Cereal crops are a broad group of crops in the Poaceae family. Cereal fruits are characterised by their high starch content. The most popular cereal crops in the world are maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye and triticale.

Common maize is part of the cereal group. It is a species of annual plant in the Poaceae family. It is one of the oldest plants cultivated by man. It is characterised by its high productivity and feed value, and much of its production is used for livestock feed.

It is cultivated in many countries around the world. It occurs as spring oilseed rape (annual) and winter oilseed rape (biennial plant). Winter oilseed rape is an important part of the crop rotation as it leaves a large amount of organic matter and potassium-rich crop residues. Such sites are suitable for cereal cultivation. The seeds yield edible rapeseed oil, which is the basis for the production of many cooking fats.

It is a root crop that is the world’s second raw material for sugar production. Sugar beet is mainly grown in temperate climate zones, and adequate sunlight during the summer and proper irrigation are necessary to achieve a high sugar content. The root and leaves are also used as animal feed.

A plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is the fourth largest crop in the world. Potato is particularly sensitive to soil water deficiency and is strongly dependent on climatic conditions during the growing season. Droughts and high temperatures reduce yields, and too much water promotes infestation of the plantation with potato blight.

It is a family of plants belonging to the Fabaceae order of great utilitarian importance. This includes forage crops such as clover or alfalfa and food crops such as beans, peas, lentils and soya beans.

Apple trees are one of the most important fruit trees grown in the world. They are second only to citrus crops. They grow in temperate climates and include dozens of species, and there are several thousand varieties in cultivation that are the result of breeding and cross-breeding of earlier varieties.

The most frequently cultivated species is the common peach, which comes in many varieties. It has high heat requirements and requires a sunny position and protection in winter from frost, to which the flower buds often succumb in early spring. Peach cultivation requires a number of preventive treatments due to its susceptibility to diseases such as leaf curl, scab and brown rot of stone trees.

It requires a sunny, warm and wind-sheltered position and proper care ensures a good yield. The greatest threat to apricots in Central European climates is the high sensitivity of the flower buds to frost, especially in early spring. Around 30 varieties are grown in Europe, and these include some that fruit as early as July and late varieties that fruit as late as the third decade of August.

The most popular varieties in cultivation are the domestic and Japanese plum varieties. They have fruits that vary in shape – oblong or globular and in colour – from pink to purple. Up to 2,000 varieties are now grown worldwide, although the importance in orcharding is around 100. The house plum is a tree with a short trunk and a branching crown, and it flowers in spring – usually before the leaves appear.

The cherry tree is one of the most popular fruit trees. It is a strong-growing species and therefore requires high doses of nutrients – it feels best on sites with rich, fertile and deep soil. Any nutrient deficiency has a negative impact on growth and yield. It should be sheltered from cold winds due to the risk of freezing in winter.

The cherry has few soil requirements and the temperate climate is favourable for its cultivation. It has a high tolerance to low temperatures and is not very sensitive to drought, which means that it does not cause too many problems in cultivation. The cherry tree flowers from early April to May and the fruit ripens from July to September.

A fruit-bearing shrub found both in the wild and in cultivation, in many varieties. Raspberries prefer well-sunned and heated sites, fertile, slightly acidic soils, rich in nutrients. They reproduce through the root system, which means that young seedlings emerge directly from the ground – however, due to their shallow rooting, they require care to ensure adequate hydration. They bear fruit on annual and biennial shoots.

Currant bushes provide the berries – white, red and black currants are grown. The plant has few soil requirements, with the exception of blackcurrant, which prefers more fertile soils. The shrubs are best grown in soil with a slightly acidic or neutral pH, in a sunny, warm position sheltered from strong winds.

It is a thorny shrub in the Grossulariaceae family reaching a height of 0.5-1.5 m, depending on the variety. The plant is primarily grown in Europe and has more than a thousand varieties. Gooseberry berries can be green, yellow or red in colour. It requires a sheltered, sunny position for proper development. It has no particular soil requirements – slightly acidic soils work well for cultivation.

Depending on the species and variety with fruits having different shapes, sizes, flavours and colours – from light green through pink, red to black. There are currently about 5,000 varieties, of which about 250 are commercially grown.

It is widely cultivated in temperate climates for its tasty fruit. It is one of the most popular crops. Strawberry does not have any particular soil requirements, but higher yields are obtained from a position with humus-rich soil with a slightly acid reaction. It performs well as a follow-up crop to carrots, beans or brassicas.

A fruiting shrub with blue berries grown commercially in North America, mainly in the USA and Canada. Poland is one of the largest producers in Europe. The blueberry has very high soil requirements – it requires very acidic, humus soil and should be planted on sunny and wind-sheltered sites.

Production of crops under cover is possible using greenhouses, foil tunnels or in hothouses. By using this type of cultivation, it is possible to become less dependent on outdoor conditions and to shorten the overall production cycle, while increasing yields compared to ground cultivation. However, this type of production requires higher investment and greater professionalisation of production.

The most striking bulbous plants flower from spring to autumn, and the right selection can provide a full range of colour in the garden almost throughout the season. In their cultivation, providing a suitable site for planting bulbs plays a major role. Most ornamental bulbous plants prefer well-sunned positions. These plants prefer fertile, permeable soil.

Growing in greenhouses or plastic tunnels very often proves to be a necessity due to the requirements of the plants themselves. Due to the difficult climatic conditions, not all species are suitable for growing directly in the ground. Growing under cover offers better opportunities to maintain stable conditions – temperature, humidity and, at the same time, sufficient light.