Blog
Blog
Read the latest Starke Ayres Seed News magazine
Chilli | 4 September 2024
Red hot Chilli Zinger
The Pongola area of South Africa is renowned for its’ Thai chillies. STAR 6604 has been a leading variety in the region for many years but recent trials have identified a new contender for the crown. Zinger, trialled as HP 2089, has consistently proved superior to all other entries and is poised to become the new leader in the industry. Read More on this
Namibia | 29 August 2024
Irati for late sowing in Namibia
Namibia produces a significant quantity of short-day onions but is unable to plant longer-day-length varieties due to latitude. This means that at some times of the year, the country is dependent on imports. It has become important to try and lengthen the production season so that self-sufficiency in onions is extended. Read More on this
Onions | 22 August 2024
Brits Onion News – Tusker the young bull on the block
Although Brits in the North-West province of South Africa may not be the biggest onion-producing region of the country, it is certainly an important part of the overall supply picture. Brits is close to the 2 largest fresh produce markets in the country, Johannesburg and Tshwane, as well as large centres of population and many chain store operations. Read More on this
16 August 2024
Creating a Colorful Haven: A Guide to Planning Your Flower Garden in Time for Spring
Get your garden ready for spring with Starke Ayres. Learn how to plan a vibrant flower garden that blooms with color and vitality throughout the season. Read More on this
Onions | 12 August 2024
Tacana Onion achieves in Namibia
Namibia is a vast country, and onions are produced from North to South. The wide range of latitudes, soils and climatic conditions means that it is unlikely that any single variety will give optimal results everywhere and at all times. This means an extensive and ongoing trial programme is needed to identify the best grower options. Read More on this
Pepper | 8 August 2024
Peppers in the bush
Sweet peppers are an important source of income for many farmers in the Western Bushveld region of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The area has mild winters, which allows for winter production, a period when it is too cold to produce the crop in some other areas. Read More on this
18 July 2024
Record onion yields with Irati in Zambia
Mr Joe Daka is a successful grower of soybeans, seed and commercial maize in Zambia. These crops have been the backbone of his operation for many years, but in 2021 he diversified into vegetables and has been moving forward ever since. His farm, Damust, is located 30 km East of Mkushi in the Central Province. Read More on this
17 July 2024
Profitable Crop Selection: Analyzing the Best Vegetables for Commercial Farming
Discover the best vegetables for profitable commercial farming with insights from Starke Ayres, your trusted partner for quality seeds and agricultural expertise. Read More on this
Lettuce | 11 July 2024
Introducing Vernalia: Your Winter Crisp Head Lettuce Solution
Winter's grip on fresh produce is about to change with the arrival of Vernalia, a remarkable new crisp-head lettuce variety. Specifically selected for the colder months, Vernalia boasts a set of outstanding features that redefine the standards for winter production. Read More on this
Lettuce | 3 July 2024
Starke Ayres Joins Little Gem Segment With Tyros
Little gem lettuce is often described as a cross between romaine and butter lettuce. These mini romaine types produce compact hearts with tender sweet leaves, perfect for side salads or wrap substitutes. Harvested as hearts or used as loose leaves in processing, these varieties are versatile and a good addition to any speciality lettuce range. Growers must bear in mind that little gem varieties are fast maturing and have to be cut as soon as they are mature due to their limited field holding capacity. Read More on this
24 June 2024
Seasonal Planting - Maximizing Your Vegetable Garden Year-Round
Unlock the secrets to year-round vegetable gardening in the Southern Hemisphere with Starke Ayres. Discover seasonal planting strategies for every climate. Read More on this
Uganda | 19 June 2024
Farmer education; a key driver of successful vegetable farming in Uganda
The sharing of knowledge and experiences with farming communities is a cornerstone of Starke Ayres’ activities in Uganda. To achieve this, as many opportunities as possible are taken over the course of the year. These may take the form of demonstrations, field days, agricultural expos, formal training sessions and more. Read More on this
Farming | 19 June 2024
An Adorable Update On Our Winged Warriors At Starke Ayres
On May 17th, EcoSolutions collaborated with Starke Ayres in Kempton Park to ring three fledgling owls on the property. The process began with using a forklift safety cage to remove the baby barn owls from their owl box carefully. Read More on this
30 May 2024
The Hall Field Days, New York State, USA
During the third week of August, Starke Ayres participated in “The Hall Field Days” hosted by Seneca Vegetable Research Inc., in New York State, USA. More than 250 people representing all aspects of the seed industry attended, travelling from South America, Europe, and all over the US. Read More on this
15 May 2024
The Golden Valley Agricultural Trust (GART) National Seed Fair and Horticultural Field Day in Zambia
The GART National Seed Fair & Horticulture Field Day was held over two days in October and is an important event in the Zambian farming calendar. It provides an opportunity for farmers and suppliers to meet, share ideas and discuss business for the forthcoming season. Demonstrations of the latest technologies and varieties are an integral part of the proceedings. Read More on this
Blog | 15 May 2024
Expanding Your Commercial Vegetable Farm Successfully
Unlock the secrets to expanding your commercial vegetable farm with Starke Ayres! Discover essential tips and strategies for successful growth and productivity. Read More on this
Tomato | 8 May 2024
Agricultural excellence at the 95th Agricultural and Commercial Show
The Agricultural and Commercial Show in Zambia is a forum where agricultural innovations and techniques are displayed to the farming community. This year, Starke Ayres again collaborated with the Zambia National Service to showcase a host of hybrid crop varieties, including tomato, cabbage and onion, along with others, including carrot, beetroot, swiss chard and a diverse selection of leafy vegetables. Read More on this
Cabbage | 2 May 2024
Zimbabwean cabbage Lunaria: Big, bold and beautiful
The new cabbage variety Lunaria is a rising star in the Zimbabwean brassica world. It is a large, round, hybrid cabbage with black rot resistance for summer production. Adaptable to harsh summer temperatures, it has proved a reliable choice. In cooler areas it can take up to 95 days to mature. Read More on this
25 April 2024
Megastar for big heads in winter
The cabbage hybrid Megastar has been grown through the winter season in various places over the last few years with great success. Knowing how the variety performs under different circumstances and sowing dates allows the development of an accurate sowing guide for each region. Such experience can serve to reduce risk and ensure the best possible outcomes for growers. Read More on this
Blog | 17 April 2024
Vertical Gardening: Maximizing Space for a Bountiful Vegetable Harvest
Discover how Starke Ayres supplies can help you maximize space with vertical gardening for a bountiful vegetable harvest. Read More on this
Cabbage | 16 April 2024
Kilimo heads south
The hybrid cabbage Kilimo first came to prominence in East African markets and was given its Swahili name, which translates as “farming”. From these areas, it has spread to others, and the latest country in which it is making a mark is Mocambique. Read More on this
Cabbage | 10 April 2024
Minimising bolting in cabbage
Cabbage is produced in all South African provinces and is an important crop. Some areas are climatically suited to year round production, while others are limited to certain periods. Cabbage is traditionally seen as a cool season crop, but improvements in heat and cold tolerance, disease resistance and general performance have meant these production periods have expanded. The production of seed heads or bolting can become a problem where varieties are pushed too far out of their ideal slot or where climatic conditions are not as expected. Read More on this
Butternut | 2 April 2024
New Butternut varieties show promise for winter and early production in the Cape
The cold and wet conditions experienced this year in the Western and Northern Capes have created multiple challenges for butternut farmers relying on spring production. Read More on this
Butternut | 28 March 2024