Page 9 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

way to buy food. Drying can also help to reduce food waste which as a letter in
the last Simply Vegetables stated we can produce enough food to feed the world but a large amount is wasted.
Jennifer Brodie has sent an update about Remin the crushed rock that is applied to the soil, it appears that as well as being good for the crops it is also good for carbon capture which helps to reduce the amount of carbon in the air so therefore good for reducing climate change.
Derek Brooks keeps us up to date with what we should be doing in our gardens and allotments over the spring period, so have a read to make sure you don’t forget anything. There is also an article on soil testing as few gardeners and even some exhibitors do not have their soil tested. A few may do a pH test occasionally especially if they have a meter or testing kit but there are a range of other tests that can be worth doing even if only every 3 to 4 years. It just checks the
position in the soil and any action required can then be taken rather than continuing growing and wonder why your crops are not as good as they used to be.
Ron Benfield writes about his experience at growing figs, this is not a common fruit but if you like them are well worth a go and they will grow in a restricted site and fairly poor soil so alongside a house or wall is fine.
Just to show how diverse a membership we have as well as articles from the over 65’s we have an article from the younger generation. Erica Tulley tells us how she saves her seed and is encouraging her friends to grow, this is excellent news; and
I hope Uncle Raymond takes note about saving his own seeds!
Fiona Shenfield gives us an update on various aspects on the society including the website and has tried her best to do a What’s On section but this is very difficult at present owing to the pandemic.
Finally I have typed a table on the common pests and diseases of fruit and vegetables and the controls that are currently available. If there are any pests and diseases that are a problem on your crops that I have not covered please let me know and I will do an update in a future issue.
Happy growing for the year.
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