MICRO-FARMING GUIDE

The Following is an excerpt from The Market Gardener’s Masterclass (JM Fortier). it is not complete and has slightly been edited for an Australian context.

INTENSIVE SPACING (75-78cm bed)

• 6 rows 15cm apart spaced every 15cm on the row
• Sowing/Transplant options; Paperpot Transplanter: LP303-15 or HC-15 chainpot, Transplant flats 72-128 cvell trays/ Soil blockers 30-49ml plug tray or soil block

FERTILISATION

• Rocket will do great in beds that were previously amended with compost and his fertilized with a mix of alfalfa meal (2-0-2) meal and pelleted chicken manure (5-3-2).
• When planning for more than 2 cuts on the same crop, adding a layer of compost (+/-2.5cm & absolutely weed free) to your beds and seeding directly into it will help keep the crop strong and weed free.

IRRIGATION
Irrigation Type

• Drip tapes or Techline: 4 per bed.
• Sprinkler may throw dirt on foliage.

Irrigation Management

• Root depth: Shallow 15-60mm
• General: Frequent shallow watering to maintain flavour, succulence and support rapid growth. Critical to water throughout during hot days.

IMPLANTATION
For a continuous supply of really nice rocket, we seed every week with an estimated 30% more than our weekly sales target. When needed, we will make a second cut on a bed, but the first one is always better. In our program, arugula is seeded alongside turnips, radishes, and other baby Asian greens, all crops that will stay in the field for less than 45 days and that belong to the brassicaceae family. They therefore have the same fertilization and plant protection requirements.

EQUIPMENT

• Paperpot Transplanter system (15cm Chain Pot) or 30-49ml cell/ soil block
• 75cm bed prep rake
• Anti-insect netting (or row cover in the spring)
• 100mm Wire weeder

ITINERARY

• Remove silage tarp and clean large debris. Use the rake if needed*
• Uniformly apply amendments and pass with the rotary harrow or Tilther at a depth of 3cm. Rake the bed carefully, removing all debris; soil clods, rocks, roots, etc. Beds need to be perfectly clean, levelled and firm for optimal usage of the Paperpot Transplanter
• Always check transplanting depth of Chain Pots after first 2 metres of transplant and adjust planting depth if required. Planting depth is adjusted on the front handle/wheel shaft, raising the adjustment screw will deepen furrow and vice versa.
• Cover with anti-insect netting, install irrigation and water the soil until it is deeply moistened

* If the previous crop is too well established, or if the bed is too messy, mow the crop as low as possible and harrow at a depth of 5cm. Add 2.5cm of compost evenly spread on the whole width of the bed and transplant into compost following a no-till strategy

WEEDING

• Because pelleted Multiseed is transplanted weeding can be managed less intensively than with directly sown raw seed. Transplanting into weedmat will almost negate any weed pressure.
• Transplanting without a weedmat is managed using a 100mm or torsion wire weeder as there is no time to be picking through the crop for weeds during harvest

PLANT PROTECTION

• To protect the crop against flea beetles, cover the bed with anti-insect netting (or row cover) immediately after seeding
• This practice is even more effective if the bed is irrigated before installing the net, as the water will chase away the flea beetles. The more tightly the sides are sealed, the better the results will be

HARVEST

• The rocket is harvested when the leaves measure between 8 and 13cm long
• For Multiseed plugs use either a harvest knife or the quick-cut greens harvester with a new or very sharp blade
• When using the tool, make sure that the blade doesn’t touch the ground and ALWAYS pay attention not to have stems longer than 5cm.
• With a well-sharpened blade and a clean bed, one person can harvest at least 50kg/per hour using the quick-cut greens harvester
• After the harvesting is done, pass over the cut area and remove the debris. Performing this operation ensures a second clean cut