That famous phrase – Keep Calm and Carry On, comes to mind as I watch the EU referendum results unravel. In such a grave situation there is no place for emotion. What is clear is that for whatever reason there is no plan for the UK to go forward if the vote to Leave the EU wins. There is no leader. We are heading for a period of crisis management during which time all one can do is not make big decisions and wait until reality reveals itself.
This week has been marred also by the most torrential rain which just gets in the way of trying to make progress with anything. It was by chance that I watched a channel 4 repeat on extreme weather a couple of nights ago. We all know that flooding has been an issue in the past. In 1483 a flash flood saved King Richard III, as a rebellious army led by the Duke of Buckingham became bogged down in severe flooding of the Severn Valley. Events down the ages have been noted but even climate change sceptics are having to accept today’s events are more frequent and dramatic. The North Atlantic jetstream is reacting to a warming of the atmosphere. Like it or not, we are in changing times and more extreme weather is something we need to come to terms with – just in the same way as we will need to come to terms with leaving the EU and all that it means.
In the sea buckthorn field I have to admit I let my emotions get ahead of rationality. This year has been very free of insect pests. Last year aphids attacked the siberian variety Altaiskaya with a vengance. The result was devastating for some plants with extensive loss of leaf and even death. Trying to maintain an organic growing methods meant that by the time I had found and obtained a solution ( Neem ), the damage was done. Coming out of that experience I am naturally suspicious of all insects on my plants. So when this month I saw a small black, larvae looking bug on my leaves my instant reaction was physical removal. It was not until a late night investigation into insect identification that I realised that these larvae were ladybird larvae. Ladybirds that eat aphids. So the moral of the story is not to be too quick to judge.
The other interesting feature of progress relates to the development of berries on the Siberian plants. Possibly I should say the lack of development as most plants with the exception of Klaudia and Inya have almost no berries this year. An exchange of emails with the Lisavenko institute in siberia has identified that the reason is poor pollination brought about by the poor condition of males in the pollination period in April. Having had a cold and wet late winter and spring the lack of nutrient availability starved the plants with an end result of few berries. Discussions with Soil Hub International have agreed that 2017 the plants will be given a monthly compost tea spray from February. As most varieties are now coming out of dormancy in January, there is enough leaf to start to feed them. So as with many issues – a problem has a solution.
The emails with Lisavenko also included a discussion about harvesting. The Siberian varieties are traditionally hand picked. In the UK this is an expensive option,especially if the crop has so few berries. Last year the german varieties at Devereux farm were harvested by having 0.5m sections of branches cut and then frozen. In a frozen state the berries can be knocked off without damage, then the leaves seperated and a good clean sample of fruit produced. This is efficient and cost effective. Then the germans however say that not all varieties are suitable for cutting. Siberian varieties are not cut, and my experience of some varieties at devereux indicates that they are sensitive to damage and disease prone. But with no work undertaken into whether one can/cannot cut siberian varieties it seems to make sense to give it a try. The issue will be tool hygiene and management of the plants after cutting to encourage recovery and re-growth.
So Lisavenko have suggested four varieties that they feel are most suitable. Soil Hub International are designing some enhanced compost tea variants to test as post cutting spray to rejuvenate the plants. The final part of the puzzle is to ensure that there are objective and quantified results gained from the excercise. So I am asking East Malling research in Kent to help in the design and possibly management of the trial.
So by next year I hope I will have good pollination leading to a good crop of berries and the ability to harvest them in an efficient and cost effective method. Simple – it just takes time. I just wonder how long it will take to manage our new status of the UK outside the EU. Somehow i do not see it as simple.
