Page 9 - Simply Veg Issue 3 2019

At present there are people starving in the world, but we can produce enough food to feed them...
on the planet. The U.N has set a target to reduce food waste by half by 2030, this is ambitious but achievable and we all need to do our bit.
One method being looked at to increase yields is to produce crops that will grow on marginal land such as soils contaminated with salt from sea water or other poor quality soils. They are also looking at increasing crop diversity which will increase yields but reduce the threats from pests and diseases. The Irish potato famine was partly caused by the farmers growing a very limited range of cultivars and when the potato blight arrived in Ireland it spread through very quickly as they had no resistance. Growing cultivars with a wider gene range is likely to give better resistance.
Another method of increasing yields being looked at by a number of scientists
is improving the plants photosynthetic efficiency. This will increase the plants growth and therefore yields. Apparently only 5% of the suns energy is converted into plant growth, the aim is to improve that to 30% to 50% which would increase yields enormously. Even if they only double it to 10% it would give large yield increases. I can see the giant veg growers amongst you getting very excited!
In this edition we have our usual regulars including Derek Brooks with his seasonal work article and Gerry Edwards writing about damsons a fruit not often seem in gardens but not difficult to grow. David Wall has more information on growing perennial vegetables which are easy to grow and suitable for some of our older members.
I was pleased to receive an article from a new author in Geoff Nash explaining how he got into exhibiting and his trials and tribulations – well worth a read and you may be persuaded to follow Geoff and give it a go.
I was also pleased to receive not only one but two articles from Jim Symonds on plant breeding. The first one arrived just too late to make the April edition and the second was spot on time so I have included both of them as they are on a similar topic. Plant breeding is an interesting topic and a hobby in itself. It
is well worth
having ago, you
never know you
may produce the next champion vegetable or a plant to help feed the world.
John Trim very kindly sent me an
article on fennel to go with the seed that was in the April edition but I had to remove
it as D.T.Brown sent an article to go with the seed. But I have included John’s article in this edition as it is still relevant as it is not too late to sow fennel. It is a good late crop.
Gareth Cameron has sent me an article on feeding with fish, a product called Biobizz which he is trialling and gave me raves reviews on. I believe it contains fish waste from the processing industry and Dutch sugar beet extract. Like products based on seaweed fish waste could contain materials which we are not fully aware which will improve the soil and plant growth.
Also Fiona Shenfield has produced another What’s on covering the July
to October period for the various NVS meetings, shows and other functions. Both Fiona and I would be interested in some feedback as to whether members find this section useful. It takes a lot of time and work to collate this type of information and update it for each magazine. If no one or very few members find it useful there is little point in Fiona spending time producing it. Please send either Fiona or myself some feedback by email, phone call or via your branch rep.
That completes my comments for this magazine other than to wish all members good luck with the rest of the growing season and in the upcoming show season; I hope the judges leave you plenty of red cards.
Finally, please keep sending in your articles and branch news as it is this that makes the magazine.
Lettuce
Polytunnel crop 2019
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