The results of a trial to test whether crops could be grown outside in containers during the winter months have been revealed this month (December). The trial, which was carried out by a group of volunteers, involved growing a range of edible crops from seed in specially designed self watering containers to see if they would germinate and grow earlier than usual in the coldest of conditions.
Twelve members of the public volunteered for the project after attending an event at Nottingham Trent University which outlined the results of an earlier study that the university had conducted comparing the effectiveness of different irrigation methods. The audience was asked to put their names forward if they were interested in taking part in the next stage of the trial, evaluating the effectiveness of a new product known as the Grow-Pod, which has been developed by horticultural suppliers Amberol.
The trial took place in January to May this year and involved planting a range of crops, including herbs, mixed salad leaves, lettuces, spring onions and radishes. The weather conditions during the trial varied from snow through to sunshine, with daytime temperatures ranging from 1°C to around 15°C.
Once results were collated, the study showed that most crops had germinated earlier than would usually be expected, particularly in conditions which were cold even for the season. The final average crop yield was also much higher than average.
Trialist Diana Pasek-Atkinson’s results were typical of the overall results of the study, with her salad leaves germinating within six days in quite severe conditions. She comments “The results were brilliant. I was able to grow very early salad leaves that have been a real boost in the first few months of the year. The rocket lived up to its name and shot up, with a delicious strong flavour. I hardly had to top up the water in the pod, and just carried out additional overhead watering when thinning the seedlings or planting new seeds.”
As a result of feedback from the trial, developers at Amberol have made further modifications to the Grow-Pod, including putting a vent in the clear lid to prevent damping off on warm days and improving the lid fit. Another possible area for future development is the addition of an electrical soil warmer to accelerate growth and cropping. The Grow-Pod is due to be unveiled to horticulturalists and the general public at the 2013 Edible Garden show in March.
“As keen supporters of the grow your own trend, we developed the Grow-Pod specifically to facilitate earlier cropping,” explains John Williamson of Amberol. “We were delighted with the results of the trial which proved that the pod needed only minor modifications to its design. It has been specifically designed to be suitable for small spaces, which means that now pretty much anyone can grow their own vegetables – all year round.”
