Use this Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa as a guideline and find inspiration in cooking with something new each season. Nutrition: If you are a vegetarian, this vegetable is an excellent option for you. SouthAfrica.co.za covers the nitty gritty of growing healthy vegetables in South Africa of all shapes, sizes and varieties from wholesome butternut to delicate asparagus in all 11 official languages. Leeks are another high-value crop, although the growing season can be rather long. While 12% of South Africa’s land can be used for crop production, only 22% of this is high-potential arable land. The greatest limitation is the availability of water, with uneven and unreliable rainfall. #19. Value-added Plants. MARKET ACCESS 53 10. Optimal conditions vary from plant to plant and there is much to consider if you want a thriving crop. Although each year your harvest period is only six to eight weeks, the price of these is very high, and each row will produce pounds of asparagus per year. Currently, about 100 grams of baby asparagus spears retails at about £2.50 in our local supermarket. Generally, tea plants typically fare best in acidic soil and regions with heavy rainfall (around 40 inches per year), although they can be grown anywhere from sea level to altitudes as high as 1.3 miles above sea level. Lavender is also used to make value-added products such as sachets, herbal pillows, aromatherapy products and skin care products like soap. Good Hope Garden Nursery shared some great tips on indigenous plants that you can easily grow and harvest in your very own garden for medicinal … 8.1 Value Adding in South Africa 52 9. 9. Source: James Arathoon, Cedara, who is doing research on this crop. Although the majority of tomato production in South Africa is open field production, a small amount is also produced under protection (greenhouse and shadenet structures). Value-added plants are the most profitable commercial cash crop … That’s the charm of growing lavender…nothing is wasted. Research on the crop is currently being conducted at Cedara and Dundee Research Stations. km. With a higher risk to grow these, there is a higher reward for the farmers. In South Africa this high protein crop has the potential to fill a niche market and ensure food security in rural communities. Grow High Value Crops. Space utilization: A 10 ft. Row accommodates ten plants on average, and it gives small production per square foot about 6-8lbs. Contact him at james.arathoon [at] kzndard.gov.za. Leeks. This is because when combined with whole grains, they make a complete protein. Cannabis has a value of $47.7 million per square kilometre, while coca weighs in at $37.7 million and opium poppies $6 million per sq. Around 1.3-million hectares are under irrigation, and around 50% of South Africa’s water is used for agriculture. The population increase in South Africa and improvement of the standard of living have resulted in an increased demand for foods of high value and quality. Not surprisingly, the most lucrative cash crops from a value per acre perspective are illegal in many parts of the world. The Botanical Society of South Africa encourages the wise use of indigenous plants in southern Africa. The table below shows the projected hectares under essential oil crops given by provinces in South Africa in 2014. And lastly, it offers you variety, in that different vegetables are available throughout the year. Gourmet mushrooms. 2. Monetary value: Brussel sprouts have a relatively high monetary value. It’s about minimising the things you put in, such as your time, space and money whilst at the same time maximising the results – increased yield, taste and value compared to shop-bought. Growing high value crops is the best way to make the most of your growing space.