Indlela yokulima i-squash

Khanyile Ndebele
INHLANGANISO ebona ngezokulima eyeAgritex isifundise abantu ngendlela yokulima isilimo se-squash ngendlela eletha inzuzo.

UNkosikazi Treggy Mpofu ongumlimisi kunhlanganiso ye-Agritex koBulawayo uthe, okwakuqala umlimi okufanele akunanzelele yikuthi umhlabathi wakhe ngocengekileyo onjenge-loam soil.

“Okwesibili yikubona ukuthi inhlanyelo yakhe itshona nge-20cm egodini ngoba ikhula isibankulu. Uveze ukuthi ubumunyu bomhlabathi nxa umlimi ehlanyela i-squash kufanele bube ku-5.5 kusiya ku-6.5 besekusithi ukutshisa komkhathi kufanele kube kuphakathi kwe-28 le-38°C emini besekuthi ebusuku kube ku-18 kusiya 21°C.

Uveze njalo ukuthi kulemihlobo emibili yesilimo se-squash ekhula izala abantwana endaweni eyodwa (bush) efuna indawo elingeneyo lomunye onabayo ofuna indawo enkulu (vine).

“Umhlobo we-squash okhula uzala endaweni eyodwa ufuna amakhilogilamu angu-40 kusiya ku-60 kuhekitha besekusithi ekhula isabalala ifuna amakhilogilamu angu-20 kusiya 30 kuhekitha.

“Okwesithathu yikwehlukanisa isilimo sakhe nxa sesihlanyela. Phakathi laphakathi komfolo ku-squash ekhula izala abantwana endaweni eyodwa kufanele kube yi-1.2 kusiya ku-2.1 metres besekusithi kumfolo kube yimitha eyodwa.

Phakathi laphakathi komfolo ku-squash ekhula isabala kufanele kube yi-1.2 kusiya ku2.0 metres besekusithi umfolo ube yi-2. 4 kusiya 3.6 metres (farrow method) ,” kutsho uNksz Mpofu.

Uthe umlimi angasebenzisa umvundiso weCompound D ongaba yi-600kgs kuhekitha. I-Ammonium Nitrate engaba-100kg kuhekitha ifakwa phezu kwesilimo ngemva kokuthi isilimo sesizele isithelo sakuqala iphinde ifakwe futhi ngemva kwamaviki ambalwa.

“Okunye okuqakathekileyo yikuthelela isilimo ikakhulu nxa izulu lingenelanga. Umlimi kufanele athelele ngemva kwamalanga angu-10 kusiya ku-14 nxa izulu lilinengi iloba lenele besekusithi nxa kuwomile umhlabathi kufanele athelele kabili ngeviki.”

Uphethe ngokuthi izibungwana ezandise ukuhlupha kusilimo lesi yi-squash tired-spider mite, esenza amahlamvu esilimo atshintshe umbala aphinde ome agoqane.

“Esinye isibungwana yiroot knot nematode esihlasela impande zesilimo zikhanye sezikhukhumele okunye njalo kwenza isilimo singakhuli.

“Abalimi abangakwenza yikuhamba okuthengiswa imithi yokubulala izibungwana lezi bachasise isimo sezilimo zabo ukuze bathengiselwe umuthi oqondileyo.”