Fruit Growing II - Small Fruits Honor

Agricultural Activities

Requirements

1. What is the difference between a nursery and a greenhouse?

   Answer: Nursery: a protected place (shade cloth or screen) where seedlings are grown until they are ready for permanent planting; generally without a plastic cover. Greenhouse: an enclosed environment with a plastic cover that retains heat and moisture — used to germinate seeds, grow off-season vegetables, or tropical plants in cold climates. — Shade cloth (50-70% sun blocking) is the standard nursery material for seedlings; greenhouses use transparent polyethylene plastic; nurseries keep open air circulating, greenhouses create a warm, humid microclimate. In fruit growing, nurseries form fruit seedlings (up to 6-12 months); greenhouses start seeds or propagate vegetatively.

2. Make a small nursery for producing seedlings.

   Answer: Make a small nursery with simple materials: wood or PVC pipe forming a structure, shade cloth (a screen blocking 50% of direct sun), seedling trays with substrate (soil + sand + organic matter), a watering can. Plant seeds or cuttings. Monitor germination, water daily. Present the finished nursery to the instructor. — Basic structure: 2x2 meters at 1.5 m high; 50% black shade cloth is the most common; polyethylene trays with 60-100 cells hold small seedlings; the ideal substrate is 50% black soil, 25% sand, 25% organic matter (well-rotted manure). Average time for a fruit seedling: 3-6 months depending on the species grown.

3. Cite at least 5 characteristics that should be considered when producing seedlings, as well as the main needs to take into account when choosing a particular variety of fruit plant.

   Answer: Five characteristics: the quality of the seed/cutting (pest-free), a suitable substrate (rich in organic matter), correct irrigation (do not waterlog), the ideal temperature for the species, protection against direct sun and winds. To choose a variety: the local climate, pest resistance, productivity, and adaptation to the type of soil. — Poorly made seedlings lose 30-50% before reaching the field; a well-drained substrate prevents root rot (Phytophthora); the ideal germination temperature varies: 20-25°C for temperate ones (apple, pear), 25-32°C for tropical ones (passion fruit, papaya). To choose a variety, consult your local Embrapa — it tests regional adaptation.

4. Present a report demonstrating the care needed for planting and cultivating at least 4 plant varieties of your choice, indicating the basic techniques of soil preparation, spacing, the most favorable time of year for planting, and the fertilization schedule.

   Answer: Make a report with planting care for 4 varieties (passion fruit, strawberry, blackberry, Surinam cherry, etc.): soil preparation (plow, correct pH, fertilize), spacing (1-3m between plants), favorable period (spring, before the rains), fertilization schedule (NPK + organic matter). Hand it in to the instructor. — Passion fruit: 3x3 m, supported on a trellis; strawberry: 30-50 cm in a bed; blackberry: 2x3 m, annual pruning; Surinam cherry: 4x4 m, fruits in 3-4 years. NPK varies by stage: a young seedling needs more N (foliage); fruiting prefers more P and K (fruits). A prior soil analysis avoids wasting fertilizer and maximizes productivity.

5. Through a written report (the report must contain photos of the mature plants and the fruits), indicate the conditions of location, soil, and time of year most suitable for cultivating at least 3 varieties of small fruits from those listed below or that grow in your region:
   • Pineapple plants
   • Acerola (Barbados cherry) trees
   • Mulberry trees
   • Cherry trees
   • Fig trees
   • Raspberry bushes
   • Soursop (graviola) trees
   • Passion fruit vines
   • Strawberry plants
   • Surinam cherry (pitanga) trees
   • Pomegranate trees
   • Umbu trees
   • Grapevines
   • Another fruit variety of your choice

   Answer: Choose 3 small fruits (acerola, blackberry, raspberry, passion fruit, strawberry, Surinam cherry). Make a report with photos of the mature plant and the fruit, indicating: the ideal location (full sun or partial shade), the type of soil (drainage, pH, fertility), and the best time of year for cultivation in your Brazilian climatic region. — Acerola prefers full sun and sandy soils; blackberry prefers a mild climate and deep soil; raspberry needs a cold winter (southern Brazil); passion fruit likes sun and support (a trellis); strawberry loves a mild climate and well-drained soil; Surinam cherry is native to the Cerrado and tolerates many soils. Embrapa Fruits has detailed regional technical sheets.

6. Write a 1-page report on how to cultivate the fruits selected in the previous requirement. In this report, include the following:
   • Variety selection
   • Soil preparation
   • Planting techniques
   • Fertilization
   • Pruning
   • Irrigation
   • Pest control
   • Harvesting

   Answer: Write a 1-page report per fruit covering: the variety chosen, soil preparation (plowing, correcting pH), planting technique (seeds, seedlings, cuttings), fertilization (NPK + organic), pruning (removing dry branches), irrigation (frequency), pest control (organic or chemical), and harvesting (signs of ripeness). — Each item is important: variety (local productivity), soil (correcting pH to 6-7 with lime), planting (seeds or cuttings), fertilization (10g of NPK 4-14-8 per plant at planting), pruning (annual formative pruning in winter), irrigation (1-3x a week), pests (lacewings, ladybugs, or vegetable oils), harvest (color + softening or final size).

7. Present, through photos or images, the varieties of small fruits that grow easily or exist in the region where you live.

   Answer: Present photos or images of varieties of small fruits that grow easily in your region: e.g. acerola and passion fruit in the Northeast; strawberry and blackberry in the South; Surinam cherry and umbu in the Caatinga; grapes in the São Francisco Valley and the South. Identify each one by its common and scientific name to the honor instructor. — Each Brazilian biome has characteristic small fruit trees — Cerrado: pequi, cagaita; Caatinga: umbu, mangaba; Atlantic Forest: cambuci, jabuticaba, grumixama; Amazon: cupuaçu, açaí, taperebá; South: strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry. Embrapa has the 'Native Fruits of Brazil' program with detailed regional catalogs.

8. Demonstrate to the evaluator the proper way to prune at least 2 small-fruit bushes or vines in a garden or orchard.

   Answer: You must demonstrate to the evaluator the pruning of 2 bushes or vines: identify dry/diseased branches, use clean pruning shears (sterilized with 70% alcohol), cut at a 45° angle near the bud, remove branches that cross or grow inward. For vines: formative, fruiting, and annual renewal pruning. — Strawberry pruning: removal of runners and old leaves after harvest; grapes have 3 prunings per year (formative, fruiting in winter, green in summer); passion fruit: annual pruning right after fruiting. Shears without alcohol transmit diseases between plants — sterilizing between cuts is professional practice.

9. What is a perishable crop?

   Answer: A perishable crop is one whose products (fruits, vegetables, flowers) last a short time after harvest — they rot quickly without refrigeration or processing. Small fruits (strawberry, raspberry, Surinam cherry) are classic examples: they last 2-7 days after harvest at room temperature, versus months for grains. — Perishables require a cold chain (refrigerated trucks, refrigerators) and fast logistics — this explains the high price: 50% losses in transport are common. Technologies extend the shelf life: modified atmosphere (CO2 + N2 in the packaging), quick freezing (IQF), or processing (jam, dried fruit, frozen pulp).

10. For how long can the fruits mentioned in requirement 5 be stored?

    Answer: Storage time: strawberry (3-5 days in the fridge); blackberry (2-3 days); passion fruit (2-3 weeks in the fridge); Surinam cherry (2-3 days); acerola (2-3 days); pineapple (1-2 weeks whole); grapes (1-2 weeks in the fridge); pomegranate (up to 1 month in the fridge). Refrigeration extends shelf life 2-3x in all fruits. — Shelf life depends on ethylene (a natural gas produced by ripening fruit) — pineapple and apple release a lot and accelerate the rotting of other nearby fruits; freezing (-18°C) extends fruit pulp up to 6-12 months. Passion fruit and pomegranate are naturally more durable due to their thick skin.

11. Present a report identifying, through photographs or images, the main pests, diseases, and weeds common to orchards in your region. Specify which plants they usually attack and state the best way to prevent and/or eliminate their occurrence.

    Answer: Make a report with photos identifying: common pests (aphids, caterpillars, scale insects, fruit flies) that attack orchards; diseases (rust, powdery mildew, anthracnose); weeds (grass, beggar-ticks, nutsedge). For each one indicate the plants attacked and forms of prevention/control (organic, biological, or chemical). — The fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha) is the #1 pest of citrus and passion fruit; scale insects attack citrus and pineapple; rust in grapes is a serious disease that destroys crops; nutsedge is the most aggressive plant pest in Brazil. Integrated pest management (IPM) combines biological, cultural, and chemical control — it is fundamental.

12. Present, through a report, the name of at least 3 types of fertilizers, demonstrating the importance and need for each and suggesting the best way to use them.

    Answer: Three fertilizers: (1) chemical NPK (N nitrogen, P phosphorus, K potassium) — proportions vary by stage (4-14-8 for planting, 20-5-20 for fruiting); (2) organic — well-rotted manure, compost, worm humus (releases nutrients slowly); (3) lime — corrects acidic pH. Use according to the soil's needs and the plant's stage. — Soil analysis guides the choice: acidic soil calls for lime (300g/m² to 1kg/m²); soil poor in N calls for urea or manure; low K calls for potassium chloride. Foliar fertilization (spraying) acts quickly for emergency corrections; base fertilization at planting nourishes for up to 6 months. Mixing types is a common professional practice.

13. Do a soil test of an orchard and determine which fruits can grow there. Ask for fertilizer recommendations for the crops chosen to be planted and determine the cost of the fertilizer needed for 6 rows of 10 meters.

    Answer: Do a soil analysis (a local lab or a home kit) — it measures pH, NPK, organic matter. Determine which fruits grow (consult tables of the ideal pH per fruit). Ask for a fertilizer recommendation. Calculate the cost: 6 rows × 10 m = 60 m² × the recommended dose (g/m² × price/kg). Present the calculation to the instructor. — Embrapa charges about R$50-150 for a complete soil analysis; home kits (Sol-Test) cost R$100 and do simple tests. Ideal pH per fruit: strawberry 5.5-6.5, passion fruit 5.5-6.5, pineapple 4.5-5.5, grape 6.0-7.0. Typical cost of NPK 04-14-08 fertilizer: R$4-5/kg, dose 50g/m², 3kg for 60m² = R$12-15.

14. What is the purpose of the soil test?

    Answer: The purpose of the soil test is to diagnose its characteristics before planting: pH (acidic/alkaline), NPK levels, organic matter, micronutrients, and texture. With this data, you choose the right fruit for the soil, calculate the proper fertilization (without waste), and correct deficiencies before cultivation. — Without a test, the farmer fertilizes in the dark — spending money on the wrong fertilizers and getting low productivity; a test costs R$50-150 and saves thousands in unnecessary fertilizers over the cycle. Embrapa Soils (Rio de Janeiro) is the national reference in interpreting analyses and recommending crops by climatic region.

15. What is drainage? What is its importance? How is drainage done?

    Answer: Drainage is the runoff of excess water from the soil. Importance: it prevents waterlogging that causes root rot and the death of the plant. How to do it: raised beds, sloped ditches, adding sand or gravel to clay soil, installing perforated drains in flood-prone areas to drain off rainwater. — Waterlogged soil kills roots in 24-48 hours (anaerobiosis causes Phytophthora and Pythium); strawberry, pineapple, and mangaba die quickly in flooded soils; banana and açaí tolerate moist soils. Crushed stone or gravel at the base of the bed improves drainage in clay soils; perforated pipes (PVC) are a professional solution.

16. What is hardiness? What does it mean? Cite at least 3 plants that are considered hardy in your region.

    Answer: Hardiness is the plant's ability to tolerate adverse conditions (drought, cold, heat, pests, diseases) without dying. Hardy plants in different regions: cashew (Northeast, heat); Surinam cherry (Cerrado, drought); umbu (Caatinga, water scarcity); Niagara grape (South, cold); passion fruit (various regions). Choose according to the local climate. — Hardiness is the result of adaptive evolution over thousands of years — the cashew developed a deep taproot to reach water at 5+ meters; the umbu stores water in thickened roots; the Surinam cherry tolerates Cerrado fires. Hardy plants are key for agriculture in a changing climate and in marginal regions.

17. Answer the following questions:
    • What is pollination? How does this process happen?
    • What is a pollinator? Cite, by means of a report, presenting photos or live, at least one agent responsible for pollination.
    • Cite at least 3 fruit plants that require a pollinating agent.

    Answer: 1) Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anthers (the male part of the flower) to the stigma (the female part), allowing fertilization and the formation of fruits and seeds. The process happens through the action of pollinating agents (insects, birds, wind, water) or by self-pollination, when the flower itself is fertilized. 2) A pollinator is the agent responsible for transporting pollen from one flower to another. It can be an animal (bee, carpenter bee, hummingbird, butterfly, bat) or a physical agent, such as the wind. Example to present in a report with a photo or live: the bee, which, while visiting flowers in search of nectar, carries the pollen on its body and transfers it from flower to flower. 3) Three fruit plants that depend on a pollinating agent: the passion fruit vine (pollinated mainly by the carpenter bee), the apple tree (pollinated by bees), and the strawberry plant (pollinated by bees); one can also cite squash and the mango tree, pollinated by bees. — Passion fruit specifically needs the carpenter bee (Xylocopa) — the only large bee capable of opening the flower for cross-pollination; without it, no fruit. Commercial beekeeping estimates that 30% of world agriculture depends on pollinators; the decline of bees (colony collapse) is a worrying global crisis.

18. Demonstrate how to harvest the fruits for family use or for sale. Present to the examiners a sample of the harvested fruits and compare the qualities of flavor, texture, and appearance of 2 different varieties of the same fruit.

    Answer: Demonstrate the harvest: identify ripe fruits (color, texture, aroma), use gloves and proper baskets, harvest without bruising (twist and pull gently). Present samples of 2 varieties of the same fruit (e.g.: 2 types of strawberry or passion fruit) comparing flavor (sweet/sour), texture (firm/soft), and appearance (color/size). — Careful handling is critical with small fruits — the impact of a drop already causes bruises that lead to rotting; the ideal harvest time is the morning (fresh fruits, before the heat); 2 popular strawberry varieties: Camarosa (sweet, firm) and Albion (more acidic, white pulp, longer shelf life).

19. Present a written report of at least 300 words or a 5-minute oral one on the importance of fruit growing (the production of fruits required in the requirements of this honor) and state its main characteristics.

    Answer: Make a 300-word report or a 5-minute oral presentation on the importance of fruit growing: the supply of healthy food (vitamins, fiber), income generation in rural areas, exports (Brazil is the 3rd largest producer of fruit in the world), environmental preservation (native fruit trees), and rural tourism (pick-your-own). — Brazil produces 47 million tons of fruit/year (IBGE 2023), the third largest in the world after China and India; fruit growing employs 5 million people in rural Brazil; tropical fruits (mango, papaya, passion fruit) are the most exported, with revenue of US$1 billion/year, mainly to Europe and the USA.

20. Visit a rural property where fruit growing is practiced and prepare a report of at least 300 words highlighting the main activities carried out there, as well as your experience in fulfilling the requirements of this honor.

    Answer: Visit a rural property with fruit growing (orchard, vineyard) and make a report of 300+ words on: the activities observed (soil preparation, planting, irrigation, pruning, harvest), the techniques used (organic/conventional), pests, the marketing of the product, and your personal experience. Compare it with what was studied in class. — Visit your local Embrapa, a family property, or a fruit-growing cooperative (Cocamar, Cooxupé) — they usually welcome school and club visits; observe the harvest, packaging, transport; talk with the producer about costs, difficulties, and success; a photo of the experience helps document it for the 300-word report.