Dr Russell SharpMay 174 minWhat is John Innes compost and how to make your own!The term 'John Innes' is very widely recognised by the general horticulturist as a word associated with growing media (compost). These...
Dr Russell SharpMay 174 minBetter germination through chemistrySoaking some seeds in chemicals, and then seeing if they grow (AKA a germination bioassay) is probably the easiest experiment a plant...
Dr Russell SharpMay 122 minWhy chitosan is the most flexible fungicideEvery fungicide is designated a 'pre-harvest interval' (PHI) when it is first released for sale. The PHI is the is the minimum amount of...
Dr Russell SharpMay 105 minFUNGUS GNATS - Why are they so difficult to control?Anybody who owns a house plant is keenly aware of these annoying black flies that hover around the soil surface. In small numbers they...
Dr Russell SharpDec 14, 20216 minSeaweed Extracts: What Makes Them Work?In many coastal regions, raw seaweed has been used for millennia to improve the productivity of farming systems. Then, in the latter half...
Dr Russell SharpNov 22, 202118 minBasic Substances; what are they and how can they used for pest and disease control on farms?Basic substances comprise twenty different compounds which are authorised for plant protection uses within the EU (and UK since Brexit)....
Dr Russell SharpNov 15, 20217 minFour weapons in the organic farmers’ arsenal that EVERY FARMER should know about!While some think organic farmers forego all pesticides, this is not the case at all. And, in fact, there are approximately 30 compounds...
Dr Russell SharpNov 4, 20214 minAnimals often mistake for pests by growersWoodlice Some growers do not appreciate, or are suspicious, of woodlice because they are not entirely sure why they are on crops and what...
Dr Russell SharpJun 4, 20212 minYucca Extract - what to look for in a productAuthentic Yucca extract is not cheap, so when purchasing a product purporting to be Yucca extract you will want to have confidence that...
Dr Russell SharpJun 3, 20212 minChitosan - what to look for in a productWhen purchasing a chitosan solution it is important to know that you are receiving the genuine article. Over the years, we have been sent...