Page 43 - Simply Veg Issue 1 2016

chillies and, broad beans. These were planted in a range of substrates from coco, pebbles, coir, rockwool and even soil, and were given a range of different additives and boosters. At this stage nothing was being grown hydroponically but was de nitely in
a controlled environment. We also at this stage rooted 4 cuttings from Goldstar tomato given to us by Peter Holden. So what’s new in that - well they were done in an aeroponic propagator, something which I had never heard of but is basically a propagator that roots in a very ne mist of either water or solution. The cuttings were fully rooted in around 5 days and ready to pot on - I have certainly never seen anything root so quickly. Later as another experiment we did some pot leeks in the aeroponic propagator - again they are well rooted after just over a week in the propagator and are ready for potting on. So one of these was on my Xmas list from Santa (Santa is going to be busy with them this year as a few other people now want them!) The growth rate that was achieved
in the next seven weeks or so was in my mind absolutely unreal. As I write this on 17th November the onions have up to 9 leaves and tomatoes and courgettes have fruit !
So what was Tom`s
views?
proud to plant courgette seeds on the 17th of September, and to be standing over 2 plants with over 10 courgettes between them by 31st of October is a great feeling!”
Perhaps outgrowing expectations is an understatement. Even though I use T5 growlights I am still amazed by the growth rate of these plants in such a short space of time. Yes I have no doubt that people
will say it`s under lights, you are using different growing methods, you are using different mediums. Yes that is perfectly true but it goes back to growing in a controlled environment. My view is you don`t need the full package - you can use bits and pieces or the whole lot. The growth rate in my view is not down to one single element such
as lights but is back to controlling all the elements a plant requires. Our traditional methods of growing and its long history will never see most people moving away from using soil. But you don`t have to - you can still adopt a lot of methods and products used by Gavin and Tom in their business. So where do we go from here. Well hopefully this is the rst article of a few. We are currently trialling a few things and will make the results known later. Why are we doing it? The NVS
“Over the coming weeks, Ian Stocks visited at least once a week to monitor growth. He gave
The NVS is all about promoting and supporting the growing of vegetables.
is all about promoting and supporting
the growing of vegetables. It doesn’t say anywhere
this has to be by traditional soil based methods. Using
our NVS members knowledge of plants
as to the possibilities and potential of using different methods. Leaving the last word to Tom “ Who knows where this relationship between the NVS and Premier Hydroponics in promoting vegetable growing may lead, but I can’t wait to nd out!”. Well Tom as the Scottish Branch Chair I can`t wait as well to see where it takes us. What we are trying
to achieve is what the NVS is all about - the promotion of vegetable growing at any level to our members and to the wider public at large, so hopefully in the next edition of SV we can provide a bit more detail and facts on how we are actually progressing with growing and see some of the results.
us planting advice,
shared some stories
of the NVS, got his
hands mucky in our propagating room, drank all our tea, but best of all, he was surprised at what he was seeing! And it was when he said this; I knew the plants were outgrowing his expectations: “you’re going to have owers on those courgettes if not courgettes by November 14th - the date of the Scottish Branch Seminar” as he referred to 2 courgette plants, planted only 4 weeks prior. Humbled as I was to hear from a man of 35 years growing experience, I was also
and their growing requirements and Premier`s knowledge of controlled environment growing we hope to get to a position where we understand each other’s methods and views to allow us to provide information to our members and the public at large that both methods can work symbiotically, whilst at
the same time promoting both parties. The display put on by Premier at the Scottish Branch Seminar, together with Gareth Hopcrofts talk opened up quite a few eyes
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