JACKFRUIT PRODUCTION GUIDE

Jackfruit is one of the sweetest fruit in town. This is the favorite fruit in rural areas. Once ripen, it has a sweet-smelling odor that even how you hide it somewhere or pack it closely in a container, the odor will always resist and comes out telling people of their presence.

It is not raised in large scale before because of hard marketability of the fruits in the market. The demand is not as high as expected. But now, many manufacturers of fruit products noticed jackfruit to have great potential to win the taste of the consumer by converting the fruits into sweetened fruits in cans with heavy syrup. It was also made into dried products in tetra packs. Increase in sales began to pick-up as the products are now has the spot in many supermarkets as demand slowly increases.

There are many varieties of jackfruit. It differed in the thickness of its flesh. There are other colors like light green or heavy yellow. It also includes the size and form of the fruit, the degree of sweetness and period of growth until maturity.

Select variety that has thick flesh of its fruit, very sweet, produce high yield per season, no latex inside the ripen fruits.

To shorten the duration of growth until bearing age, use grafted plants. It can be bought in fruit nursery of your locality or ask the help of someone who knows how to graft the branches. Seeds planted directly to the soil needs longer growing years compared to grafted one.

The fruit tree can grow to any type of soil especially in well-drained, deep and alluvial soils.

Plant the grafted seedlings in spacing of 10 meters x 10 meters.

Water the grafted seedlings or direct seeding regularly as it need lots of moisture in the first year of its growth. This is to avoid water stress that may cause stunted growth. Water it if the surface around the plants becomes dry. Watering does not end during the growing years. It is also needed during maturity age to induce heavy flowering and fruit set. If adequate moisture to the soil is given, it grow healthy, robust and develop fast into matured trees and gives better fruit quality and sweetness.

To assist to correct the infertility of the soil, apply inorganic fertilizer per tree during bearing age annually. The rate of application is 10 kilos under the following schedules:

                  4 kilos (9-24-24) – before flowering stage

                  4 kilos (15-15-15) after fruit setting

                  2 kilos (8-24-24) – a month before the fruit mature

Additionally, add organic fertilizer or animal manure with the rate of 50 kilos per tree throughout the year. Use foliar fertilizer (10-52-15) 3 times a year when the plants bear fruits. It can be done by spraying the liquid fertilizer for effectiveness.

During its growing years, make it a point to check the plants of damaging pests like fruit fly and fruit borer that may affect the quality of the fruits. Spray it with chemicals manufactured for fruit-bearing trees available in agricultural supply to assist prevention of pests. The most effective way to protect the fruits is by means of bagging method using rice sacks to allow aeration inside as the fruits are on the ripening stage. Bag the fruits to ideal size of 300 grams.

If the disease affects the whole structure of the plant, spray it with recommended fungicides to put a stop of the infection especially fungus in the ground.  Other preventive measures can be done by regular schedule of weeding to remove unproductive branches, wider spacing of planted trees giving enough moisture to the soil and keeping the plant healthy and well-attended giving the necessary soil nutrients for the plant to become vigorous and robust.

In order for the plants to produce high yield, do the following:

-Produce multiple trunks 7 or more branches, cut the main trunk 50 centimeters above the ground. Such action will induce formation of multiple branches giving the plants some space for better light penetration and movement of air.

-As the plant matures, do pruning by removing the sprouts to those unhealthy branches, diseased and unproductive.

-Top cut the tree higher than one meter above the ground. This is to allow the plant to bear more healthy branches that may bear many fruits in a branch.

Harvest some of young fruits in case of overcrowding to allow others to develop properly. Sell the excess young fruits to the market. Housewives used it as vegetable salad.

SQUASH PRODUCTION GUIDE

Bush sitao can be raised in both lowland and upland areas. It can adapt to any soil type but best to plant in sandy to clay loam soil. It can tolerate acidic soil but it will not produce high yield. It can grow in low and high rainfall but only briefly as it will rot due to water-logging. It can survive only if the dry season is brief and not too long. For long dry spell, scheduled watering is needed to preserve or conserve moisture in the soil while the plants are growing.

In selecting a variety, give emphasis the duration of growth, the yielding capacity, tolerant against pests and diseases and easily adapt in extreme weather condition.

Plow and harrow the land 3 times. Loosen the soil well to be able to have good soil condition. Every time there is emerging weeds, remove them through plowing or harrowing.

Inoculate the seeds with Rhizobium before planting. Plant 1 seed per hill. Spacing is 30 centimeters apart or 75 centimeters between rows.

As fertilization is necessary to keep plants healthy and give higher yield, do the following:

In one hectare land:  30 kilograms urea during planting, 100 kilograms single superphosphate at planting time, 60 kilograms muriate of potash at planting time, 5 bags complete fertilizer (14-14-14), Superphosphate (side-dressing 3-4 weeks after germination).  Organic fertilizer (decomposed dry leaves, straws and animal manure 56 tons per hectare, if available). In acidic soils (4 tons of lime one month before planting to good soil pH)

Water the plant during intense dry season for the plants to give higher yield. Bush sitao can tolerate drought but watering may protect it from dryness in the soil or lacking moisture content that may affect the fruiting of the vegetable. Watering may be done during planting, early seeding or first 15 days, at flowering and pod setting (50 days after planting).

Use furrow irrigation in 10 days interval. Watering induce the plant to grow fast, healthy and high pod setting.

Control pests and diseases are normal farming practices. Without it, the plant has stunted growth, damage leaves and fruits, lower yields.

Most pests that attack bush sitao especially after germination of seeds are pod borers, leaffolders and aphids. Spray the plants with insecticides as soon as the pests started attacking the plants. Spraying with pesticides is the only way to get rid the enemy of the plants.

Bush sitao still has another threat in its growing days. The plants are subject to many diseases like fusarium wilt, cowpea rust and leaf spot. Spray the plants with fungicides to remove the infection. Another way to minimize the effect of the virus is to look for resistant variety.

Include weeding as part of your cultural practices. Remove the weeds every now and then if found to germinate to clean the field from the hazard that later on will affect the health of the plants. Schedule the weeding of the plants 3 times for one season. Additionally, enforce spot weeding every time weeds appear.  Hill-up the plants to loosen the soil 3 weeks after planting.

Harvest the plant 12 days after the flowers open. It may be done if the pods reach the required maximum length and width but not to allow young pods to mature as it can no longer sealable to market. The second and succeeding harvest should be done every 3 days to ensure that pods still young and fresh.

DUCK RAISING GUIDE

To start a project, you need 60 square meters pond. Find a place where water is already available and plenty. The dikes must be thicker at the base than the top to avoid erosion.

In digging the pond, the side where to drain the water should be deeper than the other side. The purpose is for easy draining. Maintain water depth of 150 centimeters or less.

Before flowing the pond with water, fertilization with chicken manure is advisable. You can use complete fertilizer in order to promote the growth of algae. Use a khaki campbell as it lays as many as 300 or more per year. The eggs were family large, thick-shelled weighing 75 grams each.

Build a duck house in one side above the water of the pond. Place 15 ducks in a pond. Provides 2 males and 13 females. Build a house of 4 square meters floor area made of bamboo slats. Build swimming pen beside the duck house 4 square meters with 6x6 feet. Use the all-purpose feed formula using soybean meals, leaf meals, copra meals, corm grits, bone meal, shell powder and salt.

You can have an alternate feeds for them, a chopped vegetables, grated coconut or crushed snails, their favorite food. Give water and feeds every morning and afternoon. When they reach 6 months, they starts laying eggs. The layers will continue producing eggs more than 3 years as long as they are manage well.

Early in the morning, the eggs will scatter in the duck house. Gather it without them nearby and clean their feeding trough. Scrap the remaining feeds and wash in the pond. As substitute, raise snails in the pond for your duck have a nutrition protein meal.

CITRUS PRODUCTION GUIDE

It can grow well in an elevated area with cool environment. Best in sandy soil and full of organic matters. It is not advisable to plant to a water-logged areas because of its sensitivity to too much moisture.

Using marcot system as planting materials can give a better result for fast growth and development compared to seeds. But the problem is shortage in quantity requirements unlike seeds it can easily produced.

When preparing your planting materials, do this during rainy season for higher germination rate. Dig a hole 45 cm wide and 45cm deep. Use compost along with the seedlings during planting. Water the plant early in the morning until the plants can grow by itself with minimal use of water. Use 6 meters distance between plants to avoid congestion.

Fertilization should be done regularly. Use ammonium sulfate about 100 grams to be done every 5 months per tree. On the second year, apply 300 grams per tree every 5 months. During the fruit bearing years (4th year),use amophos or potash about 500 grams per tree. The purpose is to increase the yield.

The correct application of fertilizer is by mixing it with the soil. It is a necessary to cover the soil around the tree by using dry leaves for the purpose of conserving moisture.

Control of pests and diseases is a necessity. Apply the necessary pesticides or fungicides under manufacturer's recommendation for greater result. Such application will ensure that the plant will grow healthy and have a maximum yield.

Experience sbowed that the trees will bear fruit by the 3rd year. With the use of good management during its fruiting years, the trees will have a good harvest.

To protect the fruits from damage, use scissors for convenience. If the fruit trees are high enough to harvest especially during its later years of bearing fruits, use a ladder for easy mobility.

BUNCHING ONION PRODUCTION GUIDE

As planting medium, use seeds or basal tillers. Use animal manure and rice hull for a 1 meter seedbed. Use rice hull on straw to be placed on top of the seedbed to control harmful organism.

Sow 4 kilos seeds. Line it in rows. Set it across the bed about 5 cm apart. Seed be placed thin and even for the purpose of controlling damping off. Cover it with compost (lightly). Mulch with rice straw. Maintain to have an adequate soil moisture for fast growth and development. Don't use water in excess of what is only required. Over-irrigation can damaged your planting seed. Protect seedbed from direct sunlight and heavy rain. The use of nylon net will do.

Prepare the land thoroughly. Plow it 2 times as well as harrow. A month before land preparation, placed 30 cm layer of rice hull over the area being used. Burn it about 2 weeks. Burnt rice hull will be incorporated during land preparation. The purpose is to improve soil texture. The burnt rice hull can reduce the presence of weeds and diseases.

Apply animal manure before the bed preparation. Make a 1 meter bed. Fertilize and mulch it with rice straw before doing the transplanting. Water the seedbed according to its requirements. Gently uproot seedlings to prevent damage to the root. Apply 7 bags of complete fertilizer as basal. Trim the top portion of the leaves. The purpose is to reduce transpiration. It can increase plant survival during the period of its growth. Transplant in seedbeds with a spacing of 15 cm. Use markers to have a proper distance. Plant deep enough to ensure survival. Protect the basal portion of the plant to avoid damage. Press the soil lightly. The root should be fully protected by the soil. Irrigate the area used according to its requirement before and after transplanting.

Apply 3 bags of urea (46-0-0) 3 weeks after transplanting. Repeat it 2 weeks if the fertility of the soil is still very low. During dry season, you have to irrigate daily. Adequate moisture can ensure to have a fast and desirable growth.

To prevent the presence of pests and diseases that can affect the growth of the plants, then do a proper irrigation method by regulating humidity into the planted area. Remove any debris left from previous cropping. Remove all infected leaves to avoid contamination to the whole field. It is better to do a crop rotation for greater effectiveness. Harvest the plants 3 months after planting.

LONGKONG PRODUCTION GUIDE

This kind of fruit can be grown in flat ground or rolling portion of the land. It is better if the soil is loamy or sandy. It should have a depth of 20 cm. It must be planted in an ideal distance of 6 x 6 meters. In a one hectare land it can be planted to about 280 trees.

When planting, the holes should have a depth enough to support the potted plant. During the planting, the upper level of the ball of soil containing the plant should be about 1-1/2 inch above the level of the soil surface. The soil at the base of the plant should be in the form of mound to prevent the accumulation of water at the base of the tree. Every tree should have an irrigation water supply. It is necessary during the dry season.

Use complete fertilizer 15-15-15 during his early stages of 4 years. Apply at the rate of 500 grams per tree during the first year; 1 kilo during the second year; 1.5 kilos in the 3rd year and 2 kilos in the fourth year. Divide the fertilizer into four split application and bury around the plants every three months. Supplement it with chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer for greater result. you can split it 3 to 5 application.

In the fifth year when the trees are expected to bear fruit, you must apply fertilizer at the rate of in kilogram equivalent to the age of the tree. Twice a year, apply each tree with animal manure or chicken dung about 20 to 40 kilos.

Start pruning when the plants reach the height of 120-140 cm. Cut the terminal shoot to a height of 80-100 cm. The purpose is to induce the formation of four or more secondary stems within one meter from the ground. Bend the newly formed stems outward to ensure uniform spreading of the stem.

Maintain the height of the plants to 12 to 15 feet by top pruning. When the plants mature, prune it every after harvest to remove all the diseased portion and weak branches and shoots that grows almost parallel to the secondary stem. You have to top-pruned and maintain the height to 15 feet.

In flowering, thinning it should be done to maintain the quality of the fruits, particularly in its uniform size to prevent the development of diseases caused by overcrowded fruits. When the tree undergoes 20 or more days of water stress, if irrigated a lot of flowers will emerge at the main stem and at 2nd and 3rd branches. Flowers should be controlled. Not all should be allowed to develop into fruits.

The fruits are harvested when the fruits in the cluster almost mature from dull green to dull brown. Harvesting is done by carefully cutting the basal end of the stem of the cluster without damaging the stem or the branch.

GUAPPLE PRODUCTION GUIDE

Guava has a shorter gestation period than most fruit trees. The guava tree starts flowering as early as eight months from planting the seedlings in the fields. With proper care, each tree may yield about 15 kilos of fruits during the first year. By the second year, the tree could yield 45 kilos and in succeeding years, it could produce 60 kilos or more.

Good quality fruits demands high price. The small fruits or those with scars which resulted from fruition caused by the wind during the fruits' formative stages are cheaper. There are usually made into guapple pie or into jam.

One can start with a few mother trees from which subsequent planting materials are propagated. Guavas can be propagated by seed or through marcotting and grafting.

The guava can be made fruitful throughout the year as long as it is irrigated during the summer months. The fruits responds to pruning. When the terminal buds is pinched, new branches are initiated and flowers will follow. With enough nourishment, the flowers will follow. With enough nourishment, the flowers will develop into full-sized fruits.

During the first year, the young plants are fertilized soon after planting with one half kilo of 14-14-14 per tree. A month later, 15 grams of urea is applied per tree.

Eight months after planting, when the trees start to flower, 300 grams of fertilizers is applied. This is a mixture of 16-20-0 and 0-0-60, applied usually in the early part of the rainy season and then before the end of the rainy season.

In the second year, the same kind of mixture is applied, and two times yearly. This time, the dose is one kilo per tree. In succeeding year, the dose is proportionately increased.

The trees should be sprayed monthly with insecticide and fungicide, especially when they are fruiting.

To protect the fruits from fruit fly, the developing fruits are wrapped with plastic bags when they are about the size of an eggs. The fruits are sprayed before they are wrapped.

To produce big fruits, some of the young fruits should be removed from the tree. To produce fruits that will weigh about a kilo each, allow only fruits to develop in a year-old tree.

While very big fruits look impressive, many growers prefer to produce fruits that weigh 300 to 350 grams each This size seems to be the most salable in the market.