fruit and veg 2 Flashcards
benefits of providing shelter for trees in apple orchard (6)
Reduced wind speed resulting in less physical damage to trees i.e. broken branches, fallen fruit and wind scorch
Improved pollination as bees do not fly in windy conditions
Reduced wind speed reduces excess transpiration and water loss
Provides warmer temperatures for ripening fruit
Reduced wind speed may reduce damage from wind frost
Encourages beneficial wildlife
plants suitable for use as a living windbreak in a fruit garden
Fagus sylvatica Crataegus monogyna Carpinus betulus x Cuprocyparis leylandii Taxus baccata
Describe how soil texture and structure influence the timing of soil cultivation
Soil texture:
Sandy soils can be cultivated throughout the year but spring is preferable to avoid the leaching of nutrients.
Clay soils are best cultivated in late summer/early autumn to enable the frosts to break down clods. Clay soils should not be cultivated when wet, waterlogged or frozen to avoid damage to the soil structure.
Soil Structure:
Sandy soils are very free draining and therefore compaction is less of a problem in winter. Tilth production may result in soil surface capping after heavy rain or the use of irrigation.
The structure of a clay soil is easily damaged by poorly timed cultivations and so should be cultivated in late summer/early autumn. When clay soils are wet or waterlogged the clay particles smear easily and compaction occurs.
describe single digging (3)
- a primary cultivation technique which involves digging to one spade (spit) deep.
- The soil is inverted to bury the weeds and allow organic matter to be incorporated.
- It is carried out in the autumn on heavy clay soils to allow the frost to break down the aggregates (clods).
describe tilth production (5)
- a secondary cultivation technique to create a fine crumb structure for seed sowing or planting.
- It involves the soil being roughly levelled by raking in two directions to break down the large aggregates.
- The soil is then consolidated (firmed) using feet or a roller to remove large air pockets prior to
- finally raking in two directions to create a fine level surface.
- The soil should not be worked when it is wet.
effect of plant spacing on root vegetable crops. give examples (5)
- eg carrot, beetroot, parsnip, radish
- Normally, optimum plant spacing is critical to achieve uniform growth and maximum yield
- Close spacing results in competition for light, water and nutrients
- Plants are more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases when planted too close
- Excessive plant spacing wastes potential cropping area
- for baby vegetables eg carrots or beetroot, sow thinly and space at minimal intervals. Alternatively, the thinning can be used as baby veg.
describe intercropping
the growing of a quick maturing crop between rows of a slower maturing crop e.g. radish growing between parsnip to make the most of the cropping area. The fast maturing crop is harvested before the slower crop matures.
describe successional cropping
eg Radish ‘French Breakfast’
- the sowing of crops e.g. lettuce, radish, spinach at intervals of two to three weeks in the same area to ensure a regular supply of the crop.
- This also extends the cropping season and prevents gluts.
- protection can be used (fleece, polythene) and soil
warming to further extend season. - planting dates; choice of cultivars
Describe the soil prep for production of a crop of leeks (3)
- The soil is single or double dug in the autumn/winter prior to sowing/planting to relieve any soil compaction.
- Bulky organic matter is incorporated and fertiliser with a high nitrogen content can be applied one month prior to transplanting the leeks at a rate of 70-100g/m2.
- Secondary cultivation is carried out prior to transplanting and includes; levelling the soil, consolidation and the creation of the final tilth by raking.
Describe the method of sowing for for production of a crop of leeks (3)
- Seeds can be sown under cover from mid to late winter in a greenhouse.
- The seeds can be sown 1-2cm deep in seed trays or 3-4 seeds per module using a seed sowing or multi-purpose compost. The seeds are covered with compost and watered.
- Outdoors, seeds can be sown from early to mid-spring in a prepared seed bed.
- The seeds are sown thinly in drills 1-2cm deep and 15cm apart.
- The seeds are covered with soil and watered.
describe how you transplant leeks (8)
- Leeks can be transplanted individually when they are pencil thick and 20cm in height.
- The tops of the plants and the roots can be trimmed before planting.
- Holes are made using a dibber 15-23cm apart and 15-20cm deep with rows 30-40cm apart.
- A single leek is dropped into each hole which is then filled with water. The soil is allowed to back fill naturally around the transplant to create a blanched stem.
- The bed is irrigated/watered prior to transplanting.
Modules are watered well before planting. - The modules containing 3-4 leeks are planted deeply by digging a hole with a trowel.
- They are planted 30cm apart in the row and 30cm between the rows.
- The leeks are watered well after planting.
when is the optimum time to prune a plum tree
plums are pruned during late spring/summer to avoid infection from the fungal disease silver leaf
describe how to fan train a plum
- A maiden whip or feathered maiden is planted 15-23cm away from a wall or fence which is fitted with horizontal wires 15cm apart.
- The aim is to create a fan shape which is achieved by removing the central leader to concentrate vigour on both sides of the tree.
- The laterals are cut back to strong buds to encourage side shoots (‘ribs’) which are tied in at an angle of 45° and gradually lowered to the horizontal
what is top fruit
fruit that grows on a tree
what is soft fruit
fruit that grows on bushes/shrubs/canes/vines and herbaceous plants
factors to be considered when selecting cultivars of soft fruit (8)
Selection of early, mid or late season cultivars Flavour Storage capability Pest and disease resistance Culinary or dessert cultivars Certified stock Yield Vigour/ultimate size of plant
how does susceptibility to frost affect the suitability of a site selection for outdoor food production (4)
- Susceptibility of a site to frost can cause frost damage to fruit buds and flowers, which can mean reduced yields
- seedlings can be killed
- sowing times are delayed as the soil is slow to warm up in the spring
- frost pockets at the base of a slope must be avoided.
how does soil pH affect the suitability of a site selection for outdoor food production (5)
- Most crops will grow on a soil with a pH of 6.5 – 7.0 although some require a more specific pH.
- Blueberries prefer an acidic soil whereas brassicas require an alkaline soil to avoid club root.
- Although potatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil they will grow well in a neutral to slightly alkaline soil.
- Potatoes can be affected by potato scab in very alkaline soils.
- Problems with nutrient uptake can occur in soils with a low or high pH e.g. lime induced chlorosis in ericaceous plants that are grown in an alkaline soil.
how does a slope affect the suitability of a site selection for outdoor food production (6)
- If a site selected for outdoor food production is on a slope there could be problems with soil erosion
- it may be difficult to work
- dry at the top and wet at the bottom with run off which could lead to a build-up of nutrients at the base of the slope.
- The top of the site would be exposed to wind
- the aspect would affect how quickly the site warms up in the spring.
- A south facing slope will warm up quickly whereas a north facing slope will be colder.
materials used to construct the framework of a raised bed
Timber planks scaffold boards bricks blocks new railway sleepers thrown soil
state a spec of a raised bed and path
Width – 1.2 – 1.6m
Length – 2.5 – 3m
Path – 0.5m wide (Can be up to 1m wide for wheelchair access)
(Beds not more than 1.5m width, 3m length,
paths (approx.) 0.5m wide.)
Describe the ‘no-dig’ system for managing raised beds (8)
The soil is not turned over apart from the initial cultivation.
Soil improvers/bulky organic matter are spread thickly on the surface of the
soil.
Soil organisms incorporate the organic matter etc. into the soil.
Maintains soil structure.
Avoids compaction of the soil.
Soil erosion is reduced.
Encourages biotic/organism diversity.
Weed seed is not brought to the surface.
name a carrot pest and its control measure/s
carrot root fly 60cm high barrier sow thinly to avoid thinning thin crop in evening use of resistant cultivars
name a lettuce pest and control measure/s
slug Hand removal slug pellets e.g. ferric phosphate beer traps water soil with nematode i.e. Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita
name a runner bean pest and control measures
black bean aphid
Spray with Fatty Acids, Deltamethrin, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Cypermethrin
(or squish or jet of water or pinch out tops)
name a radish pest and control measure
flea beetle
Spray with Deltamethrin, Lambda- cyhalothrin, Cypermethrin
cover seedlings/plants with Enviromesh
name a brussels sprouts pest and control measure
large cabbage white caterpillar
Encourage starlings to eat the larvae
cover crop with Enviromesh before the butterfly lays the eggs,
Use of a biological control e.g. Apantales glomeratus.