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Read the latest Starke Ayres Seed News magazine
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
Shiba success in the East
The Pongola area is well known for warm winter conditions and this allows production of cucurbit crops when most other areas are too cold to allow this. Local farmer Bernard Johnstone and foreman Pieter van Zyl planted 10 Ha of Shiba on the 15th April and started harvesting in August. This is a late planting date even for this area but good prices usually compensate for lower yields. Read More on this
20 March 2024
STAR 2001 Finds A Niche In Eswatini
The Starke Ayres green bean variety STAR 2054 has been the choice of many Eswatini growers for many years. It consistently delivers good yields of relatively thin, refined pods and is well-suited to local conditions. Recent times have seen a small but increasing requirement for slightly thicker pods, and the old favourite STAR 2001 has stepped up to provide this. Although STAR 2054 remains the most widely planted variety, STAR 2001 provides a reliable alternative where a thicker, bulkier bean is required. Read More on this
13 March 2024
Quality Assurance in Commercial Vegetable Farming: From Field to Market
Discover the journey of quality assurance in commercial vegetable farming with Starke Ayres. Elevate your farming practices with premium seeds and expert support. Read More on this
Blog | 23 February 2024
Designing a Fragrant Garden: Flowers that Delight the Senses
Create a sensory oasis with Starke Ayres' fragrant flowers. Discover expert tips for designing a garden that delights the senses and enhances your outdoor space. Read More on this
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