Managu Farming in Kenya 2023 | Veg Farms Kenya

Managu Farming in Kenya 2022

 How profitable is managu farming in Kenya 2022 African Nightshade 

Table of Contents

• How to Start Managu Farming in Kenya.
• Starting Managu Farming in Kenya
• Types of Managu Vegetables
• Best Fertilization in Managu Growing in Kenya
• Harvesting in Managu Farming in kenya
• Maturity: Managu Farming in kenya
• How to Preserve African Nightshade (Managu)
• Pests Management in African nightshade (Managu) Farming in kenya
• Benefits of African nightshade (Managu) farming in kenya

"Managu farming in Kenya" is a novel and fascinating method of growing vegetables on your farm in Kenya. This vegetable is simple to raise and produces excellent yields.

When it comes to managu growing in Kenya, there are two types of African nightshade (Managu)  that can be grown. Depending on the climate and soil conditions in your area, some African nightshade (Managu) vegetables may be more successful than others. Here are some tips for Managu farming in Kenya that may be helpful.

How to Start Managu Farming in Kenya.

Managu, also known as African nightshade, belongs to the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. The plant produces a lot of fruit and is simple to grow in farms.

The African nightshade (Managu) can be readily handled with a few basic garden pesticides despite being vulnerable to a few pests.

Managu, an African nightshade, is one of the vegetables crops that has drawn a lot of demand due to its great therapeutic potential. We're going to examine Managu in-depth in this piece. How nutrient-dense is it? How are farms run? Exists a market?

How Profitable is Managu Farming in Kenya 2022

African Nightshade (Managu) Scientific Name

Solanum villosum, S.americanum, S. scabrun,

African Nightshade (Managu) Local Names

Language	Local Names
Swahili	Mnavu
Kikuyu	Managu
Luhya	Namaska
Luo	Osuga
Kipsigis	Isoiyot
Kamba	Kitulu
Maa	Ormomoi
Taita	Ndunda

Other Common Names African Nightshade (Managu)

Black nightshade, Narrow-leaved nightshade

Introduction to African Nightshade (Managu) Farming in kenya

African nightshades with narrow leaves vegetables, also known as mnavu in Swahili, are common in the tropics and can be found all over East Africa. Managu vegetables is an upright, multi-branched herb that can reach heights of 0.5 to 1.0 meters. 

The African nightshade, also known as Managu vegetables, has thin, oval, somewhat purplish leaves that can grow up to 15 cm long. It also has numerous white flowers and round, generally purple to black berries that are 0.75 cm in diameter and contain countless tiny, flattened yellow seeds.

There are a few species that produce black berries, although Solanum villosum's orange-berry species are the most well-known. This group of taxa is frequently misidentified as Solanum nigrum, a lethal plant native to Europe that is not typically cultivated in Africa. 

The fresh fruit and leaves of the African nightshade (Managu) are both consumed. The leaves are frequently combined with other vegetables while being eaten as a cooked vegetable. While some Solanum species are prized for their bitterness, others are regarded as "sweet," especially after being cooked and the water being thrown away. The raw leaves have a moderately high vitamin C content, 4% protein, and 6% carbs.

Starting Managu Farming in Kenya

Best Soils for Managu Growing in Kenya

African nightshades can grow on a wide range of soil types but do not tolerate drought, African nightshades do well in organic plots.

Managu is an African nightshade with broader leaves than the narrow-leafed variant, purple seeds, and a milder flavor. fares amazingly well in most of Kenya's markets. Both have the same nutritional value.

Best Climates for Managu Growing in Kenya

Managu, an African nightshade, grows best in direct sunlight but may also take little shade. They are simple to grow and can tolerate most types of soil and environments.

Propagation and Planting of African nightshade (Managu) Farming in kenya

Types of Managu Vegetables

The Giant African Nightshade and the Black African Nightshade are the two brands of managu, which is also known as African nightshade in English. The most essential person to us, the common mwananchi, is aware that there are two varieties of Managu. Choose the appropriate seeds by keeping in mind who you are growing for (Managu kali and Managu ambayo si kali).

Best Hybrid Seed See the Pricing Here Countrywide delivery, Pay on delivery

Nursery Preparation for Managu Farming in kenya

Establish a raised bed of soil that is about a meter wide to allow you to weed without stepping on the nursery bed when farming African nightshade (Managu) in Kenya. Make shallow ditches 6 inches apart with a stick. These ditches should be fertilized and then covered with soil.

Spacing in Managu Farming in kenya

Decomposed manure should be added to the nursery's soil to loosen it. For even sowing, seeds should be combined in a 1:3 ratio with ash and/or sand. Broadcast or plant the mixture thickly in rows spaced 15 to 20 cm apart, then top with a fine layer of dirt. 

To keep the soil moist after sowing, the bed should be mulched with tall grass or a similar substance. Once the plants reach 3 cm tall, the mulch can be removed. When seedlings have six genuine leaves and are 10 to 15 cm tall, transplant them. The distance between rows should be 40 cm apart and 20 cm within each row.

After thinly scattering the seeds, use your stick to sweep the soil back into the small trenches. To prevent seeds from being carried away during irrigation or during rain, cover the soil in the nursery with grass.

Germination for Managu Vegetable

After 3 days of germination, take the grass and use it together with some wood to construct a shade that is about a foot high.

Transplanting in Managu Farming in Kenya

When the managu seedlings are 3–4 weeks old, they are prepared for transplanting. Create holes in the shamba that are 30 cm deep and 30 cm apart. Practically speaking, however, using a Jembe it's not always possible to achieve this depth. In general, the depth should be chosen so that half of the plant will be visible above ground after being covered with soil.

A teaspoonful of DAP should be placed in the hole, followed by some soil, the uprooted seedling, and more soil. Veg Farms tried a variety of approaches, including combining soil and fertilizer, but the fertilizer has consistently burned several plants so far. We need African solutions to African challenges, so please feel free to try out various approaches and share them.

Before and after transplanting, water the planting holes. Additionally, remember to carefully water the nursery 30 minutes prior to uprooting to prevent damaging the roots.

Watering in Managu Farming in kenya

Depending on how quickly the soil dries, water the plants. Some plants will require daily watering, while others will be able to go without. 

Ultimately, before even consider growing managu the farm should always have an irrigation system in place. Which irrigation technique you employ depends on your water supply. Veg Farms know from experience that mboga never grows well once you meddle with water. Water in the evenings or early in the morning is preferred.

Compost Manure in Managu Farming in kenya

Managu Farming in kenya thrive on soils that are rich in organic matter because they need a lot of nutrients. Additionally, they thrive in soil that has recently burned vegetation on it . For good yields, sprinkle compost, poultry, or cattle dung at a rate of 2 to 5 kilogram per square meter, depending on availability.

Best Fertilization in Managu Growing in Kenya

Top Dressing in Managu Farming in kenya

Top-dress the managu plants two weeks after transplanting with Mavuno topdressing fertilizer (which reduces soil acidity), CAN, or NPK. Spreading fertilizer on top of the soil near the roots is known as top dressing. This boosts the nitrogen in your plant's soil to aid in its growth.

If at all feasible, add 1-2 handfuls of well-dried animal dung per plant each time you harvest it. An additional choice is to treat the tops of each plant with a nitrogen-based fertilizer, such as CAN or Mavuno top dressing.

Harvesting in Managu Farming in kenya

Three to four weeks after transplanting, your Managu is ready for harvest. It's crucial how you make your initial harvest. Just above the plant's nodes and joints, cut the plant 15 cm from the ground. You will typically harvest more branches from the nodes or joints. As a general guideline, when harvesting, make sure to always cut just above a joint.

A harvestable manage crop can be started four weeks after transplanting. Approximately 15 cm above the ground is where the stems are clipped. This enables the growth of additional side branches. Weekly picking sessions are held.

Maturity: Managu Farming in kenya

Manage matures in 60 days following direct seeding in the field or 30 days following transplanting

The most typical method of harvesting is twice weekly multiple harvesting of Managu leaves.

To promote branching, prune the managu plant's growing point 14 days after transplanting. Two weeks later, begin harvesting the young shoots, and do so every one to two weeks for the next three to four months.

Early in the morning is the ideal time to pick, and the food should be sold that same day. Alternately, the manage crop can be collected in the late afternoon and spread out on banana leaves or plastic sheets. Small bundles of these ought to be knotted. Before the managu crop is sold, the blooms need to be removed. To keep these bundles fresh, use minimal water.

How to Preserve African Nightshade (Managu)

Sun drying is a method of preservation. The managu leaves can be dried and kept for up to a month, but doing so significantly lowers their nutritional content and modifies their texture.

Pests Management in African nightshade (Managu) Farming in kenya

Since pests of the Solanaceae family, which includes crops like peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes, are similar, see also under these crops for further information.

Aphids (Aphis spp.) in Managu Farming in kenya

Aphids are a serious pest because they cause manage leaves to curl, which makes them less appealing to buyers.

Aphids ingest manage plant sap to stay alive. Aphid populations under a certain size may be relatively safe, but manage plants that are severely infested typically have wrinkly leaves, limited development, and malformed pods. 

Under intense aphid infestation, manage plants, especially young managu plants, may dry up and perish. Crop loss could result from heavy attack on elder plants since it would reduce bloom and seed production. Seed viability may also be lowered by damage.

How to Control Aphids in Managu Farming In Kenya

Utilize biological pesticides that don't harm your natural adversaries (for instance neem, ashes, soapy water). The black bean aphid on French beans was suppressed in Kenya by foliar sprays using neem products like Neemroc® (1-3%) and Neemros® water extract (50 g/l).

Spider Mites (Tetranychus spp.) in Managu Farming in Kenya

Spider mites are Very tiny, sucking arthropods and can attack the managu plant's leaves and growth tips, causing twisted growth and poor yield.

Generally speaking, spider mite feeding may result in a decrease in manage plant growth, flowering, berry length and number, and seed production per berry. Young plants are especially vulnerable to damage when mites attack them. During the dry season, mite damage may be extremely severe.

How to Control Spider Mites in Managu Farming in Kenya

Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides, particularly pyrethroids, as they may cause spider mite epidemics. Avoid planting Managu adjacent to affected fields.

Use overhead irrigation or a powerful water jet to wash plants to remove mites and dislodge their webs. 

Spray the underside of the leaves as well. To give the leaf time to dry, this should be done early in the day. The development of fungal diseases is encouraged by prolonged foliage wetness.

Diseases Management in Managu Production in Kenya

For more information, see also under the crops in the Solanaceae family (such as peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes) as their diseases are comparable.

Early blight in Managu Farming in Kenya

Early blight causes brown, circular, up to 1 cm in diameter leaf spots that frequently have a circular pattern that sets them apart from other leaf spots. Warm, humid environments are ideal for early blight growth. Leaf spots start on the oldest leaves and move up the plant as they develop. The entire plant may become defoliated and die.

How to Control Early blight in Managu Farming in Kenya

Once Managu vegetables has become entrenched, early blight is particularly challenging to control. Preventing the establishment and further spread of early blight is the most crucial step in controlling it.

• It's crucial to rotate with other crops, including amaranth. Tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers should not be rotated because they are members of the same family and are prone to the same illnesses.

• Wider managu plant spacing should be employed in humid climates.

• Maintain proper field hygiene. At the end of each season, remove all severely affected managu plant debris and destroy it. 

• Use manage seeds that have been certified as being disease-free.

Benefits of African nightshade (Managu) farming in kenya

African leafy vegetables (ALVs) offer medicinal potential and are nutrient-rich in minerals. For instance, because they are both therapeutic and nutritional, amaranth and African nightshade (managu) can be used to feed persons with HIV/AIDS. 

According to Veg Farms, the increased production and consumption of vegetables can be used to eradicate malnutrition and promote healthy diets in Africa. Vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, protein, carbohydrates, and lipids are all present in the seeds and leaves.

When an infant is teething, unripe fruits are used to massage the gums and apply pressure to the hurting teeth (Kajiado, Kitui). Use of leaves for stomach aches (Machakos). The extract from crushed leaves and fruits is used to treat tonsillitis (Machakos). According to Kenya's Traditional Food Plants, roots are boiled in milk and given to kids as a tonic (Maasai).

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long can Managu be harvested?

This method of harvesting is the most preferred as it gives the farmer continual produce for 3 to 4 months. Remove the flowers regularly to ensure the managu plant continues to produce more leaves, instead of focusing its resources on developing the fruits.

How long does Managu take to be transplanted?

Depending on the variety, the seedlings should be transferred at a spacing of 30 to 60 cm x 30 to 60 cm when they have at least six true leaves, are about 15 cm (6 inches) tall, or are 6 weeks after sowing..

How much can one earn from an acre of Managu in Kenya?

The manager of Veg Farms notes that tilling with a tractor costs Ksh 8000 and that the plant needs a lot of manure and water, which Veg Farms obtains from a nearby dairy farms. Veg Farms generates 8,000 Kenyan Shillings per week from a quarter acre that requires 120g of seeds and two pick-up trucks worth of manure, which costs Ksh 14,000; harvesting begins after about a month.

How long can Managu be harvested?

This method of harvesting is the most preferred as it gives the farmer continual produce for 3 to 4 months. Remove the flowers regularly to ensure the managu plant continues to produce more leaves, instead of focusing its resources on developing the fruits.

What are benefits of Managu?

Traditional medicine employs mango as an anti-rheumatic and anti-irritant. The leaves can be crushed and added to a beverage to treat illnesses like scurvy. It is good for the eyes due to the high vitamin content, and the amount of protein encourages a high supply of energy..

What are benefits of Managu?

Traditional medicine employs managu as an anti-rheumatic and anti-irritant. The leaves can be crushed and added to a beverage to treat illnesses like scurvy. It is healthy for the eyes due to the high vitamin content, and the amount of protein encourages a robust supply of energy.