There are no super products doing the cultivation for you

In articles, advertisements, on websites and in presentations we see that often one certain aspect of cultivation is highlighted and put forward as the reason behind successful cultivation. Negative aspects are omitted. These presentations elaborate solely on the advantages of facilities as green houses or net houses, equipment for automation or systems as vertical growing, hydroponics and aquaponics. It may also be a high productive new variety or the effect of soil improving additives and so on.

All these equipment, systems and products offer advantages in cultivation, some more than others. However none of them do the whole job on their own; they are tools, aids or partial solutions and have to be managed correctly and blend in with all the other good practises.

It is good to keep this in mind before deciding to purchase new technologies, practises and products.

Put each of these promoted subjects in the total context of growing a crop and it demonstrates that for example a green house does not help in the condition of your soil or required nutrient levels. It may affect the dynamics of pests and diseases and surely does change your climate. Therefore it must be managed precisely. The lack of it is the main reason that so many greenhouses failed in the country and elsewhere!

A new variety may give stronger growth and higher production, but it may have certain sensitivities to be taken care of. It may also be less suitable for certain climatic or soil conditions.

Hydroponic and aquaponic systems do not take care of climate conditions and the technique demands certain knowledge, especially regarding water and nutrients. Back-up of a well experienced electrician is highly recommended for (semi) automated systems.

Whatever the system or products, you still face the whole range of cultivation practises of seeding (and germinating), in time transplanting, etc. Do not forget water availability and quality and any adjustments if required. From then on your crop has to be under your vigilance. Checking soil humidity and nutrients input, climatic conditions, etc. against stand of crop and in time crop handling practises. Pests and diseases can often be avoided, but demands continuous, intense and time consuming attention.

Even high level automation demands adjustments of controls according to conditions and stand of crop. Autonomous cultivation is still far from general practise.