Get Well Plant Basket with Balloons

Ex-soviets key to wheat

23.02.12

Has indicated the world's grain growers are likely to produce enough wheat to keep the global population fed.

But the analysis is predicated on whether farmers can maintain current yield gains and there being no catastrophic disasters in major growing regions.

CSIRO crop scientist Tony Fischer said it would be difficult for wheat breeders to continue making gains at the current rate of about 1 per cent a year.

At last week's Grains Research and Development Corporation farm adviser research update in Ballarat, visiting British cropping specialist Jim Orson said wheat yields in Britain peaked at about eight tonnes a hectare in 1996 after rising steadily from about four tonnes/ha in the 1970s.

But Mr Orson said wheat yields had almost plateaued since 1996 and would continue at relatively flat rates unless new technology could be found to give the industry another burst in growth.

"That must be in plant breeding and it is probably GM (genetically modified) technology," he said.

Source: Weekly Times Now

waiting4thegreybus: Hanging Baskets

by waitingforthebus

I am guessing that you mean Hibiscus schizopetalus which is a shrub but it is often sold as a hanging basket plant. It is a very fast grower and needs to be pruned often and I guess most gardeners will grow it as an annual. They need part shade and average to warm temperatures. Keep the root zone moist at all times and fertilize monthly using a balanced feed at half strength. The plant can get very large in pots, so you need to prune it often to keep a desired form. Pruning also helps to keep an abundance of flowers, since flower are formed on new wood. At the end of the season, pot the fuchsia down to a container 1 size smaller than you are growing it in at the moment. To do this you will have to root prune and top prune. Use sharp secateurs and make clean cuts. Next season the plant can be potted into the original hanging basket with new compost. The new root can then be allowed to grow for 2 more seasons before repeating the exercise. Next year I would like to grow my strawberries in...