| Incredible
Crops specialises in growing edible, ornamental and
unusual nightshades, such as sweet peppers, chilli peppers, Cape
gooseberries and aubergines, as well as some lesser-known species such
as pepinos, tomatillos and tree tomatoes. These plants thrive in the UK
and make beautiful-looking specimens when flowering and fruiting. A
large number also have extremely high vitamin and mineral contents and
can be eaten raw, cooked as vegetables, or juiced. |
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Where are we?
Incredible Crops is a
developing enterprise; it was recently started up, by Dr. John Samuels,
after several years
of planning, study and market research and came about as a result of
local demand for specialist organic produce with a difference. It is
based on a two-hectare site, three miles north of Penzance, Cornwall,
close to the "golden mile" growing region of Gulval.
Why are we?
Recently, there has been
a major surge in interest and demand for organically produced crops
which can be grown in protected cropping systems and which can be
produced and consumed locally. There is also a well-defined niche in
the market for specialist and novel crops, particularly in the
south-west. With the mild Cornish climate and south facing slopes of
the region it is possible to grow many edible exotic species (many of
which are perennials) in polytunnels throughout the year. Until now
this has not been attempted on a commercial basis in Cornwall.
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The
combination of the owner, Dr John's background in research on the group
of plants known as the Solanaceae (or nightshade family),
long-term commitment to organic techniques, and
interest in low-input techniques and draught horse-power led to the
setting up of Incredible Crops in January, 2006.
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All
crops are grown to strict organic standards using low-input techniques;
wherever possible the use of fossil fuel-powered machinery for
cultivation is avoided, with horse draught power taking its place; the
project mission statement below reflects this commitment.
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Incredible Crops Mission
Statement:
to
provide a wide variety of familiar, as well as lesser-known nightshade
crops of the highest organic quality. Wherever possible, cultivation
techniques avoid the use of fossil fuels and materials that are either
from non-sustainable sources or contain substances that are harmful to
life.
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How do we
do it?
The majority of growing involves protected cropping, using polythene
tunnels, initially covering a surface area of around 330 metres
squared. Appropriate rotation design, companion planting, biological
control, the use of natural composts, etc are all standard practices
for the protected cropping areas. A small outdoor cropping area will
amount to approx 0.3hectares; this will cater for unusual potato
varieties and blight-resistant cultivars.
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Ornamentals will
eventually feature more strongly in the project, and will include such
species as Petunia, angel's trumpet and tobacco.
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What for the future?
At Incredible
Crops, research into novel nightshade crops for the UK is on-going and
this year trials to determine the most suitable species, varieties and
cultivars have been a major part of the project. This autumn, a
research visit to South America, part-fiinded by Organic South West,
will help Dr John assess the novel crop potential of an even wider
variety of food plants, never before cultivated in the UK.
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Events and News
Check
the window below for the latest news from Incredible Crops
and
details of our upcoming events.
Thank you for
visiting our site.
You will find us at:
Trezalah Barn, Trezalah,
Gulval, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8XD
Telephone:
01736 333773
e-mail: john.samuels(at)virgin.net
Dr. John Samuels is an
Affiliate of the Wholesome Food Association (WFA)
Click on
the
button, below, to go to the WFA website
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