Organically grown African spinach & black night shade indigenous vegetables in Kenya

African spinach also called amaranthus species are organically grown indigenous vegetables in Kenya. They are broadly categorized into grain, vegetables, and ornamental and weed types. The grain and vegetables types are utilized as flour and leaves respectively. Nutritionally they provide calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and protein.Amaranthus indigenous vegetables are adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions. This crop is easy to grow organically in fertile soils with enough moisture and the crop has high yields. These indigenous crops are nutritionally superior to exotic ones such as tomatoes, cucumber and cabbage. Farmers normally harvest and use their own seed but there is a problem of mix up of different types of amaranthus.
Amaranthus indigenous vegetables are organically  grown by direct planting in furrows 30cm apart and later thinned to 15cm within the row. The thinning should be utilized. This close spacing is possible because the amaranthus root system does not spread. The seed rate is 5kg per hectare and application of 30-40 tons of manure is recommended. The manure should be mixed well into the soil before sowing. The organically produced crop is harvested by selective picking of leaves which may be blended with other indigenous vegetables or utilized alone. For amaranths seed production mature  seeds should be harvested, dried in the shade for five days and in the sun for one day. Clean seeds are preserved by mixing with 5 handfuls of wood ash for every 20kg of seed.organically produced amaranthus yields 1 bag of seed and 120 bags of leaves per acre of growing land.

Black night shade indigenous vegetables are erect herbaceous plants that grows up to one metre, characterized by green ridged stems, smooth edged leaves and with long stalks. These indigenous crops grow organically and widely in east Africa. They are rich in protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. The seed rate is 500 grams per acre. Planting spacing is 30cm×drill and thinning is carried out after 4 weeks. The organically produced crop requires fertile soil with enough moisture for good growth. Manure should be applied as for amaranthus above. For seed production mature fruits yellow in colour are harvested, soaked in water for a day and seeds are extracted by squeezing the fruits in water. Good seeds will sink while poor quality seed will float. Floating seed should be removed, and then the good seed which can organically grow vigorously should be dried for 3 days in the shade and one day in the sun. Clean seeds are preserved by mixing with 5 handfuls of wood ash for every 20kg of seed. These indigenous vegetables produce one bag of seed per acre in addition to160 bags of leaves per acre.Market at http://www.organicfarmermagazine.org/farmers-sell-products-via-sms/

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Organically grown spider plants vegetables in Kenya

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

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