Production requirements
Capers are native to the Mediterranean and, as a general rule, they can be found in regions where olives and almonds are grown. The caper bush requires a semiarid climate. Mean annual temperatures in areas under cultivation are over 14 C and rainfall varies from 200mm year in Spain to 680 on the island of Salina in Italy. A rainy spring and a long, hot, dry summer The caper bush can withstand temperatures of over 40 C in summer but it is sensitive to frost during its growing period. It is a...
Harvest
Medicinal plants should be harvested during the appropriate season to ensure the presence of active constituents within the herb. The herb crop should be harvested at the optimal time of day and climatic conditions, avoiding periods of heavy dew, excessive humidity or rain. Damaged plants or plant parts and extraneous plant materials and soil must be excluded. Freshly harvested plant material must be delivered as quickly as possible to the primary processing facility, to prevent the build-up...
Markets and marketing 1
In any production year Australian coriander producers must rely on export markets to clear the majority of production. Drought over the past two years and an appreciating Australian dollar have caused a big change in buying patterns of Australian spice manufacturing companies. Faced with limited production these companies have sourced seed from Canada and India both in the seed and crushed form. Consumer protection laws and health concerns relating to the need to ensure that powders are free of...
Key references Cbi
Hosemans, F. amp C. Ginseng Growing in Australia. Gembrook Organic Ginseng Pty Ltd., Victoria. Lee, F.C. 1992 Fads About Ginseng the Elixir of Life. Hollym. Persons, W.S. American Ginseng Green Gold. Available from Gembrook Organic Ginseng Pty Ltd., Victoria. Wills, R., et al. 2001 Production of High-quality Ginseng, Pub. no 01 170, RIRDC, Canberra. Fred Hosemans - Australia's first ginseng grower, and husband of the author. Fred Hosemans - Australia's first ginseng grower, and husband of the...
Pest and disease control 1
Coriander crops usually require no spraying for insect pests as it seems the strong odour of the plants acts as a deterrent. Heavy infestations of red legged earth mite at seedling emergence can affect plant survival. Bees and flies are attracted to the flowers and are most important in the pollination and seedset of the crop. Granary-type weevils can invade seed after it has been stored for more than six months and it can require fumigation prior to sale. Fenugreek is susceptible to a wide...
Agronomy Uda
Three cultivation methods are recognised artificial shade, woods grown and wild simulated. Each growing method produces different results and consequently different market prices. Approximately 95 of the world's ginseng production occurs under artificial shade. Wild simulated is the cheapest growing method and produces the highest returns per dried weight yield. Soil testing for pH and nutrient levels should be done as part of site selection and bed preparation. Minimal tillage should be...
About the author
Max Jongebloed was instrumental in starting the broad-acre seed production of coriander in Australia in 1978, when seed was brought from Thailand and sown in various regions of South Australia. As the General Manager of Seedco Australia Cooperative Limited formerly, the South Australian Seedgrowers Cooperative Limited from 1987 until 2000, he initiated many years of research on coriander, fenugreek and other spices in conjunction with the Waite Agricultural Research Institute University of...
Key references Hne
American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Monographs. Davidson, A. 1999 Some financial considerations of herb growing in Australia. Unpub. Falzari, L. amp Menary, R. 2002 Chamomile for Oil and Dried Flowers, Pub. no. 02 156. RIRDC, Canberra. NSW Agriculture 2004 Herbs, Native Foods amp Essential Oils Third National Conference August 2003, Report on Options for Herb Industry Development. Laurence, R. 2004 Borage Production for Oil and Gamma-linolenicAcid. Publication no. 04 040. RIRDC, Canberra. Pleasance...
Financial information Fic
As there is not yet an established industry in Australia, complete information in this area is difficult to provide. However, crop establishment and husbandry costs are likely to be similar to those for capsicum about 10,000-12,000 ha. The cost of mechanical harvesting, drying and production of half-product and then condiment paprika by milling in Australia is not known at present. Trials in New South Wales indicate reasonable yields of 25 t ha of raw paprika, which will produce about 4,000 kg...
Agronomy Jpl
Stringent quality requirements apply to the acceptance of medicinal herbs as raw materials for the manufacture of herbal medicines. The quality requirements are prescribed by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration through the Code of Good Manufacturing Practice. Three key standards against which herbal raw materials are assessed are Identity The correct botanical identification of genus, species, variety cultivar, chemotype. Purity Herb and plant part must not be contaminated by...
Financial information Qbp
A full financial analytical model for medicinal herb production, using Echinacea purpurea as an example, is provided in the chapter on financial models. An analysis of this type should be conducted for each proposed medicinal herb crop. The model presented is based on a production area of 1 ha, although is is noted that this level of investment for 1 ha is impractical. The investment presented in this model could probably facilitate larger scale herb production, up to about 6 ha. For less than...
Production requirements Ljo
Much of the inland cereal growing area of Australia is well suited to jojoba production. Varieties that are well suited to the climate of these areas have been selected, but other factors such as soil type and rainfall must also be considered. Jojoba requires soils that have good internal drainage and are not subject to flooding. Apart from pH, the chemical properties are less critical, as fertilisers can be used. Soils with a pH of less than 5.0 are generally not suitable for jojoba because of...
Harvest and postharvest
All varieties of coriander must be harvested when the seeds are light brown to brown and the plant stems are brown and starting to become dry. Open-front headers are recommended. Crop losses by seed head shattering can occur if growers wait until stems are completely dry. Windrowing has been used but the windrows must be heavy and left to lie deep in the stalks otherwise wind can move them across the field. Dessication has not been used with success. Dryland yields of 1-1.5 mt ha are common and...
Pest and disease control Pmc
Herbs and spices are subject to a range of pest and diseases that tend to be area production practice and crop specific. For example protected cropping experiences few weeds but has to maintain very strict control over temperature and humidity to minimise fungal diseases. Field cropping in hot, dry areas is less prone to fungal diseases but can experience more rusts than field cropping in more humid environments. Irrigation practices can influence fungal leaf diseases and soil types can...
Key contacts Huz
Tel 02 6622 0100 Email oga nrg.com.au www.organicherbs.org Austral Herbs amp Seeds Tel 02 6778 7357 www.australherbs.com.au Southern Light Herbs Tel 03 5475 2763 Andi Pleasance Proprietor Pleasance Herbs amp Seeds Tel 02 6663 3390 www.pleasanceherbs.com.au
