GROWING TOGETHER

The Autumn/Winter issue of Bpi Agri’s newsletter, Growing Together, was published recently. Herein we report on just a couple of the stories contained therein.


WHEN SIZE MATTERS - To 81 year old Jimmy Reid, size does matter. He grows unusually large vegetables at his site in Gilling, West Yorkshire and exhibits them at Horticultural shows.

For the last 3 years Jimmy has been using BPI Agri film for his polytunnels and has grown 700lb giant pumpkins, 11lb Onions and a 5 ½ lb Tomato. 2003 has been one of his best years and he’s hoping that this years pumpkin will crush the record for a squash in excess of 700lb.

BPI Agri are pleased to assist Jimmy in his quest to grow vegetables to such phenomenal size.


OIL INDUSTRY FUELLED BY BETTER GREENS - Aberdeenshire grower, Andrew Buchan, runs a 15 acre site near Peterhead, producing high quality produce for the offshore oil industry.

During June and July his Iceberg lettuce transplants were becoming leggy with poor root growth, making them difficult to transplant and affecting there final growth.

Andrew tried BPI Agri’s “Solatrol” – a growth control film which manipulates the red to far red light ratio, to promote bushy compact plants. Very quickly the results were observed, compact transplants with improved root formation and greener leaves.

This year he has used the film over lettuce and parsley and next year plans to expand his use for spring crops.

Chemical growth regulators are banned in food crops and Andrew, impressed with the results sees enormous potential for “Solatrol”.


DATE: 09/12/2003