About Antonius Lecuona

I studied agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa in 1984 and completing my M.Sc Agric. in 1998. . My love for "Controlled Environmental Agriculture" (CEA), started in my third year when I was exposed to the Welgevallen Research Station. There Prof. P.C.Maree showed us what hydroponics consisted of. It was awesome. There were no large tractors involved, no dusty fields, no uncontrollable storms to destroy your crop (well that is what I thought). Since then I put hydroponics to much better use, not just farming. We solved pollution problems by cleaning mines effluent with hydroponics and aquaculture. They were used to remove toxic metals to produce clean water (which we sold and make more money of than the produce). What I learned from 1987 I tried to compile in this website and I hope it is from some value to the serious commercial farmer that wants to take the journey into Commercial Hydroponic Farming.

Downy mildew on lettuce

2014-02-15T13:47:31+02:00By |Diseases|

Downy mildew is a serious problem in greenhouses especially under cold humid conditions. It is caused by the casual organism Bremia lactucae.  Of the commercial crops, lettuce is most affected, but is also prominent with Endive, Escarole, Chicory, Salsify and Globe Artichoke. The fungus grows very fast and when the [...]

Sclerotinia or watery soft rot

2017-03-25T15:27:33+02:00By |Diseases|

[/su_collumn] Sclerotinia infects crops such as lettuce, escarole and endives. Tomato fruit are seldom affected. It manifests itself as a damping-off when planted, wilting symptoms also referred to as “drop”. When fruit or leafy crops are transferred and infected by Sclerotinia, it is called as “watery soft rot”. [...]

Grey mould

2017-03-25T15:28:33+02:00By |Diseases|

Grey mould is found on lettuce, escarole, endive and globe artichoke. The disease is most important during transit of these crops. The disease is caused by Botrytis cinerea Fr. Grey mould contributes to damping-off, especially in lettuce seedlings. Grey mould symptoms The symptoms are typical of those of damping-off. The [...]

Septoria leaf spot a destructive tomato disease

2016-09-01T09:16:43+02:00By |Diseases|

Septoria leaf spot is one of the most destructive diseases on tomato and is caused by Septoria lycopersici. It is most destructive during moderate temperatures and high rainfall. The disease destroys so much of the leaves that the plants fail to mature their fruits properly. Symptoms of Septoria leaf spot The [...]

Cutworm

2013-08-30T12:06:48+02:00By |Pests|

Cutworm description Black cutworm moths have dark brown forewings, light-coloured hind wings, and a wing expanse of 38 to 51 mm. Granulate cutworm moths have yellowish-brown forewings and a wingspan of 38 to 45 mm. Variegated cutworm moths may be yellowish or brownish with a wingspan of 38 to 50 [...]

Fusarium wilt

2013-08-30T12:10:01+02:00By |Diseases|

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) is one of the most damaging fungi that infects tomatoes. Fusarium wilt is a soil borne disease and infects both soil grown tomatoes and greenhouse tomatoes. During high temperatures the disease can cause significant crop damage but during low temperatures there is generally little damage. There [...]

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