Commercially Planting Vegetables

Commercially planting vegetables can be a profitable venture if done the right way. Knowledge of horticulture is vital for success; if you are not proficient in the industry, at the very least you will need to get additional education on how to correctly harvest and market a crop. If you have someone to walk you through the process and personally teach you the ropes, this is another option. In order to commercially plant vegetables, certain aspects should be focused on—including space and planning—in order for your project to be successful.

Decide on the type of commercial enterprise you plan to focus your vegetables on. Choose between organic, conventional or hydroponic. The organic option grows the vegetable crops in soil and does not use synthetic pesticides or chemicals; the conventional method also produces vegetable crops in soil but uses synthetic pesticides and chemicals; and the hydroponic method of commercially planting your vegetables involves plants that are either grown in soilless media or in bare-root channels where nutrients flow 24 hours per day.

Choose which vegetables you will grow and obtain the seeds to begin the process

Determine the location where you want to commercially plant these vegetables. Take into consideration the type of competition that is around and whether or not you will be able to compete. Also decide how you will purchase or lease the property; there are many options available that include a one to five-year lease or entering into a sharefarming agreement if you opt not to purchase the property outright.

Prepare the land for your commercial vegetable crop. The soil needs to have good drainage, such as sandy loam soils. Soils that have a high content of clay are susceptible to water-logging and are not suitable. There should not be any rocks on the soil and there should be at least 30 cm of soil.

Test the pH level of your soil to ensure that the level is between 6.0 and 7.5. If you are planning on growing with the calcium chloride system of management, the pH level should be between 5.0 and 6.9. If your soil is too acidic, increase the pH level by using lime. If your pH is too high, decrease it by using sulfur. Ensure that the level of phosphorus in the soil has a retention index that is more than 2.0.

Sow your seeds in rows allowing extra seeds in each row in the event of failed germination. The depth and distance in which you plant each vegetable seed varies and should be done according to the directions on the particular vegetable seed packet.

Install a drip irrigation system. This is ideal for vegetable crops since they are planted in rows and are grown seasonally. The amount of water that should be used depends on the soil, the weather, the crop and the system capacity. In the beginning, one or two hours of watering every two or three days may be enough. As the vegetable crop grows, watering every day for two or three hours may be required.

Sources:

Department of Agriculture and Food. ‚”Planning to Grow Vegetables Commercially”, accessed December 21, 2010.

The Garden Helper. ‚”How to Plant and Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden”, accessed December 21, 2010.

Kansas State University. ‚”Drip Irrigation for Vegetables”, accessed December 21, 2010.