Horticulture Week Podcast

Horticultural lighting: trends, benefits and financing with GE Current

GE Current offers a range of professional LED lighting fixtures and hybrid solutions for indoor and greenhouse horticultural applications, from propagation and microgreens production through to lighting for large indoor farms and commercial greenhouses. Horticulture business development manager Malcolm Yare and commercial operations manager Sally Thomas speak about the benefits of supplemental lighting, trends in the market and transitioning from HPS to LED as well as how growers can secure financial support for their horticulture projects.

This autumn we will learn how ten tomatoes changed the world with Pennard Plants' Chelsea Flower Show display, but could also face significant grow your own supply challenges

Online sales doubled during the pandemic says owner Chris Smith, but changes in regulations are making some imports, such as seed potatoes, onion sets and garlic from France and Holland, impossible and could lead to significant pressures come the autumn. Shifting demographics of nursery owners and customers mean horticultural shows could decline as the market shifts from face-to-face to mail order and nurseries cater for newer gardeners, who want instant results and minimal work, favouring salads, soft fruit and perennials, he says. But the veteran grower is enthusiastic about the 'Ten Tomatoes That Changed The World' display planned for this year's autumn Chelsea Flower show and he picks a formidable 'Desert Island Plant'.

How investing in local communities is helping reduce the skills gap and shoring up the future for Countrywide Grounds Maintenance

"Our aim ...is to have an apprentice on every contract that we maintain", says Countrywide Grounds Maintenance managing director Paul McKeown. Having worked in horticulture his entire working life, a desire to give back to the 46 local communities where the firm has a presence led to 'community first' - an initiative which aims to train and recruit local talent. McKeown also discusses the firms's journey so far, how the business fared through Covid-19 and goals for the future - as well his love of geraniums and Sunderland FC!

How diversity be improved in the landscape industry?

Adrian Wickham, Glendale corporate development director, and Tessa Johnstone, Johnstones Landscapes' director, give a fascinating insight into their work on promoting greater diversity in the industry for the British Association of Landscape Industries. They discuss routes into the industry, how to break through cultural conservatism in recruitment and how improving diversity could enhance the industry and help address the skills gap.

The past, present and future of the turf management sector as SALTEX prepares to return

A fixture of the turf management sector calendar, and after a year's hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, GMA Saltex show is back. Saltex operations manager Derek "Mr Saltex" Walder and Grounds Management Association CEO Geoff Webb join Horticulture Week technical editor Sally Drury to discuss Saltex's long and eventful past, present and future. They discuss the challenges of health and safety at the show, including how it will create a safe environment during the still unpredictable Covid pandemic. Derek, Geoff and Sally share stories and anecdotes from shows past and discuss key improvements in technology the exhibition showcases. Finally Sally asks how the GMA is addressing the urgent need to attract younger people to the industry and what is there for them at the show.