As another week comes to an end it is not only sea buckthorn that fills my thoughts. The needless, mindless murder of Jo Cox MP makes for a fear for the future. The tactic of terrorists and self- publicists to unsettle ordinary people by such senseless acts cannot work as all it does it raise resilience in knowing what is right and what is wrong. What I feel is sad is that these acts have a deep seated root cause that has been years in the making.Some of it based on an erosion of standards, of respect for others and for authority. It may be overstating the issue, but I see the quality of the bickering and accusation of both sides in the EU referendum as a symptom of this. Whatever the decision after June 23rd, there will be divisions at the heart of government. We, the voters will get on with our lives, but if those lives are to improve we need to know that those that run the country can and will solve the problems that are around us. The loss of Jo Cox is the most bitter illustration of some of these deep seated problems. The causes of which will only be solved through unity and strength in a government that we can again look to with pride and admiration.
After such saddness it seems the rest of what has happened at Devereux farm has little relevance. But the highlight of the week was a visit from fellow sea buckthorn growers from Mongolia. It is always refreshing to discuss common interests with others who see a different perspective on issues. The Mongolian climate is a diametric opposite of east coast UK. Their sea buckthorn plants emerge from winter in late April. The plants would not survive without irrigation, for which they fortunately have an adjacent river that is fed with melt water from surrounding mountains. The sea buckthorn is grown organically, but harvesting method is still a primary issue. A post Soviet era country with an economy that is still adjusting to a free market has to find new industries to improve an uneviable unemployment problem. Growing sea buckthorn is a potential opportunity and follows a historic tradition of using sea buckthorn within the country. We have all been brought up with a knowledge of Genghiz Khan, the 13th century leader who united the Mongol tribes and conquered all land from the Great wall of China to the German border and down to the Middle east. Sea buckthorn as a nutritous wild plant has almost cult status as a means of maintaining both human health, and in the 13th century also an important fodder for the horses that made the Mongol empire possible. It is interesting that the Mongolian government give all school children sea buckthorn juice daily, in a similar way to the time when all UK schools had free milk. Such a policy action is a recognition of the benefits that can be gained from the nutritous sea buckthorn berry.
June is a time when the plants at Devereux farm are finally showing the potential crop of berries for this harvest. As it takes six or so years for plants to mature to potential yield many of these Siberian plants still have some time to go. The fact that they also have to adapt to a mild climate and a soil that is the opposite to that which they are accustomed is also a factor.
Observing the development of berries on the plants has been tinged with anticipation. It is however the nature of a trial crop to hope for the best, but expect something rather more realistic.
Some varieties have little or no berries at all. Some started with a mass of tiny berries, but most have not filled and have dropped off. Others are showing some useful indications that the future will be bright. Krazy Klaudia, that every year wakes from dormancy in mid winter is possibly now looking the most reliable and successful with both lush healthy growth and a useful showing of berries. Chuiskaya, one of the older Lisavenko Siberian varieties is a strong, large good looking plant that also has enough berries to indicate that it will be viable in the future. Inya, unlike Chuiskaya has a taller trait and it is showing great promise with large berries. Large berries should be a characteristic of Augustina. This variety has had some disease issues in the past but as experience develops ways to master the problems I am hopeful Augustina will also show promise.
Again – as a trial it is difficult to know what to expect. I regularly report back to the Lisavenko Institute for horticultural research in Barnaul, Siberia, as they supplied my plants. This last week, an exchange of emails with the Institute director is in agreement that the good news is that it is a significant achievment to have healthy plants. The fact that there are mixed results with berry yield we have agreed is probably down to poor pollination.
Sea buckthorn is wind pollinated with males sea buckthorn plants fertilising females within a 100 sq.m. area around them. This last winter we had a very mild December followed by a wet and cold late winter/spring. The males came out of that winter looking yellow and in poor condition. With pollination in mid April, this has to have been a problem.
Applications every 3-4 weeks of liquid Life compost tea have reverted the males to large healthy, lush and dark leaved plants. Next winter I will start application of Liquid Life in February to help stimulate root growth and get plants off to a better start. The fact that we will only have a small crop this year is disappointing, but it will provide a learning curve and an opportunity as to developing how to harvest them.
