Vegetable Production

veg Production Not just set a few seeds The doing of vegetables is very cardinal in todays society as we try to promote healthy living. Vegetables provide a major region to achieving a balanced and nutritious diet as they argon a prime, convenient and natural source of minerals, vitamins, fibre and energy and are know not only to introduce essential nutrients to the diet but alike to help to prevent sicknesss. Making vegetables functional, through yield, distribution and grocerying, contributes strongly to their role and therefore as hale contributes to a healthier society.There are different go upes into how vegetables basis be bring ond and grown and it depends tout ensemble on the farmer, their turn up to farming, and of course the resources available very much(prenominal) as machinery, technology, amenities and the acreage of land available for such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) a project. There are two global approaches to vegetable end product that y ou must consider if you were to toy with the idea of growing some vegetables whether it be for your own consumption or whitethornbe to supply the nation. These two general approaches are oftentimes described as conventional farming or organic farming.Gener eachy the conventional method involves the handling of synthetic pesticides which may or may not be based on naturally occurring compounds to defend naturalizes from diseases, pests and weeds. Crops which are genetically modified to resist or tolerate diseases, pests etcetera mint to a fault be used in this method of farming as a strategy for protecting craws. Crop nutrient heed in conventional systems typically involves the manufacture of synthetic fertilizers which jackpot be custom-built to meet the affects of specific combinations of vegetables and also include other factors such as soil, mode, water source availability etc.Organic vegetable farming on the other hand relies strongly on cultural & mechanical pract ises and biologic principles for weed, pest, disease and nutrient draw awayment. Its aim is to vex quality intellectual nourishment in a manner beneficial to the environment and to wildlife. In put together for a farmer to produce organic vegetables unforgiving regulations and standards must be adhered to before the organic stamp target be used. This includes a labour on the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides for crop management. Crop nutrients, pests and disease shadower be managed by using a variety of systems such as crop rotation, biological pest control, echanical cultivation or the application of organic amendments to the soil such as manure or compost. innate pesticides and fertilizers may be used but these are subject to strict standards. Straw or plastic mulch basin also be used to help suppress weeds, control pest access to crop, check over soil temperature and prevent water loss from soil. Organic farmers must be to a greater extent careful in their pl ant selection and rely much more heavily on research and information to schedule planting and harvesting practises.This is both in order to sustain the organic approach and also to produce healthier hardier plants through plant breeding as opposed to the genetic engineering methods employed in the conventional method. speckle both approaches to vegetable production must adhere to national and European regulations in Ireland it is obvious that the organic farmer faces a mellower argufy to produce a consistent quantity and quality of vegetables. It seems that if you were to take a stroll down the organic route to production you may need to prepare yourself for some extra failThe approach of conventional or organic farming is essential to determining the other factors which must be considered for vegetable production. After deciding which eccentric of approach you intend to keep an eye on to produce vegetables it is then necessary that you consider many other factors. The take of the natural environment on the production of vegetables back end be submissive in determining the final yield of the farm from year to year. Vegetables can be produced in have fields, semi-enclosed or climate controlled structures or full enclosed and climate controlled structures.Farms which grow crops in open fields such as potaotoes are limited in their control of such factors and their crops are richly exposed to weather, soil, pests and disease conditions. Fertilization, pest and disease strategies must be employed in order to manage crops and depending on the climate irrigation systems etc may also need to be put in place (not ordinarily a problem in Ireland). Other farmers grow their crops such as tomatoes in semi-enclosed and climate controlled structures such as higher(prenominal) tunnels.These high tunnels can extend the vegetable growing season for instance vegetables can be grown when conditions outside the tunnel may not allow this because the high tunnel can l imit the exposure of the vegetables to undesirable natural conditions and can sometimes even create conditions more supportive for vegetable growth. For display case placing growing crops within a high tunnel covered by a single layer of plastic shields them from the wind, rain and some pests and can support temperatures higher than that outside the tunnel.Greenhouses are an example of a fully enclosed and climate controlled environment and apart from the enclosed housing and climate control differ from open fields and semi-controlled structures as the vegetables are generally not rooted in naturally occurring soil and are often grown in pots or other containers which provide firm bodily boundaries. Of course deciding how you wish well to grow your vegetables may be entirely decided by the type of vegetables you wish to grow and depending on the nub and type of land available it may be possible to use only one or maybe all three methods.All of these methods can be used in order to produce certain vegetables all year round where spring and summer conditions may suit the open fields and high tunnel but greenhouses would be require to produce vegetables in the winter. It evident so that first you must choose your approach to vegetable production, then decide which vegetable or vegetables you wish to produce and then of course decide how you wish to grow your crops whether it be in an open field or in large greenhouses etc.Careful planning and capital punishment in key areas such as turn up selection, turn up cookery, planting, management during crop growth and development, harvesting and then distribution to whatever market your produce is destined for is paramount in having a successful and high quality producing vegetable farm. If you are blessed to have a option of site then the type of soil, the size of the site, the total cost of the site (including tax, land, utilities), access to water, proximity to suppliers, industry etc must all be considere d.The site then needs to be prepared for the type of vegetable production you wish to approach. For example in the case of open field ploughing, dicing or other tillage is needed before planting. If using enclosed or climate structures these need to be assembled efficiently and appropriately according to the type of vegetable or vegetables being produced. Steps are then needed to prepare soil either with fertilizers or green manure and also to minimise weeds, pests and diseases either with pesticides or with the use of cultivation or mulches etc. Planting then needs to take place and depending n the size of the farm this can take place by hand or with machinery generally with each plant spaced a certain irrelevant apart within rows and across rows depending on the type of crop. During the development of the crop a system needs to be put into place to manage the irrigation, fertilisation, weed, pest & disease control and growth of the crop to ensure the crop develops successfully wi th as little loss or waste as possible. A schedule for harvesting has to be organised and should be followed as closely as possible weather permitting, which unfortunately is not endlessly an allowance in Ireland.Crops can be harvested by machine or by hand and keeping them free of abiotic and biotic contaminants during harvesting is important to ensure quality losses are minimised. Once harvested, it is then necessary to place crops into containers and have them distributed to whichever market they are destined. During all of this hard work it is also necessary to keep records of crop, facility and equipment repair and also to proceed your own education as research and new ideas in this industry are always being developed. Evidently if you decide to start out a vegetable farmer you dont just throw a few seeds around in the back field and off you go.Education, preparation and alot of hard work are necessary in order to become successful in this type of farming. You must also cons ider the marketability of the vegetables you wish to grow and whether they are suited and will develop and grow well in the natural environment supplied to you. Also strict standards are in place for the appearance, shape, dimensions, weight, chemical properties etc of vegetables which can create extra burden and problems for farmers so preparing well and following schedules and procedures will lead to you being a happier more financially secure vegetable producer.Growing vegetables could be a rewarding thought-provoking adventure if you prepare and educate yourself well considering all your options and what is available to you. thence with a bit of elbow grease and hard work you may find that you are producing vegetables which not only benefits society but also may benefit you and increase your bank balance