VEGETABLES

Vegetables

Vegetables are a vital part of Zambian diets, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and diversity in household meals. For farmers, they also offer a high-value cash crop with shorter growing cycles compared to cereals and legumes, allowing for multiple harvests within a season.

Afriseed’s vegetable seed range includes resilient varieties of tomatoes, onions, cabbages, and leafy greens that are well adapted to local conditions. These crops not only meet strong demand in urban and rural markets but also provide excellent opportunities for income generation and improved household nutrition.

To get the best results, farmers should prepare well-drained soils, apply organic matter where possible, and ensure timely irrigation during dry periods. With proper care and good seed, vegetable farming can be both profitable and sustainable, supporting livelihoods across Zambia.

VEGETABLES

Production & Variety Guide

01
CARROT
Nantes, Kuroda, Chantenay
2–4 kg/ha
25–50 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesNantes, Kuroda, Chantenay
Seed rate/Ha2–4 kg
Planting depth0.5–1 cm
Method of sowingDirect sowing
Best time of yearMar–Aug; irrigated all year
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound C/NPK 10-15-15: 300–500 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerCAN/Urea 100–150 kg/ha
Common pestsCarrot fly, aphids, cutworms, nematodes
Common diseasesAlternaria leaf blight, Cercospora leaf spot, powdery mildew, Pythium/root rot
Yield/Ha25–50 tons
02
CUCUMBER
Poinsett, Marketmore, F1 hybrids
1–2 kg/ha
20–50 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesPoinsett, Marketmore, F1 hybrids
Seed rate/Ha1–2 kg
Planting depth2–3 cm
Method of sowingDirect sowing
Best time of yearSept–Mar; irrigated all year
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound D/NPK 10-20-10: 300–500 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerUrea/CAN 100–200 kg/ha
Common pestsAphids, cucumber beetles, whiteflies, mites
Common diseasesDowny mildew, powdery mildew, angular leaf spot, Fusarium wilt, damping-off
Yield/Ha20–50 tons
03
OKRA
Clemson Spineless, Emerald, local types
5–8 kg/ha
8–15 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesClemson Spineless, Emerald, local types
Seed rate/Ha5–8 kg
Planting depth2–3 cm
Method of sowingDirect sowing
Best time of yearOct–Mar
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound D/NPK 10-20-10: 300–400 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerUrea/CAN 100–150 kg/ha
Common pestsAphids, bollworms, whiteflies, mites
Common diseasesPowdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, damping-off, Cercospora leaf spot, root rot
Yield/Ha8–15 tons
04
WHITE ONION
Granex, Texas Grano, hybrid white types
4–8 kg/ha
25–50 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesGranex, Texas Grano, hybrid white types
Seed rate/Ha4–8 kg
Planting depth1–2 cm
Method of sowingNursery/transplant or direct
Best time of yearFeb–May
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound C/NPK 10-15-15: 400–550 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerCAN/Urea 100–200 kg/ha
Common pestsThrips, onion maggot, cutworms, mites
Common diseasesPurple blotch, downy mildew, neck rot, basal rot, bacterial soft rot
Yield/Ha25–50 tons
05
AMARANTHUS
Green Amaranth, Red Amaranth, local types
1–2 kg/ha
10–25 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesGreen Amaranth, Red Amaranth, local types
Seed rate/Ha1–2 kg
Planting depth0.5–1 cm
Method of sowingDirect sowing
Best time of yearAll year with irrigation; rainy season suitable
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound B/NPK 10-20-10: 250–400 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerCAN/Urea 100–150 kg/ha
Common pestsAphids, leaf miners, caterpillars, flea beetles
Common diseasesDamping-off, Cercospora leaf spot, white rust, root rot, downy mildew
Yield/Ha10–25 tons
06
BUTTERNUT SQUASH
Waltham, Atlas F1, Pluto F1
1.5–2.5 kg/ha
15–30 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesWaltham, Atlas F1, Pluto F1
Seed rate/Ha1.5–2.5 kg
Planting depth2–3 cm
Method of sowingDirect sowing
Best time of yearOct–Mar
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound D/NPK 10-20-10: 300–500 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerCAN/Urea 100–150 kg/ha + K
Common pestsAphids, squash bugs, fruit flies, mites
Common diseasesPowdery mildew, downy mildew, anthracnose, Fusarium wilt, gummy stem blight
Yield/Ha15–30 tons
07
CABBAGE
VS209 F1, Star 3301, Copenhagen Market
150–250 g/ha
40–80 t/ha
β–Ό
VarietiesVS209 F1, Star 3301, Copenhagen Market
Seed rate/Ha150–250 g
Planting depth0.5–1 cm
Method of sowingNursery & transplanting
Best time of yearAll year; cooler months preferred
Basal dressing fertilizerCompound B/NPK 10-20-10: 400–550 kg/ha
Top dressing fertilizerCAN/Urea 150–250 kg/ha, split
Common pestsDiamondback moth, aphids, cabbage worms, cutworms
Common diseasesBlack rot, clubroot, downy mildew, Alternaria leaf spot, bacterial soft rot
Yield/Ha40–80 tons
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