About Antonius

I studied agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa in 1984 and completing my M.Sc Agric. in 1998. . My love for "Controlled Environmental Agriculture" (CEA), started in my third year when I was exposed to the Welgevallen Research Station. There Prof. P.C.Maree showed us what hydroponics and vegetable farming consisted of. It was awesome. There were no large tractors involved, no dusty fields, no uncontrollable storms to destroy your crop (well that is what I thought). Since then I put hydroponics and other aspects of horticulture to much better use, not just farming. We solved pollution problems by cleaning mines effluent with hydroponics and permaculture. They were used to remove toxic metals to produce clean water (which we sold and make more money of than the produce). What I learned from 1987 I tried to compile in this website and I hope it is from some value to the serious commercial farmer that wants to take the journey into Commercial Farming.

Soil Calcium cheat sheet for farmers – stuff you should know

By |2019-04-10T03:58:14+00:00April 7, 2019|Soil|

Soil calcium can be a mystery as most growers focus on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. If you scan literature, scientists get very involved in detail and confusing for the average non post graduate farmer. This is a simple yet quick cheat sheet on soil calcium that will quickly give you [...]

Carrot fertilizer application tables according to soil types

By |2024-12-19T15:34:31+00:00February 3, 2019|Carrots|

Carrot fertilizer requirements can be calculated if you know your soil type and have a good idea of the yield potential of your land and climate. These are basic norms and your specific microclimate and variety can have an influence on the total amount applied. These norms do not take [...]

Pea fertilizer application tables according to soil types

By |2024-12-18T12:49:06+00:00January 22, 2019|Peas|

Pea fertilizer (Pisum sativum) requirements can be calculated if you know your soil type and have a good idea of the yield potential of your land and climate. These are basic norms and your specific microclimate and variety can have an influence on the total amount applied. These norms do [...]

Beetroot fertilizer application tables according to soil types

By |2024-12-19T15:30:22+00:00January 21, 2019|Beetroot, Fertilizers|

Beetroot fertilizer requirements can be calculated if you know your soil type and have a good idea of the yield potential of your land and climate. These are basic norms and your specific microclimate and variety can have an influence on the total amount applied. These norms do not take [...]

Beet cyst nematode (Hetrodera schachtii)

By |2019-01-11T11:12:08+00:00January 11, 2019|Insects|

When susceptible crop plantings follow at close intervals i.e. within 12 months or less, beet cyst nematode builds up in the soil to damaging population concentrations. High populations may reduce the yield by 20-40%. The beet cyst nematode was found in vegetable lands around cities such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape [...]

Beetroot varieties

By |2019-01-10T05:26:05+00:00January 10, 2019|Beetroot|

The most well known beetroot varieties or cultivars are discussed here. When starting it is advisable to use at least 2-3 different varieties in a test field to assess which variety suits your growing conditions the best. Always keep on doing trials. Don't plant a variety just in one time of the year. Your climate might be more moderate than you think.

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