Vegetable Cultivation Activities in the Field

 

1. Characteristics of Cultivated Plants

Seeds

In grains, there is a family of wheat, legumes etc.

Wheat Family

Wheat, barley, rye, oats etc.

Nuts

Soybeans, kidney beans etc.

Immature soybeans are a type of vegetable, namely edamame.

Tube

Sweet potato, potato etc. It is used as a raw material for starch. Sweet potatoes that are eaten raw are vegetables.

Vegetables

Types of Vegetables

About 150 kinds of vegetables are cultivated in Japan.

The most widely cultivated vegetables are potatoes, sweet potatoes, radishes, cabbage, chicory, etc. In addition to these vegetables, there are onions, carrots and spinach.

In the taxonomy of vegetables, there is a natural system of botanical methods and an artificial system according to the part of the organ used.

In taxonomy according to the natural system, plants in one tribe have something in common.

Taxonomy according to natural system

Main Vegetable Characteristics (Based on Artificial System)

i Leaf vegetables

a. Cabbage

Suitable for cool climates.

Cultivation is carried out using the transplanting method.

Besides being eaten directly, it is also used for various dishes.

b. Chinese cabbage

Chilli is a vital autumn vegetable not only for pickles but also for nabe (pot cooking) dishes. Grows well in cool climates.

In general, the transplanting method is used, but there are also areas that use the direct seed planting method.

There are types with closed forms, semi-closed forms, and open forms.

c. Lettuce

There are various types of lettuce, for example, some have leaves that roll like a ball, some don't, some have tangled leaves, etc.

Grows well in cool climates.

Cultivation is carried out using the transplanting method.

The seeds have photoblastic properties, and are weak to acids.

Under conditions of high temperature, differentiation occurs in flower shoots.

d. Spinach

Spinach can be harvested after 1 month and a half to 2 months from seed planting, so it is an easy vegetable to cultivate. Spinach can be harvested when the leaf height reaches about 25 cm.

In general, cultivation is carried out using the direct seed planting method, but recently it has also been carried out using the transplanting method.

Thanks to the improvement efforts, cultivation has begun throughout the year.

ii Root Vegetables

a. Onion

Edible onions are ball-shaped, formed by layered leaves and stems, but onions are a root vegetable.

Cultivation is done by transplanting method.

b. Turnip

In the past, radishes were generally harvested from autumn to winter, but the amount of radish production in the spring and summer also increased, so they have been cultivated throughout the year.

In winter, tunnel model cultivation is also carried out.

Cultivation is done by direct seed planting method.

Under conditions of continuous low temperature, differentiation occurs in flower shoots.

c. Potato

Besides being eaten in the form of fresh potatoes, it is also used as a raw material for starch and processed foods.

Cultivation is done by planting potato seeds in the field.

d. Sweet potato

We eat the enlarged roots. Sweet potatoes can grow well even in soil that contains little fertilizer. If the fertilizer content is too high, the leaves and stems will grow, but the roots will not grow.

Cultivate shoots from sweet potato seedlings, cut them to use as seeds, then plant them in the field.

e. Carrot

Rich in carotene. Carrots are used not only for cooking, but also for juice.

Carrots do well in cool climates, but are cultivated throughout Japan.

Cultivation is done by direct seed planting method. Carrots are difficult to sprout when dry.

iii Fruit Vegetables

a. Tomato

Tomatoes come in many varieties, so there are also varieties for heated cooking.

Mini tomatoes which contain high sugar content are also very popular.

Cultivation is done by transplanting method. On the tomato tree, the cutting process is carried out.

To make a single number of stems, do

"side shoot pruning" when the side shoots are still small.

Also carried out pruning shoots tip and fruit pruning.

b. Cucumber

We eat the unripe green part of the fruit.

Cucumbers are used for lettuce and pickles.

Cucumbers are grown not only outdoors, but are also cultivated using facilities, so they can be harvested all year round.

Cucumbers are harvested when the length of the fruit has reached about 20 cm.

Cultivation is done by transplanting method. On the cucumber tree, the cutting process is carried out.

c. Eggplant

Eggplant has many types, and there are many varieties typical of each region.

Due to the long cultivation period, adequate fertilization is required.

Cultivation is done by transplanting method.

In accordance with the growth, install the truss, trim the shoots, tie and grate the branches.

Industrial Plant

Industrial plants are plants that need to be processed in sophisticated processes.

Examples are tea, konnyaku, peanuts, mangosteen, tobacco, sugar beet, sugar cane etc.

a. Tea

Tea is a leaf from the tea tree (Camellia sinensis). Since this plant is a tree, once planted, it can be harvested for years. Tea tree land is referred to as a tea plantation.

The height of the tea tree is made around waist height, to facilitate harvesting.