Background

Indigenous vegetables have been used by our forefathers for generations. Through time, various communities have been able to select nutritious vegetables for their diets.

The main feature of these vegetables is their ability to grow widely with very little management. They are thus highly adapted for the environments that they are usually found in. They grow successfully without succumbing to diseases and pests that destroy exotic vegetables like sukuma wiki.

With the re-introduction of these vegetable sin cultivated forms, it is now possible for farmers to grow vegetables cheaply.

They are consequently safer to eat since they carry no harmful chemical residues. They are also highly nutritious compared to exotic types. Some have medicinal properties while others improve soil physical and chemical properties.

Simlaw Select varieties have been selected over the years by researchers such that they are high yields and long harvesting periods.

SIMLAW SEEDS staff can throw further insights regarding these indigenous vegetables fi and when necessary.

THE SIMLAW SELECT RANGE
Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade)

Main features: this is an erect herbaceous plant that grows up to one metre under cultivation. It is characterised by green ridged stems. The leaves are often smooth edged with long stalks. The plant grows naturally and widely in East Africa.

Simalw Select type has large leaves and remains vegetative longer. Thus it has a longer picking period when well managed. The fruits are orange in colour when ripe.

Black Nightshade
Local names: Managu, Mnavu, Osunga, Isoiyot, Sucha, Isoiik

Perhaps more importantly, Simlaw Select is not bitter and hence cooking can be done straight like spinach or sukumawiki. This ensures that nutrients are not lost through excessive cooking.

Nutrient content: the vegetable is very rich in proteins, calcium, iron, phosphorous and magnesium.

Seed rate: 500 grams/acre
Spacing: 30 cm X drill (thinning is done at 4 weeks).

Cleome gynandra (Spider Plant)

Main features: this is an erect herb growing between 1/2 to 1 m depending on management. The stems are hairy and often deep pink in colour.

Spider Plant
Local names: Chisaka, Saka, Thageti, Esaka, Chiasaga, Isakiat

The leaves are borne on long stalks and divided into 5 leaflets. The vegetable will do well in soils that are rich in organic matter.

The Simlaw Select has large leaves and takes longer to flower ensuring a longer picking period. This vegetable is well flavoured enabling it to be cooked on its own.

Spider Plant can be grown almost anywhere in East Africa. It requires no chemical sprays against pests and diseases.

Nutrient Content: this is one of the most nutritious vegetables. It is very rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, protein, fibre etc.

Seed rate: 500 grams/acre
Spacing: 30 cm X frill (thinned at 4 weeks).

Amaranthus dubius (Amarantus)

Main features: this is an erect slightly branched herb growing up to 1.8 meters. The leaves are large with an attractive green colour. The wild variety grows widely all over the tropics.

Amaranthus
Local names: Terere, Telele, Litoto, Lidoto, Lidodo, Ododo, Mchicha, Chepkerte

The Simlaw Select has very large leaves and remains vegetative for 4 months. The leaves have pleasant favour and are quick to cook ensuring the reservation of nutrients.

Amaranthus as a vegetable can be cooked alone or mixed with other vegetables.

Nutrient content: this variety produces grains which are very rich in proteins. The protein contains all the essential amino acids including lysine and tryptophan which are deficient in all cereals.

Seed rate: 500 grams/acre
Spacing: 50 cm X drill (thinning at 4 weeks).

Corchorus olitorius (Jews Mallow)

Main features: This is an erect woody herb normally growing up to 1.2 m but can also reach 2.5 m in fertile soils. This occurs wildly in all tropical regions.

Jews Mallow
Local names: Sunhemp, Murere, Omotere, Mlenda, Apoth, Ntereryan

The Simlaw Select has large leaves and remains vegetative for along time. The leaves are slippery when cooked, so they are often mixed with other vegetables like cowpeas, spider plant or crotaralia. However, our selection is well flavoured an highly nutritious. It can be grown without any chemical sprays against pests or diseases. It is known to contain medicinal qualities.

Nutrient content: this is a vegetable recommended for its nutritious qualities such as high levels of calcium and vitamin A. Its ability or grow in arid and semi arid regions makes it versatile.

AVERAGE NUTRIENT CONTENT

* Micrograms     Mg Miligrams      * Based on 100 grams sample

Seed rate: 500 grams /acre
Spacing 50 cm X drill (thinning is done at 4 weeks)

Crotalaria brevidens (Crotalaria)

Main features: this is an erect much banded herb growing up to 1.2 m. It can be found growing widely in East Africa except the coastal regions. The leaves are used as vegetables.

Crotalaria
Local names: Imito, Mito, Miro, Emiro. Kipkururiet, Mitek

Our Simlaw Select has fairly large leaves with an attractive deep green colour. Apart from being highly nutritious, the leaves have a nice flavour although slightly bitter. Usually mixed with other vegetables such as corchorus. Milk may also be added to smoothen the flavour.

This is a leguminous plant and thus in addition, it improves the soil's physical andchemical properties.

Like other indigenous vegetables, crotalaria is grown without any chemical sprays against pests and diseases. It has a long vegetative period.

Seed rate: 1 kg/acre
Spacing: 50 cm X drill (thin at 4 weeks).

Vigna Unguiculata (Cowpea)

Main features: this is a semi-trailing herb grown all over East Africa for its leaves. The Kenkunde 1 has been selected with large leaves. The leaves have an attractive green colour and they can be picked for along time. This variety will grow in all ecological zones including the dry ones. The eaves have excellent flavour and can be cooked alone or with other vegetables.

Of great importance is that Kenkunde 1 also produces grains up to 500 kg per acre.

Nutrient content: the grains are highly nutritious and thus substitute beans in dry areas where the latter cannot grow. The leaves are also highly nutritious with high levels of vitamins C, A and calcium.

Seed rate: 5 kg/acre
Fertiliser: 50 kg NPK/acre
Spacing: 50 cm X 10 cm (thin at 4 weeks).

Cowpea
Lcoal names: Ikobeek, Thoroko, Nthooko, Likhubi, Egesale, Kenkunde 1 (variety)