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Blog
Read the latest Starke Ayres Seed News magazine
22 January 2024
Mastering the Basics: A Beginner's Guide to Vegetable Gardening at Home
Start your vegetable gardening journey with Starke Ayres. Explore our premium seeds and master the basics for a thriving home garden. Read More on this
Melon | 20 December 2023
New - First IDEAL Melons
The new IDEAL range of melons will be available to South African growers from summer 2023. This new type of melon combines superior flavour, aroma, fruit colour and freshness. The ideal skin colour, musky aroma, dense netting and long shelf life make this an extraordinary type of melon. Read More on this
Zucchini | 20 December 2023
Complementary Zucchini Varieties in the Western Cape
Starke Ayres markets a wide range of zucchini varieties that provide top-quality fruit for pre-packing and fresh-cut use. The combination of STAR 8023 and Everglade* during the season provides a winning combination. Read More on this
Zambia | 20 December 2023
ARATIS Project shows results in Zambia
The ARATIS (Accelerated Rural Access To Improved Seed) project aims to provide small-scale farmers with the knowledge and skills to produce hybrid vegetable crops successfully. Read More on this
20 December 2023
ARATIS Project – Vegetable seedling production
The ARATIS (Accelerating Rural Access To Improved Seeds) projects’ focus on improved hybrid vegetable production depends not only on making seed available but also on creating access to seedlings in remote areas. All too often growers in rural areas do not have easy access to nurseries that produce seedlings, or they have to transport them over long distances which can damage plants and lead to reduced yields. Read More on this
20 December 2023
An ally in the Tuta fight
Nature is often said to provide and in the case of tomato growers, this comes in the form of bats, the only flying mammals. There are 9 species of bats found in South Africa, the majority of which are insect-eating species. Read More on this
Blog | 14 December 2023
Cultivating Nutrient-Rich Delights: A Guide to Growing Superfoods with Starke Ayres
Elevate your health with nutrient-rich superfoods. Discover cultivation secrets with Starke Ayres. Nourish your garden, nourish your well-being! Read More on this
Uganda | 12 December 2023
West Nile strategic partnerships to the benefit of all
The West Nile region of Uganda has great agricultural potential yet to be realised. Starke Ayres is active in the region and has found forming strategic partnerships to be an effective way to ensure farmer access to superior seed. Read More on this
Onions | 12 December 2023
The value of patience in improving onion yields and quality
Over the past onion production cycle in the Northern Cape region of South Africa, trials were carried out on the effect of harvest timing on final yields. Read More on this
Lettuce | 7 December 2023
Starke Ayres enters the Multileaf Butterhead Market with Canagio and Rubagio
Starke Ayres enters the multileaf butterhead market with Canagio and Rubagio. Read More on this
Pepper | 29 November 2023
Thumbs up for Greenhouse Pepper Muleta
The well-known Tijssen family operates Wolwekrans Boerdery in Tarlton on the West Rand. Read More on this
Blog | 24 November 2023
Tips for Maximizing Flower Blooms: From Seed to Full Bloom
Unlock the secrets to vibrant flower blooms with Starke Ayres' premium seeds. Expert tips from seed to full bloom. Transform your garden today! Read More on this
Onions | 22 November 2023
Pros and cons of onion production in Zambia
Onions are essential in countless kitchens worldwide, and many Zambian growers consider planting the crop. As with any agricultural activity, onion production has its pros and cons. Below are points to consider in making informed decisions regarding your choice to plant onions Read More on this
Butternut | 6 November 2023
Melora butternut: Perfect for pre-packing
The market for medium-sized butternut fruit of high quality that can be packed into 3kg bags for supermarket sales is an important consideration for butternut growers. Read More on this
Blog | 31 October 2023
A Guide to Seed Storage and Maintenance for Farmers
Discover the key to crop success with our guide to proper seed storage and maintenance. Trust Starke Ayres for quality seeds and expert advice. Read More on this
Butternut | 31 October 2023
New butternut squash varieties for the Western Cape
The Western Cape province is one of the largest butternut production areas of South Africa. The market requirements are for high-quality fruit, good storage capacity and high yield potential. Much of the production from this area is destined for the export market and the quality of both external and internal characteristics is vital for the product to achieve export grade. Read More on this
25 October 2023
Yakuti – Attractive bulbs, easy to market!
Delity Hamapa is a seasoned farmer from Chingube village in Choma of the Southern Province of Zambia. Over the past 10 years, she has achieved consistent success with Starke Ayres products such as Red Creole, Irati and Mukuba onions, Trinity tomato and Tiger watermelon. At the start of the last onion season, she decided to test Yakuti, a new hybrid red onion variety aimed at fresh markets. Read More on this
16 October 2023
Successful Soprano F1 hybrid carrot trials at Manoro, Kenya
The carrot market in Kenya and East Africa generally is 99% composed of open-pollinated varieties, mainly Nantes types. Read More on this
11 October 2023
Agritech Expo 2023: Stay ahead of the industry
The theme of Zambias’ Agritech 2023 was “Stay Ahead Of The Industry.” The event took place from 20 to 22 April and attracted over 19 000 farmers and agricultural professionals from across the region. The Agritech Expo has become the largest business-to-business buying platform for suppliers in the country. There is a key focus on small-scale farmers, and Starke Ayres as the leading vegetable seed supplier in the country showcased their range of varieties. Read More on this
Tomato | 27 September 2023
STAR 9068 capture hearts in KZN
In the latest growing season the tomato variety STAR 9068 was widely planted across KZN in a difficult season. The region faces challenges, particularly pest and disease management. Common pests affecting tomato crops locally include aphids, whiteflies, and Tuta absoluta . Diseases such as bacterial wilt, powdery mildew and leaf spot also impact crop health. The characteristics of STAR 9068 helped make control programmes easier and more effective for growers. Read More on this
Lettuce | 20 September 2023
Exciting New Red Multileaf Lettuce Prodigio
In response to changing market requirements, Starke Ayres is constantly adjusting the range of speciality lettuce offered to growers. The worldwide search for the best genetics aims to make the best possible quality, yields and disease resistances available to local growers. Customer demands can be satisfied only by having a comprehensive range of varieties over all segments. Read More on this
Blog | 18 September 2023