RHS Level 2 R2113 Cultural Operations Used In Outdoor Food Production Flashcards
Understanding the production of outdoor vegetables and fruit.
Describe the range of soil cultivation techniques suitable for veg garden.
Primary cultivation including ploughing, rotovating of the top 20-30cm of soil to bury weeds and crop debris, lift compacted soil, introduce air and incorporate organic matter. Single/double digging.
Secondary cultivation.
Forking, raking, harrowing, rotovating, frost, to reduce the clods produced by primary cultivation and produce a tilth for sowing and planting.
Consolidation - rolling, firming, is often needed at some point to reduce the air pockets created by primary cultivation.
Describe how the timing of soil cultivations can be influenced by soil texture, structure, weather and climate.
Soil texture - high clay content souls hold water for longer therefore delaying cultivation.
Soil structure - poor structure e.g. compaction can impede water removal from soil.
Weather - rainfall will delay working the soil. A cultivation window appears as soil dries out.
Climate - dictates annual rainfall, average temperatures and rates of evaporation. Local conditions vary.
Describe what is meant by the bed system for growing veg.
The growing area is kept distinct from the paths permanently. The beds are never walked on and all procedures are carried out from the paths. In comparison open ground production cultivates the whole area with no permanent paths..
Typical bed is 1.25m wide with paths minimum of 30cm, length can vary.
Depth can be increased by adding on organic matter or topsoil from paths.
Advantages include:
Easier planning
Good drainage, warmer soils earlier on.
Access is still possible even in wet weather
Easier to fit cloches
Beds not walked on therefore less compaction and better structure.
Describe what is meant by a raised bed.
Beds are raised as soil is thrown up from paths and the paths are walked on and organic matter is added to the beds. Usually they are edged e.g. With boards.
Depth is usually 20-30cm.
1.5m wide, 3m length and paths approx 50cm wide.
Explain the no-dig method.
Remove all weeds from site - by hand, light hoeing, covering with black plastic or cardboard and a thick surface mulch for 6 months or so.
Must use a bed system, no walking on cultivated areas.
Once initial weeds are removed add a layer of decomposed organic matter such as compost, this needs to be at least 15-20cm thick.
You can then directly sow/plant into this.
Do digging is needed.
The no dig method provides a rich soil to grow in, by not digging you are not disrupting soil life and soil structure will be improved.
State the methods used to advance and extended productive growing season of outdoor crops.
Black/clear plastic can help warm the soil to allow for earlier planting.
Mulches can be used to protect soil structure from heavy rain, retain moisture and suppress weeds. - OM, plastic, landscaping fabric.
Floating mulches - sheets of material laid over crop and held down by pegs, bricks. These can help protect against frost, pests Perforated plastic film. Fleece Enviromesh/mesh Netting
Cloches - material on a framework over crops.
Low poly tunnels
Glass structures arranged on edge
Garden frame/cold frame
State the benefits of protected cropping.
Sowing/planting can be done earlier or later in the season. E.g. carrots.
Extended growing season e.g tomatoes, lettuce.
Unusual or intolerant summer crops can be grown e.g. aubergines.
Frost protection - early potatoes, tomatoes.
Quick germination - warmed soil will mean earlier sowing.
Earlier harvesting.
Wind protection.
Improved quality
Soil protection
Pest and disease control.
What are the choices when sowing vegetable seeds and why choose each one?
Sow seed directly in the ground:
When many plants are needed, seed is cheap, seed is easy to grow, where propagation space and materials are limited, close spacing of plants is needed, some plants don’t tolerate transplanting.
Sow into pots, trays, modules:
When seed is expensive, high temperatures are required, tricky varieties are grown, protection early on is required, plants are to be spaced widely.
Sow into a nursery seedbed and plant out:
When plants benefit some protection e.g. brassica, plants have a final wide spacing but lots are needed e.g. leeks, the bed can act as a holding ground until space is available, less attention bis required than growing indoors.
Describe the method of direct sowing.
Sowing seed in drills in clusters sown at each station, later thinning to one. For wider spacing E.g. parsnips or for slow germinators.
Seed scattered along drill, thinning carried out gradually. For closer spacing. Thinnings can sometimes be used as baby salad or as transplants.
Broadcast seed:
Seed is scattered over the prepared bed and gently raked in to ensure contact with soil and moisture.
Used mainly for green manures.
Describe the method of sowing in containers inside.
Trays:
Seed tray is filled with compost, top scraped off, firmed down, sown into, covered with compost, lightly firmed.
Seeds can be placed on individually or scattered from a pinch of seed.
Cells or modules:
Cells are filled with compost, firmed down, individual holes made, 1or 2 seeds dropped in each hole, more compost on top. Thin to one per cell.
Describe the method of sowing and transplanting from seedbeds.
Prepare seed bed, separate outdoor area to main growing area, sow seeds, thin out in situe, once plants are ready, or of a good size for handling, you can transplant them to their final growing position.
