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| Kenyan farmer |
Spider plants are indigenous vegetables which are propagated
directly by seed in Kenya.
They are known to be nutritious, medicinal and therefore very rich in iron, calcium,
magnesium, proteins and fibre. The spider plants are erect herbs growing to a
height of ½ -1metre depending on management. They are common in western Kenya, Nyanza
and major urban markets in the country. The local names for these vegetables
are chisaka, saka, thageti, esaka, chisaga and isakiat. The popularity of
spider plants vegetables is growing due to increasing knowledge of benefits of
healthy eating. The main feature of spider plants vegetables is the ability to
grow widely with very little management, and it can grow anywhere in East Africa. According to research at regional research
centre kakamega Kenya,
spider plants yields better with organic manure than when inorganic fertilizers
are applied. No chemical sprays are required for pest and disease control
The stems are hairy and often deep pink in colour. The
leaves grow on long stalks and are divided into 5 leaflets. These vegetables
require soils that are rich in organic matter. Manure application is
recommended at a rate of 30 tons per hectare. The seeds are directly drilled at
a rate of 500g per acre, in furrows30- 45 cm apart. Thinning to 15cm follows
after 4 weeks at about 6cm height and thinning are utilized as vegetables.
After flowering, the growing tip should be pinched off to encourage branching
and high leaf yields. However if the crop is intended for seed production, the
tipped off spider plants should be allowed to flower and harvesting of leaves minimized.
The crop is ready for harvesting 45 days after sowing.
Harvesting is done before pods formation by selective picking of leaves with
the leaf stalk attached. Mature pods yellow in colour, should be harvested for
a crop intended for seed production. They should be dried for five days in the
shade and one day in the sun. The pods should then be shelled and the seeds
winnowed. Clean seeds are mixed with one handful of wood ash per 5kg of seed
for preservation and storage. The vegetables can yield 1bag of seeds and 100
bags of leaves per acre of land. These crops have minimal pests and disease
problems other than a small beetle causing holes on the leaves and bacterial
blight. Crop rotation is therefore very important for spider plants growing.Market connection .Read absolutelyorganic
