Posts for 'Horticulture & Crops' Category

 Wildlife gardeners will have to wait another year before the city changes its bylaw to allow tall grasses and wildflowers to flourish in people's yards.

"Based on our resources and current workloads, we won't get to it this year," said Christine Hartig, a policy officer in the city's bylaw and regulatory services branch.

But Capital Councillor Clive Doucet said the decision to delay the bylaw changes was made without councillors' input, and he wants the gardening matter dealt with this year, as planned.

"We were told by senior staff it would be ready to go this spring," Doucet said. "Why wouldn't you want to straighten it out this year? It's not rocket science. ... It's so simple."

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THE horticulture sector has the potential to make a significant contribution in the turnaround of the economy, ZimTrade chief executive officer, Mr Hebert Chakanyuka has said.Speaking in an interview from Harare, Mr Chakanyuka said the horticultural industry could contribute significantly in improving food supply in the country.

“As the 2010 World Cup soccer showcase draws nearer, we envisage high demand of food in the country.“With the horticultural sector, it does not necessarily mean that farmers can only invest in greenhouse products.

In rural areas such as Mutoko and Murehwa, small holder farmers can grow vegetables such as tomatoes and onions.This can help in turning around the fortunes of the country by generating forex if the produce is sold to foreign markets,” he said.

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Can you envision enjoying fresh, locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers for six months rather than three? This is a reality, not a dream, as more producers around the country are using "high tunnels" to extend the growing season of horticultural crops. It has become a popular and profitable method to produce high-value crops.

High tunnels are simple, tall, plastic-covered structures used for the production of fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, and many other crops. They resemble greenhouses but cost less to erect and operate. Bill Campbell, a third-generation owner of a fruit and vegetable business near Harlan, Iowa, is growing tomatoes under a 96-foot-long high tunnel for the first time this year. He is so impressed with the crops and production that he intends to construct another one this fall.

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This past summer, Paul Revere's newly hired principal, Fern Somoza, invited former teacher Rick Herrera, her old Hale Middle School colleague, to tour the Revere campus. She took Herrera, retired since 2006, to the planting yard, which had not been cleared since 1998.

She showed him the glass and lathe house, which were supposed to be used for plants and potting, but were filled to the rafters with boxes'none of them gardening-related. Then she asked Herrera to come out of retirement and revive Revere's horticulture program, which had been defunct for 30 years. Herrera accepted her invitation.

From working with him at the middle school in Woodland Hills, Somoza knew that Herrera was a man who liked a challenge. In 1972, with no prior soccer experience while working at Venice High School, Herrera started and coached a varsity soccer program. In 1974, the team went 17-0.

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With a view to spread awareness about the usefulness of houseplants in protecting the environment, the Agriculture and Horticulture Society of India (AHSI) for the first time is planning to sell saplings at its flower shows.

This market was hitherto dominated by innumerable unorganized sector players and streetside hawkers, many located around Howarh and Sealdah railway stations.Speaking at a press conference to announce the Houseplant Expo-2008, Sujit Chakravorti, chairman of the event management committee of AHSI, said, "For the first time we are allowing the sale of plants at the flower show. This is in view of the huge demand and of houseplant in the market."

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Over the last decade a large and growing number of farmers have taken up the practice of growing cover crops--to improve soil quality and reduce erosion and runoff.

But now the value of the "green manure" in legume cover crops is making them even more attractive. The higher costs of fertilizer have increased interest by conventional growers in legume cover crops, which have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and put it into the soil.

"Sharp increases in synthetic fertilizer prices have helped to fuel interest in planting legume cover crops by non-organic growers," said Jeff Ehlers, University of California, Riverside, grain legume plant breeding specialist. Ehlers is one of the UC researchers who are working feverishly to find or develop cowpea cover crop varieties that serve multiple uses.

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The raspberry, currant, blueberry and cloudberry harvest are scant this year due to the chilly summer weather.

The raspberry crop has been a disappointment this year. The crop is poor both in terms of its quality and size. Frequent rains have softened the berries to the point that their texture has been harmed. Currants, however, fared the worst. May frosts killed the currant blossoms, leaving few currants to mature for picking.

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Call them what you will, water misers or dry tolerant, recent conditions mean gardeners are seeking out drought-hardy plants. And these survivors aren't all spiky cacti and straggly shrubs. Many of them are as beautiful as they are tough, and they have other advantages, too.

Maintenance demands are often low with very little required in the way of fertilising, and pruning is often just an annual tidy-up. So get to know our top 10 hardy heroes (and see below for creating your own).

1 Teucrium species (see picture above)

With attractive foliage and charming flowers, this is the ideal plant where tolerance of very hot, dry conditions is required. It flowers in blues, pinks and mauves.

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New plants hit the nurseries every season, and while variety may well be the spice of life, there are reliable old-time favourites gardens simply can't do without. They are vigorous, trustworthy, long-lived and consistently deliver what is expected of them, often with just minimum care.

Include a few new releases in your garden, if they take your fancy, but don't overlook the plants that have stood the test of time. Here are our top seven tried-and-true garden performers.

1 Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

Easy to grow, fragrant and fun, sweet peas are annual climbers. Great for children, sweet peas grow quickly from seed, producing a wall of colour in months. You'll love the colour range, too. Tradition deems they should be planted on St Patrick's Day.

2 Azaleas (see picture above)

A type of rhododendron, there are many types available, all grown for their fabulous flowers. Available in all shades from white to yellow, orange, red, pink and purple.

3 Pelargoniums

Often called geraniums, pelargoniums are hardy plants with decorative, aromatic foliage, and colourful flowers which can continue year round.

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Police on Friday found Waris Dirie, three days after the Somali-born model who launched a worldwide campaign against female genital mutilation had vanished.

Dirie, 43, appeared to be in good health and was being questioned by police about the disappearance, said Estelle Arpigny, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office.

She declined to give further details, saying it was unclear what had happened since Dirie vanished early Wednesday. Belgian media reports said police found her Friday afternoon walking the Brussels' Grand Place square.

Hours earlier, police had announced they were launching a nationwide search for the former model, who had last been seen getting into a cab after a mix-up over a hotel.

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