Farm Update April 2020

This month April 2020, we didn't grown much for the farmer markets.

We grown few bottle gourds, okra, cucumber for the Kitchen.

These are bottle gourds round variety which are growing well.

This month we setup a small plot for food security nearly 5 to 6 cents. We planted cow pea, pigeon pea, Ber tree seeds, purple beans, curry leaf, Jasmine flower plants and hibiscus flower plants.

Sown chilly kanthri variety and brinjal green variety  seeds in a small bunds for saplings propagation. After getting saplings will transplant to the raised bed.

First the ber tree seeds, second the brinjal green variety seeds, third the chilli kanthri variety seeds.

Need to mention the chilli kanthri variety seeds. You can harvest chillies for two years. First color of this chilly will be white, when it ripes it turn to red. Moreover it is more spicy than other chillies.

The purple beans which yields beans in high quantity and it is a dwarf and short term crop of about 2 months.



10 rows for food security

Would like to sow seeds of perrineals and trees as much as I can in this plot.

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How to create Indian food forest part IV vegetables

This article is a continued from How to create Indian Food forests. Here is a list of vegetables you can add for your food forest.

Pigeon pea

The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan, family fabaceae) is thought to have originated in India, where it is still widely grown as a food crop. It is also used extensively as a cover crop, green manure, inter crop etc. in many sustainable farming systems in the tropics and subtropics, and in many home gardens in warm climates.

Brinjal

Eggplant is a high-fiber, low- calorie fruit that's used  as they grow from a flowering plant and contain seeds. Egg plants grows well in warm weather. Usually you will see flowers coming in the plant in about 40 days after the planting. There are many varieties of brinjal where you can choose according to shape at taste.

Okra

Okra, also known as gumbo or ladies fingers, is a warm-season vegetable. It is a good source of minerals, vitamins,. antioxidants. Additionally, okra is low in calories and carbs and contains some protein and fiber. There are many varieties of okra; the most commonly found are green and white. Green okra is shorter and slightly stubby when compared to white okra.

Cherry tomatoes

The cherry tomato is a type of small round tomato believed to be an intermediate genetic admixture between wild currant-type tomatoes and domesticated garden tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes range in size from a thumbtip up to the size of a golf ball, and can range from spherical to slightly oblong in shape. Cherry tomatoes are bite-sized tomatoes that grow quickly, ripen early, and are good for you. The cherry tomato plant is one of the most popular plants to grow because it is easy to grow and produces a harvest quickly.

Bottle gourd

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is an annual, vigorous, climbing vine with large leaves and white flowers. Bottle gourds come in various shapes and sizes. The plant grows quite quickly and vigorously, spreading over large areas. There are so many varieties of bottle gourd where you can choose them accordingly.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and is grown primarily as a vegetable or ornamental plant. Pumpkin plants are short lived annual or perennial vines with branching tendrils and broad lobed leaves. The plant produces large yellow or orange flowers and a pepo fruit (berry with a thick rind) known as a pumpkin.

Ridge gourd

Ridge gourd is a very important Indian vegetable crop and it can be grown throughout the year. Ridge gourd plants need a lot of water. And because they grow in full sunlight the soil can dry out very fast. Sandy loam rich in organic matter with good drainage and pH range from 6.5-7.5. Season Planting spreads during July and January. You can also grow them in balconies and terrace.

Cow pea

It grows best in hot areas and can produce a yield of one ton seed and five tons hay per hectare with as little as 300 mm of rainfall. Cowpea is a food and animal feed crop grown in the semi-arid tropics covering Africa, Asia, Europe, the United States, etc.. Forage cowpeas are herbaceous annual legumes, with spreading to fairly erect habit, growing 50 to 100 cm high. There are few varieties of cow pea to choose from. Even you choose climber variety of cow pea.

Indian beans

There are so many varieties of Indian beans you can choose from perrineals to annuals. Choose accordingly to your climate conditions.  Happy farming :)

Not only this you can choose other veggies such as chilli, sponge gourd, gherkins, cucumbers, etc ... Which are suitable for your location.

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How to create Indian Food forests Part III Perennials

Perennials plays major role in food forests. Perennials are plants which lives more than two years. In this article we are covering few easy to grow Perennials which don't require much maintenance.

Agathi spinach or August tree

August tree is the English name and agathi keerai is the Tamil name. The August tree Leaves, stem, root and flower of August tree leaves are used for medicinal purposes. The agathi leaves can be consumed in the form of juice, cooked spinach or medicine. The thin stem is used as a ingredient for good health medicines in siddha and ayurveda. You can also grow them in grow bags.

Moringa tree

Moringa is a genus of shrubs and trees with multi-purpose uses. Its leaves roots and immature pods are consumed as a vegetable. All parts of the moringa tree such as bark, pods, leaves, nuts, seeds, tubers, roots, and flowers are edible. The leaves are used fresh or dried and ground into powder.

Malabar spinach

Malabar spinach is an edible perennial vine in the family Basellaceae. It is found in tropical Asia and Africa where it is widely used as a leaf vegetable. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and New Guinea. It is a vine, where leaves are used for cooking. The cooking procedure is same as that of regular spinach. Stem cuttings about the length of 20 cm preferred over seeds for natural propagation, and faster growth. Being a vine, it requires trellising for its spread. It bears white or white-pink color tiny flowers depending upon the species and purple to black color berries.

Cluster beans

Cluster beans plant prefers tropical environment. It is a short lived perennial and live up to only 2-3 years. In India and Pakistan it is planted after summer in monsoon, during rain when humidity level increases.

Lablab beans / Indian field beans

Lablab beans are good sources of the amino acid, lysine, and as such complement the generally low lysine content. Lablab is a multipurpose legume. Its immature seeds and pods, and young leaves are edible and cooked as vegetables.

Mint / Pudhina

Mint is also know as mentha or Pudhina. Mint is one of the herbs that has it all. It grows like a weed, is perfectly safe for use, and is an excellent remedy for reducing symptoms related to digestion. And it tastes good going down.

Are some of the few Perennials you can have in your food forest. And the next posts vegetables for your food forest. Be tuned 😊
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How to create Indian food forests fruit trees part II

The Food forests are also called as Regenerative farming or no till farming. Here you no need to till the land for cropping. Nature does it all.

This article is continued from the last post. Where we were discussing on how to create Indian food forests part I fruit trees etc...

There are other fruit trees which are native and grow well in Indian climate conditions. They are given below.

Pomegranate Tree

Pomegranate is a small tree cultivated throughout the Middle East and India. A shrub also grown as ornamental trees in some parks and gardens.

Jamun/Syzygium cumini

This tree is commonly called jamun in India. Syzygium cumini is native to the Indian Subcontinent, known as black plum or jamun. The fruit tends to colour the tongue purple with its sweet, mildly sour flavor.

Gooseberry Tree/Phyllanthus acidus

Phyllanthus acidus or Gooseberry tree with edible small yellow berries fruit tastes sour and tart. The plant is also used medicinally in India and produces fruit throughout the year. The first image is Indian gooseberry tree which has medicinal properties to cure few diseases.

Coconut Tree/Cocos nucifera

Coconut Tree is a Plant growing up to 30 m, originated in the India–Indonesia region. Coconut palms are grown around the world, India is third largest producer of Coconut in the world, cultivation states of India are the of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka to Lakshadweep.

Indian Jujube/Ziziphus mauritiana/ ber tree

Indian jujube or Indian plum is a tropical fruit tree from the Indian Subcontinent. Ziziphus mauritiana are wild growing plants as well as common trees of semi arid regions of India.

Jungli Jalebi/Pithecellobium dulce

Jungli Jalebi is an invasive species and a drought resistant tree. Pithecellobium dulce goes by the name Madras thorn in India and used in medicine too.

Indian Fig Tree/Ficus racemosa

Ficus racemosa or cluster fig tree is native to Indian subcontinent and favourite food of the Indian macaque. Indian fig or gular is also known as audumbar tree,both sacred and fruitful.

Cashew Tree/Anacardium occidentale

Anacardium occidentale is large and evergreen tree and fruit is called cashew apple and cashew nut inside. The cashew tree is native to Brazil and Portuguese took it to Goa in India.

Indian Almond/Terminalia catappa

Terminalia catappa tree is grown as an ornamental tree for shade and wild fruit. The large leaves and distinctively arranged branches of Terminalia catappa are evergreen tree.

Mulberry Plant/Morus

Morus Plant or mulberry tree is a fast growing tree and the fruit is edible too. The fruit and leaves contains significant amounts of resveratrol.

These are the some of the fruit trees for your food forest. The perennial vegetables you can choose according. We would like to post few vegetables which are perrineals that are suited for the food forests. Stay tuned...!

Upcoming article : How to create Indian food forest Part III Perrineals

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How to create Indian food forests (fruit trees) part1

Here is an article on how to create your own food forests in India. The list of fruit trees for food forests listed below are native to India. Food forests are one which provides you food throughout the year. The food forests includes fruit trees, nut trees, fire resistent trees, live fencing, perrineals, vegetables, bushes, shrubs, medicinal plants, green manure crops, etc.. In this article we cover only fruit trees. Here are the selective list of fruit trees native to India to create your food forest.

Drumstick or Morning tree

Moringa tree or drumstick tree is a fast growing tree and a drought resistant tree as well. Young leaves are used for herbal medicine and India is the largest producer of moringa. They are planted with fruit trees for pest management.

Gauva

Gauva tree is a drought resistant tree. It takes minimum three to five years to yield good amount of fruits. It's fruits are oval in shape with light green and yellow in colour. The seeds of the fruit are edible, which are good anti oxidents. The leaves are sometimes used as a herbal tea.

Papaya

Papaya is a small branched plant, cultivated in most tropical countries. Papaya fruit and pulp contains water, vitamin C and carbohydrates and the leaves are used for treatment for dengu and malaria.

Banana

Banana also used for the plants that produce the Banana fruit. The banana plant inner stem is also edible. The outer stem are used to make temporary plates for food serving in olden days. The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant.

Chiku/Manilkara zapota/ sapota

Manilkara zapota is known as sapota and Chiku in India and the fruit has an exceptionally sweet flavor. Sapota fruits contains high amounts of saponin, cultivated in many some parts of India.
This sapota tree is must in every food forest as it is drought resistant.

Custard Apple/Annona squamosa

The custard apple is one of the most cultivated fruit varieties in India. This Custard apple tree it the most widely cultivated species of family Annonaceae. In traditional Indian medicine leaves of Custard apple tree are used to heal wounds and to treat dysentery. Few people grow them in containers too as shown in the figure below.

Jackfruit Tree/Artocarpus heterophyllus

Jackfruit Tree is native to southwest India and the fruit is largest tree borne fruit. The jackfruit is the state fruit of the Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Kerala is the largest producer of jackfruit in the world.

Mango Tree/Mangifera indica

Mango is the national fruit of India and have been cultivated in South Asia too. Mangoes are very popular in India and in Tamil Nadu mango is one of the three royal fruits with banana and jackfruit. Mango tree is a drought resistant and you can dig trenches to harvest rainwater for mango trees as given below.

These are some of the Indian origin fruit trees for creating your food forest. Can't able to cover all the fruit trees in one post. So, be tuned - How to create Indian food forests part II ... For updates visit our sitemap in the below link.

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Best air purifying Indoor plants to have in your living room

In this article, let us know about best Air purifying Indoor plants to have in your living room. If anyone wants to breathe fresh air, cleaner air in home, then these are the five best air purifying Indoor plants need to have in your living room.


1. Areca palm

Areca palm is one of the best air purifying plant suitable for your living room. Areca is a genus of about 50 species of palms in the family Arecaceae, found in humid tropical forests from the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia and India, across Southeast Asia to Melanesia. The generic name Areca is derived from a name used locally on the Malabar Coast of India.

2. Mother-in-laws plant or Snake plant

The snake plant or Sansevieria pronounced (san-se-vi-ee’-ri-ah) a member of the Lily Family, popularly goes by other common names. The very “politically correct” Mother-in-Law’s tongue and Bowstring-hemp.Snake Plant a.k.a. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue (MILTs): Of all the different oxygen producing plants, this one is unique since it converts a lot of CO2 (carbon dioxide) to O2 (oxygen) at night, making it ideal to have several in your bedroom. 6-8 plants are needed per person to survive if there is no air flow (meaning you could live in a completely air sealed room if you had these plants). The snake plant also removes formaldehyde from the air. Most plants largely uptake Carbon dioxide (CO2)and release oxygen during the day (photosynthesis) and uptake oxygen and release CO2 during the night (respiration). Above plants can uptake CO{-2} during the night as well because of their ability to perform a type of photosynthesis called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM).

3. Money plant

Native to Asia and Australia, Money Plant is a powerful air purifying plant that cleans the indoor air. The plant is particularly effective for dealing with indoor air pollution caused by VOCs. Money plant is ideal for removing airborne pollutants from the indoor air such as Benzene, formaldehyde, Carbon Monoxide, and xylene. Being one the easiest air purifying plants to grow and maintain, money plant is a perfect natural air purifier for your homes, especially when the pollution levels are at peak.

4. Peace Lily

A deep forest green plant, Peace Lily is a great air purifier. The air purifying plant effectively removes common indoor air pollutants that emitted by the furniture, electronics and cleaning products. The high transpiration rate purifies and also humidifies the indoor air.

5. Aloe vera

This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. Aloe is a smart choice for a sunny kitchen window.

Beyond its air-clearing abilities, the gel inside an aloe plant can help heal cuts and burns. People have been using aloe vera for more than 6,000 years when it was known as "the plant of immortality" in early Egypt, according to the National Institutes of Health. It was used for skin conditions and to heal wounds, as well as used as a laxative. Today, although the science is lacking, aloe vera is typically used topically for sunburns, burns, abrasions and other skin conditions.

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Palta system a way to reduce farming expenses

Palta system
                         In this article, let us know about palta system. In this system women involve in collaborative farming practices. Palta system is commonly called to be labour exchange system.

Palta system is a system, where the village women go to one other's fields to support each other at the time of sowing, harvesting of crops, eliminating the need of outside paid labourers.

Several grassroots activists whom I interviewed in September 1998 in the UP hills also emphasised the importance of the traditional labour exchange systems (palta) for promoting new forms of collective action. Champa, a grassroots worker from an NGO in the UP hills, put it emphatically:

In my 15 years of experience of working with women, I can say confidently that where there is a palta system it helps greatly in forming a sangathan [group]. In fact a sangathan can be built on the back of the palta system. For example when a crèche was set up in Rual village and there was need to build a room, 28 women contributed labour to build it.

All were part of the palta system. Palta is integrally linked with women’s lives and livelihoods: they exchange labour for manuring the field, for harvesting, for building homes, for fetching wood at weddings, for cooking on major festive occasions in any household, and so on. Author: Do men also have palta? Champa: Yes, as in land levelling, building houses, cutting wood, and organising religious functions. But these activities are more occasional. For women, palta is integrated into their daily existence. Also now with male out-migration, the system is mostly sustained through women.

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How to get ready for capitalism collapse?

In this article let us learn about how to Learn a live a self sufficient life, when capitalism collapses. The thoughts from Bill mollison.

1. Learn to plant. Not only garden, but some food crops like cassava, sweet potatoes, pumpkin etc and trees like fruits, nuts, woody trees.

2. Create a bond with some land, whether it's yours or that of a relative, a project, a community garden etc. Participate with the people who live there, go gradually looking for ways  to spend more time in the countryside than in the city, learning to plant, build, treat organic waste and heal in nature.

3. Develop practical skills (cooking, carpentry, machine repair, food processing, sewing, etc.) Teach these skills to children, friends and neighbors.

4. Look for a mutual support group, where people take care of each other, make products of basic need collectively, such as natural hygiene products, natural remedies such as syrups, herbal tinctures, Food processing (preserved and fermented foods).

5. Simplify your life now, releasing more space and time. Discover everything you can do without money such as walk, exercises, crafts, arts, gardening and socializing with your loved ones.

6. Separate from the logic of consuming more and more. They prefer handmade products that last a long time, quality, made by small producers, social companies and solidarity economic companies. Make exchanges, give and receive gifts of affective value, rather than financial value.

7. Exchange, store, multiply and spread seeds (native, not genetically modified).

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Preparation of Waste Decompser and applications

The Waste Decompser was launched by NCOF in the year 2015. It is used for quick composting from decomposable wastes, organic waste. It is also mainly used for oil health management and for plant protection.

Waste Decompser are micro organism extracted from Desi cow dung. As on date, waste decomposer is solid in a bottle of 30 gms costing RS. 20 per bottle directly through NCOF. The Waste Decompser is validated by ICAR.

How can you prepare Waste Decompser ?

• Take 2 kg Jaggery and mix it  with a 200 litres of water in a plastic drum.

• Now take 1 bottle of Waste decomposer and pour all its contents in a plastic drum containing Jaggery solution in a plastic drum.

• Mix it properly with a wooden stick for uniform distribution of waste Decompser in the drum.

• Cover the drum with a cloth or cardboard and stir it every day once or twice.

• After 5 days the solution of drum turns creamy.

Points to Remember :

Farmers would prepare the waste Decompser solution again and again from the above formed solution. For this, 20 liter of waste decomposer solution is added to a drum with 2 kg Jaggery and 20 liter water.

Farmers can prepare continuously this solution from this waste Decompser for lifetime.

Uses

1. Waste decomposer application 1000 liter per acre changes biological and physical properties of all types of soil ( acidic and alkaline) within 21 days of application and it helps to generate earthworm population in the soil up to 4 lakh in one acre of land in just six months.

2. All biodegradable materials like agro waste, animal waste, kitchen waste, city organic waste decomposes in 40 days.

3. Seed treatment with waste decomposer shows 98% early and uniform germination and provides protection before sidling emergence.

4. Foliar spray with waste decomposer controls all types of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases effectively in different crops.

5. Farmers can do farming with the use of waste decomposer without using chemical fertilizer and pesticides. There is no need of urea, DAP or MOP when waste decomposer is applied.

6. Waste decomposer application eliminate up to 90% uses of all types of pesticides/fungicide/insecticide since it controls both root diseases and shoots diseases.

Note: we didn't used Waste decomposer in our farm "ABCD farming". We will update our feedback soon.

You can get Waste Decompser at the below address. By messenger or in person...! Cost per bottle is RS.20

Ghaziabad

Director
National Centre of Organic Farming,
Sector 19, Hapur Road, Kamla Nehru Nagar,
GHAZIABAD - 201 002 (UP).
0120-2764906, 2764212; Fax:0120-2764901
Web: http://ncof.dacnet.nic.in Email: nbdc@nic.in

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming (HQ),
Sector 19, Hapur Road, Kamla Nehru Nagar,
GHAZIABAD - 201 002 (UP).
0120-2764212; Fax:0120-2764901
Web: http://ncof.dacnet.nic.in Email: nbdc@nic.in
Uttar Pradesh (Except Districts Of Azamgarh,
Ballia, Basti, Chandauli, Deoria, Faizabad,
Ayodhya, Ghazipur & Gorakhpur), Uttarakhand,
Delhi And Rajasthan

Haryana

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
Kisan Bhawan, Sector 14,
Panchkula-134 109 (Haryana).
0172-2971718, Email: biofhr05@nic.in
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu &
Kashmir and Chandigarh (UT).

Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
67/1, Keshav Smriti, Lakshmipur, Shatabdipuram,
Behind Muskan Plaza, JABALPUR-482 002
(Madhya Pradesh).
0761-2904320, Email: biofmp06@nic.in

Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

Patna

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
ICAR-Walmi Complex, Phulwari Sharif, Jamipur
Road, Patna-801 505 (Bihar).
0612-2452022, Email: rcofpatna@gmail.com
Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand And Eastern Uttar Pradesh (Azamgarh, Ballia, Basti, Chandauli,
Deoria, Faizabad, Ayodhya, Ghazipur &
Gorakhpur Districts)

Whitefield, Bangalore

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
Kannamangala Cross, Whitefield – Hosekote
Road, Kadugodi Post, BENGALURU-560067
(Karnataka).
080-28450503 Email: biofkk06@nic.in,
rcofbgl@gmail.com
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry and Lakshdweep.

Bhubaneswar, Orissa

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
GA-114, Niladri Vihar (Near KV-4),
PO Sailashree Vihar,
BHUBANESHWAR-751007 (Orissa).
0674-2721281, Email: biofor04@nic.in
Orissa and Andman & Nicobar

Impal, Manipur

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
Langol Road, Lamphelpat, IMPHAL-795 004
(Manipur).
0385-2413239 Email: biofmm01@nic.in
Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim

Nagpur, Maharashtra

Regional Director
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
Amravati Road, NH6, Village
– Gondkhairy, Post
– Wadi, Kalmeshwer, NAGPUR
-440 023 (Maharashtra).
07118 - 297054, Email: recofnagpur@gmail.com,
biofmh10@nic.in
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,
Telengana, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar, Haveli

Above address was available to procure waste Decompser. Recently, waste decomposer technology was transferred to other bio companies. Will update soon.

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Clay based refrigerator to store vegetables

  This article is about clay based cold storage to store your vegetables which are grown in your kitchen Gardens.

Some of the forgotten ways to store vegetables long time, without using electricity are given below.

1. Zeer pot
2. Underground storage.
3. Evaporative cooling.
4. Stream cooling.
5. The ice box.

Every method has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the location and climate conditions.

And in this article, Let us know about zeer pot which is economical and suitable for major locations. Zeer pot is commonly called Pot-in-Pot refrigerator. The Zeer pot or clay pot cooler is an evaporative cooling refrigeration device which does not use electricity. It uses a porous outer clay pot containing an inner pot within which the food is placed. The evaporation of the outer liquid draws heat from the inner pot. Do you believe that Tomatoes and Peppers stored in Zeer pot, lasts up to three weeks.

Tools and materials required to build Zeer pot or Pot-in-Pot refrigerator.

• Two clay pots, one larger than the other.
• Sand
• Water
• Cloth to cover the pots.
• Clay, cork or other material to plug holes in the pots if they have them.
• Thermometer (optional to measure temperature).

Guide to build Zeer pot or Pot-in-Pot refrigerator

1. The smaller pot should fit inside the larger one with a space of one to three centimeters. If the pots have holes in the bottoms, as flower pots usually do, plug them with clay, cork or some other suitable substance. This prevents the sand from running out of the larger pot and keeps water from flowing into the inner pot.

2. Put a small amount of sand into the larger pot. The layer should be thick enough so thatw when you put the small pot inside the larger one, the tops of the two pots are at the same level.

3. Fill the space between the pots with sand.

4. Pour water on the sand until it can absorb no more.

5. Dampen the cloth and cover the inner pot.

6. Use a thermometer to check the temperature inside and outside the pot every few minutes and keep track of your results.

Note: Do not use glazed pots. The glaze forms a glass-like surface on the surface of the pot. This would seal the water inside the pot and prevent it from evaporating.Hence use unglazed pots.

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Farm video with seeds available for swap

Today would like to share our farm pics integrated with video. In the lockdown time, listening to bird sounds, bird 🐦 watching was a marvelous experience.

In the video given below are some pics of vegetables and seeds are available for swap. For enquiry on seed swap, you can contact us.

The background sound of birds chirping is uncopyrighted one downloaded. I hear birds chirping in my farm, but I would not  able to record them. Listening to nature is stunning experience which I would not express in words. #lockdownlife


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How to Grow sweet potatoes

Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, is a easy growing root tuber vegetable that loves warm weather of tropical and subtropical countries. It is a native to Central and South America. People consume where both the root tubers and tender shoots. (these can be stir fried and used as greens. Tender leaves can be cooked or mixed with Dosa batter and made into healthy leaf stuffed Dosas).

Sweet potatoes, which are related to the morning glory and belong to the family Convolvulaceae, and may be growing in different forms as trailing vines and ground covers with roots at each nodes. Some short "Bush" varieties are also available. There are different varieties of Sweet potatoes with varying tuber colour, skin colour Leaf colour, shape The orange-fleshed varieties are most common. But white or light yellow are also available. The yellow and orange coloured varieties are rich in carotinoids and antioxidents).

Some are ornamental too with leaves and stems light yellowish green or deep purple and are used in Landscaping. They too produce edible tubers which are rich in Vitamin A. Sweet potatoes grow on all types of well drained soils and likes acidic to neutral pH of 4.5-7.IN Poor soils this can be grown with proper nutrients topped up.

How to grow sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are grown from plant cuttings called ‘slips’ This can be produced either from older plants or by inducing the tubers to sprout by keeping them covered by moist sand or making it stand in water with its 90% above water for a few days.

Once the slips are hardened they can be transferred to a prepared bed or a large pot which is stuffed with well composted farm yard manure and wood ash or leaf mould and vermin compost. While it grows allow it to root in as many nodes as possible as they all will turn into tubers. These rarely flower and may have seeds too but it is of no value in re-growing as the slips are always used in growing this.

If planting on a prepared raised bed plant each slip 12 inches apart and that will soon grow and cover the bed. When the vines mature and older leaves turn yellow, stop watering, preferably 3-4 weeks, before harvesting. This will allow the tubers to form well and grow in size.

Pests: This is a hardy plant which needs no much care but some insect pests like the golden tortoise beetle attack the leaves and eat off the leaves.

Harvesting sweet potatoes
The pots can be emptied and the tubers separated. If in raised beds, the sides can be dug.

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