Water spinach or kangkong is a fast-growing crop that is abundant with vitamins and minerals. This can grow well in soil with pH values from 5.3 to 8.5. This veggie has two varieties: the upland ( Ipomoea reptans ) and aquatic ( Ipomoea aquatica ) types. The former is adaptable to any growing...
Sitaw (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis) is a high-value crop that can be produced within 50 to 65 days. This widely grown veggie is a popular ingredient in local dishes like adobong sitaw, pinakbet, and kare-kare. It is full of vitamins K and C, folic acid, protein, niacin, and more. It...
Long chili ( Capsicum annuum ), also referred to as siling haba or siling panigang, is extensively grown in the Philippines. It is rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid, and fiber. This crop is suitable to grow in sandy loam or clay loam soil with pH levels 5.5 to 6.8. Photo from...
Another vegetable that is widely consumed by Filipinos is kalabasa or squash ( Cucurbita maxima ). It contains vitamins and minerals that the body needs such as vitamins A, C, B1, B6, and B3, as well as potassium. It also has beta carotene that serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. ...
Ampalaya, or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), is a crop that is suitable for year-round cultivation in the Philippines, though thrives best if grown from October to February. It must be planted in soil with pH levels 6 to 6.7. Image by Vishnu Vasu from Pixabay. Ampalaya is the main...
Oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) is a common variety of edible mushroom grown in the Philippines. It comes in pink, yellow, white, grey, and black, with white and grey being the more prevalent types. Not only does this provide healthy options for everyone, but edible mushrooms can also...
Tomato or kamatis ( Solanum lycopersicum ) is a common plant grown by many home gardeners because it is easy to care for and fast-growing. A tomato plant can grow up to three meters tall and matures within two to three months after transplanting. Tomato is a good source of lycopene, an...
Effective Microorganism Activated Solution (EMAS) is a fertilizer that induces the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Natural fertilizers like EMAS make the soil, plants, environment, and farmers healthy and safe from any harmful chemicals. Photo screen captured from the...
Due to the pandemic, the public has become more health-conscious, making the naturally-grown products highly in demand over the past year. For this reason, more growers nowadays have also been looking for natural inputs that are safe for the people and the environment. One of their...
Behind healthy, successful plants is an excellent growing medium. Carbonized Rice Hull (CRH) is one of the many components that make for a good potting mix. CRH is the output of partially burnt rice hulls, or ipa in Tagalog. It is used as a fertilizer and soil conditioner for plant...
For this year’s AgriTalk, another batch of online series titled “AgriTalk: 2 Easy Learning” offers two-minute-long instructional videos on different topics about urban agriculture. The series will air from May 14 to June 30, 2021, at 10 a.m. The fifth and sixth episodes of this are all about...
Women play a pivotal role in agriculture. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that 43 percent of the global workforce in agriculture are women. In the Philippines, it is evident that there is increasing participation of women not only in agriculture, but also in other...
