The HTA Ornamentals Technical Committee ( OTC ) get together for the first clock time this week at Horticulture House . An intensive agenda and active involvement by citizens committee members generated prompt profit . Topics for the aforethought HTA shop this yr were prioritised and included nutrient and water management of peat - free substrates , propagation in peat - free substrates , review and manifestation of biostimulant use , weed killer leeway in container - turn herbaceous and stout nursery stock , improving greenhouse piss efficiency , non - chemical weed control condition in field - grown crop and autumn potting deadline and effects of previous pot on overwinter and pathogen susceptibility . These will be developed and delivered over the next 9 - 10 months .
Support was also furnish to the new ‘ Nursery connection ’ discussion group , which will be open to all HTA grower members . The ‘ Nursery web ’ will be chaired by David Hide , Technical Manager at Fleurie Nursery , and will ab initio consist of a greenhouse - based summertime visit and winter technical meeting , providing the chance for grower to web and interchange ideas .
The Committee also mold on updating a weewee audit pro forma for baby’s room , the ambitiousness being to offer an on-line ego - assessment to quantify nursery water use efficiency in areas such as water sources used , warehousing , covering efficiency and environmental responsibilities , and then to benchmark results against other similar baby’s room .
Presentations to the Committee were also made by Jo McTigue , AHDB Crop Protection Officer , on EAMU practical software and AHDB funded harvest protection R&D projects , David Denny , HTA Director of Research and Insights , on the current situation with peat use in grow media and Sally Cullimore , HTA Technical Policy Manager , on importing and flora biosecurity .
The OTC consist of - Ed Holmes , J&A Growers ( Chair ) ; Rob Richardson , Johnsons of Whixley ; Vicky Endersby , Osberton Nurseries ; David Malcolm , Worfield plant ; Imam Sayyed , Trees Please ; James Durnford , Allensmore Nurseries ; Andy Bean , O.A Taylor & Sons Bulbs ; Aaron Bicknell , Double H Nurseries ; Mark Creighton , Farplants ; Karl O’Neill , Bransford Garden Plants ; Kyle Ross , Wyevale Nurseries ; Ben Shaw , Newey ; Jo Fell , Hilliers and Ivelina Karastoyanova , Darby Nursery Stock .
For more informationHorticultural Trades Associationwww.the-hta.org.uk
