asspinach. Cook theroot until soft (usuallyabout 45 minutes).Beetroot can besliced and preservedin vinegar.The green heads areeaten. Break theheads into piecesand steam in a littlewater for 5 minutes.The green, flat headsare eaten.Susceptible lack of nutrients andpests especially slugs, snails,caterpillars, cutworms andaphids. Once the plant hasreached a good size gently lift upand tie together the outer leavesto encourage blanching.Plant these heavy-feeders inrich, loamy soil and give plenty ofwater. They do not like acidconditions so use lime. Overwateringonce heads are setcauses splitting.Broccoli is tougher and easier togrow than cauliflower.Cabbage are heavy feeders andneed very fertile soil. This croptakes up a lot of space. Theheads can reach 3.5 kg - 4.0 kg.Same pests as broccoli. Makeslug traps in wet weather.Chinese Cabbage is a highvalue,quick-maturing crop.90

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsCarrotAvoid peeling.Vitamins A andC, iodine.Carrots help loosencompacted soil. Thelong roots are eatencooked or raw. For themost vitamins eatcarrots raw.Carrots prefer cool conditions butcan be grown for most months ifwatered regularly. They needdeep, fertile sandy soil. Too muchnitrogen causes poor taste andmany side rootlets. Mix the seedwith sand before you sow to get aneven distribution. Thin out plantsas soon as the first two or threenew leaves appear. The thinningscan be eaten. Earth-up the rowsafter thinning. Mulch carrot crownsas they push up to prevent themfrom becoming green and bitter.Regular weeding is important. Useash mulch to protect from ants,which bring green aphids. Leafblight may occur in wet periods.Temperature and moistureextremes can cause root splitting.Try growing carrots in grow bagsout of season.CassavaA good source ofcarbohydratesand Vitamin C.This tough crop can begrown on boundaries onswale ridges and aspart of windbreaks. Itcan be intercroppedwith pigeon peas. Theswollen roots arecooked. The leavesmay also be cooked.Plant pieces of the root direct. Thecrop tolerates poor soil and dryconditions.91

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsCeleryVitamin C.Chouchou,ChoyoteVitamin A.The stems are eatencooked or raw.The fleshy fruits canbe eater raw whenyoung or cooked likepumpkin when older.Remove the stringsfrom the leaves andcook as pumpkinleaves.This crop needs much care andattention and prefers cool, moistconditions. Fertile sandy-loamsoils are necessary. Topdressingand liquid manuringduring growth helps. Waterregularly, especially during dryperiods. Plant on the edge on thesouth-sides of beds. Nonblanchingvarieties grow best intrenches. Aphids, leaf minersand cutworms are the mainpests. Leaf spot and heart rotcan occur in humid conditions.Chouchou tolerates poor soilsand dry periods. It has the samepests and diseases as othermembers of the cucumberfamily. This tough fast-growingclimber needs a strong trellis andshould be grown along fences orup trees for support. It survivesfor many years.CowpeaProtein, mostvitamins andminerals especiallycalcium andvitamins B and E.The beans areusually harvested dryand cooked aftersoaking. They mayalso be roasted.Cowpeas are tough,soil improvinggroundcovers. Goodintercrops with maizeand other row crops.Use as green manurein a rotation.They are resistant to mostdiseases but suffer from blackaphids, root-knot nematodes,pod borer, bean flies and cutworms. The stored beans aresusceptible to weevils. Strigaweed can affect the growingplants.92

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsCucumberVitamin C.The green fruits areeaten raw. Plant toclimb up walls orfences.Large compost applications willbenefit this crop. When thegrowing points of the plant havereached 60 cm in length pinch outthe tips to encourage lateralshoots. Same pests and diseasesas pumpkins.GarlicVitamin C, iodineand iron.GingerIncreasesappetite.The cloves are used toflavour cooking. Theyare said to havemedicinal properties butcan interfere with theaction of some AntiRetroviral drugs. Plantgarlic in vegetable bedsas a repellent. Chilli andgarlic spray can beused to repel commonpests such as aphids.Crushed garlic clovesrepel ants.Ginger can help toloosen the soil.This valuable winter crop needsloose, fertile, sandy-loam soil.Plant cloves about 2 cm deep. Donot firm down the soil as thisinhibits root growth. Harvest thebulbs when the leaves turn yellowand begin to bend over. Loosenthe soil and gently lever the bulbsout then leave them on the soilsurface to dry. Susceptible to thesame pests and diseases asonions.This valuable root crop needsloose, fertile sandy-loam soil. Toprevent fungal attack: dip smallpieces of the root in ash and dryfor a week before planting. Givelight watering is especially in dryweather. Mulch the crop. Do notplant near members of theSolanaceae family (tomatoes,brinjals etc.) because gingersuffers from the same diseases. Itcan suffer from bacterial wilt, leafspot and root rot in humidconditions. The main pests arestem borers and nematodes insandy soils.93

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsGranadillaVitamins C and A.The fruit can be eatenfresh or made intojam or juice. Thesefast-growing plantsare good for creatingshade aroundbuildings but theyneed a strong trellisor fence to grow on.These plants need fertile soil andplenty of water during thegrowing season. They may begrown from seeds or cuttingsplanted in sleeves.Groundnuts(Bambara )Protein, mostvitamins andminerals especiallycalcium andvitamins B and E.GroundnutsProtein, mostvitamins andminerals especiallycalcium andvitamins B and E.Seeds are eateneither cooked fresh ordried.The crop is agood soil improver.Intercrop with maize.Seeds are eatenfresh or dried. Use asgreen manures and asoil improvinggroundcover inrotations.Bambara groundnuts are grownlike peanuts but rows need to bemounded up for good podproduction. The crop is largelyfree from pests and diseases.Apply gypsum to help pod settingin areas where soils are deficientin calcium. The crop may beattacked by rust, and leaf spot.Dried nuts must be kept awayfrom moisture to avoid infectionfrom the toxic Aspergillus flavusfungus. Aphids must becontrolled to avoid the spread ofrosette virus. Termites, whitegrubs, mealy bugs, beetles andpod-borers may attack the pods.GooseberryVitamins C and A.Ripe fruits can beeaten fresh or madeinto jam. These toughheavy croppers canbe grown in beds withvegetables. Thebushes should begrown on the southedges of beds toavoid shading.94Prune back branches throughout growth to encourage fruitproduction.

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsLeeksIron, iodine andVitamin C.The long white stemsare cooked like onions.Leeks help repel soilpests in beds.Leeks tolerate a wide range of soiland climatic types as long as theyare watered regularly. Avoidheavy, stony soils. Transplant leekseedlings into holes 15-20 cmdeep without firming. Graduallyearth-up the plants to get a goodlength of stem. Cutworms and pinkrot cause the main problems.LemongrassCalcium andVitamin C.LettuceVitamins C, B,iron and calciumThe stems are used toflavour tea, soups andstew. The plants aregood for erosion controlbut need extra wateringif planted on contourridges. They can beused to edge paths andthe garden. Use theleaves as insectrepellent mulch.The leafy heads areeaten raw.This is a tough bunch grass.Encourage growth by pruningleaves for mulch. The grass isprone to rust.Lettuce prefers cool, moistconditions and tends to bolt(produce flowers) too quickly in hotweather. Lettuces are fast growingand need fertile soil. Waterregularly until the plants are 7-10cm high. Cutworms and aphidscan cause problems. Make slugtraps in wet weather. Leaf spot andbottom rot can be avoided withcrop rotations. Fast-growingbutterhead varieties cope betterwith hot conditions and are lesssusceptible to slugs and snails.95

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsLoofahCalcium, Vitamin Aand C. Eat thesmall green fruitslike cucumber orsquash.Grown in the sameway as Chouchou.The dried fruits areharvested for thefibrous backscrubberstheyproduce.Same tips as chouchouMaizeGood source ofcarbohydrate,vitamin B.The ripe cobs areeaten cooked. Theseplants are windpollinated and needplenty of space. Sowthem in blocks withrows running northsouthto avoidshading othervegetables.Plant in full sun in deep fertilesoil. Intercrop with beans,pumpkins and melons tosuppress weeds. Feed plantswith compost every two weeksfrom the time they are knee-high.Mulch well. Try open-pollinatedvarieties such as Hickory King.Harvest when the silks of the cobare withered and dry. UseCutworm collars to protectseedlings. Block the growingfunnels between leaves and stemwith a plug of soil to prevent stalkborer. Destroy plants that showsymptoms of streak virus.MoringaGood source ofvitamins andminerals especiallycalcium andVitamin A.The leaves, greenpods and flowers canbe cooked asvegetables. The driedleaves may be madeinto a powder to addto soups and stews.This fast-growing treecan be planted alongboundaries. It canalso be grown in bedsas a vegetable andharvested after oneyear. The dried seedscan be used to purifywater.Moringa tolerates hot, dryconditions and sandy soil.Leaves are produced all yearround if the tree is given water inthe dry season. Prune the tree toencourage leaf production and toavoid it shading other crops.96

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsOkra, DerereCalcium, VitaminC.Fruits are cooked. Theycan also be choppedand dried.After the initial harvest cut back thestems to encourage a secondcrop. Okra tolerates warmconditions and most soils. Theygrow tall and should be planted onthe south of beds. Dense spacingproduce higher yields. Diseasescan occur in wet weather. Fruit andshoot borers and root knotnematodes are the most seriouspests. Pods should be harvesteddaily when 20 cm long.OnionsIron, iodine andVitamin C.The bulbs are eatencooked or raw.Members of the onionfamily help repel pests.Onions need lots of attention andhave a long growing season. Sowin deep, light sandy-loam soils,enriched with manure or compost.Do not plant the seedlings toodeeply as this reduces the size ofthe globe. Harvesting can be doneat any stage but once the leavesyellow and lie flat the onions maybe dried off. Bending or knottingthe leaves when the bulb hasreached full-size encourages this.Store dried onions in a dry, dark,well-aerated place.PeasHigh in calcium,iron, and vitaminsB, C and K.The green pods areeaten cooked or raw.Peas need rich well drained soil.Sow every 3 weeks in the coolseason. Avoid over-watering.Support plants on sticks. Applyliquid manure when flowering.Aphids, thrips, leaf-miners andmildew may attack this crop.This family tolerates a wide rangeof soils. The plants can grow quitetall so plant one or two per bed to97

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsPepper, paprika,chilliVitamins A, C.The fruits are eatenraw or to flavour food.Chillies may be driedand ground intopowder. Chillies canmake pesticidalsprays.avoid shading. Give plants plentyof water. Harvest regularly toencourage plant growth. Theyresist most pest and diseases.Bacterial wilt and scalding of fruitby the sun can occur.Potatoes (Irish)Good source ofcarbohydrate.Potatoes (Sweet)Good source ofcarbohydrate,calcium, Vitamin Aand C.The tuberous rootsare eaten cooked.Potatoes can help toloosen compactedsoil.The tuberous rootsare cooked. Theleaves may also becooked as avegetable. Theleaves may be fed tolivestock.Use as groundcoverunder fruit trees orintercropped withgrains.The crop needs deep, loose soilimproved with compost. Useyour own firm, blemish-free seedmaterial. Dust with ash toprevent pest and diseaseinfection. Mound-up the potatorows with soil as the tip grows.Cutworms, slugs and snails, andtubermoth caterpillars canattack. Blight and viral diseasesare a serious problem in warmweather.It tolerates most soils but prefersloose soil improved with compostor mulch. Fertilizers or manureapplications encourage leafgrowth and lowers yields. Planton mounds and mound up soilaround tubers. Fungal rots mayaffect tubers. They do not storewell so avoid damage to tuberswhen harvesting. Viruses,weevils and root-knot nematodesmay attack.98

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsPumpkin, Marrowand SquashGood source ofcalcium andVitamin A. Theseeds containhigh amounts offat protein, zincand Vitamin A.The fruits and leavesare eaten cooked. Theseeds may be roastedand eaten as a snack.Intercrop with maize,sorghum, millet andsunflowers. It acts asliving mulch andsuppresses weeds.These crops need a lot of spaceand warm weather. Plant seeds onmounds in holes at least 45 cmdiameter and 25–30 cm deep. Ineach hole plant 5-6 seeds. Avoidwatering the leaves. Supportplants on trellises to avoid fungaldiseases. Enclose the ripening fruitin a loose orange bag or raise thefruit onto a flat stone. Apply liquidmanure every 2-3 weeks afterflower buds have formed. Trappumpkin fly using fruit-fly traps.Control aphids to avoid spread ofmosaic virus.StrawberriesVitamin C.The fruit are a highvaluecash crop andcan be eaten fresh ormade into jam.Strawberries makegood groundcovers inbetween vegetablesand around fruit trees.Strawberries are grown from rootdivision or runners. They need richsoil and plenty of water. Mulch withpine needles as they like acidicconditions.Spinach/ SwisschardIron, Calcium,Vitamins C andK.The green leaves areeaten cooked or raw.For more nutrientschop the leaves finelyand eat mixed withcabbage and carrot asa salad. To cook, lightlysteam or stir-fry.This tough plant tolerates a widerange of soils but is a heavyfeeder. Harvest the outer leavesafter 8 weeks. Remove by pullingand twisting the leaf. Caterpillarsmay need to be controlled. Leafspot may occur in damp weather.99

Crop/ Uses Cultivation tipsNutrientsCocoyams(Taro)Good source ofcarbohydrate.The tuberous rootsare eaten cooked.Yam plants can beused with sweetpotatoes andsugarcane to stabilizestream banks andcontour ridges butcare must be takenwhen harvesting.These crops like wet conditions.Earth up during the growingseason to reduce the growth ofside-shoots. Leaves may beharvested for mulch. Blight mayattack the leaves in wet conditions.Borer may attack the tubers.TomatoVitamin C, K andpotassium.The fruits can beeaten cooked, raw,dried, canned andmade into juice,paste, or preserved inoil.Tomatoes tolerate most soils andrespond well to feeding. Waterregularly but avoid wetting theleaves. Tie each plant to aseparate cane then remove anynew shoots growing from the baseof the plant. Apply liquid manureevery two weeks once first fruitsare set. Mulch well. Keep fruits offthe ground. Tomatoes can sufferfrom whitefly, cutworms, mites,bollworm, looper, and nematodes.In wet weather they can beaffected by blight, leaf spot andbacterial infections. Fruits andleaves may be deformed byextreme changes in temperature.At these times of year try plantingin grow bags enclosed in thenursery. For small – medium fruitedvarieties, wait until plants are 30cm tall then remove lateral stemswhen they are 3-5 cm long. Thiswill encourage bigger fruiting.100