Topic 7: Suitable cultivars

 What is a cultivar?

A cultivar is a subspecies classification describing plants varieties which are produced through artificial selection.

.  Is a plant that is propagated through human intervention to develop a desirable characteristic and ensure it retains the characteristics of its parent plant. Cultivars are created from stem cutting, grafting, tissue cultures, or cross-pollination.

              Example of watermelon cultivar


Examples of cultivars

. Magnolia

. Tomatoes 

. Apples, etc..


Characteristics of a chosen cultivar, e.g tomatoes 

.Climatic suitability

Will this cultivar grow well at my site? Winter hardiness, temperatures during the growing season, length of growing season, and temperature during ripening are important to consider.

.Markets

What cultivars do my buyers want? Your buyers may include packers, farmers markets, retail stands and local stores. Your orchard will be more successful if you grow the apples your markets demand. Otherwise, the low-priced juice market may be your only alternative.

.Disease susceptibility

Are you ready to manage disease problems in each cultivar? Most commercial cultivars are susceptible to scab (which requires a strict management strategy), but susceptibility to fire blight can be a much larger concern for new plantings.

.Harvest schedule

Will you have enough labour to pick your new orchard? Consider how adding new production will fit into your current harvest schedule.

.Harvest management

Will your crew be able to pick each cultivar at its peak quality? Most cultivars have a 7-10 day window for harvest, so planting larger acreages of a single cultivar may require extra pickers.

.Pollination

Will my cultivar mix provide the cross-pollination required for high yields and quality fruit? To ensure an adequate pollen supply when blooms are open, check if bloom dates overlap adequately.

.Market prices

 Does the expected price return enough to the grower? The price you receive will depend on the quality you can deliver, but there are large differences in prices by cultivar.


Follow the link below for more information 

https://youtu.be/g_kw0tz6XsE?si=jEiYa7ggFLcVts0T



Comments

  1. Ms Ndundu 19 August 2024 at 14:09

    I love this topic since high school..... Well articulated and effective for students

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maggie19 August 2024 at 15:13

    Great to hear this,

    ReplyDelete

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