Blog
Blog
Read the latest Starke Ayres Seed News magazine
Onions | 3 March 2021
Onion Irati continues making waves in Zimbabwe
Following Ross Bingley’s achievement of 110 tonnes/ha comes a report from Gweru in the Zimbabwe Midlands that literally made waves in the Bulawayo Chronicle. Read More on this
Donations | 26 February 2021
Starke Ayres donates to #CYCLONEIDAI survivors
Intense Tropical Cyclone Idai was one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Africa and the Southern Hemisphere. Read More on this
Nurseries | 19 February 2021
Growing success in Swaziland
In 1993, Swaziland’s Chris Vickery was growing turmeric. While on a trip to the USA to see the latest in drying technology for his herbs, he came across The Seedling Nursery, which had developed the polystyrene “speedling tray”. Read More on this
Pumpkins | 17 February 2021
Cutting it fine with pumpkins
With late summer plantings there is always a danger of cold conditions setting in before full maturation of the crop. Read More on this
Cabbage | 10 February 2021
STAR 3316 shines in winter slot
STAR 3316 was sown on 30 April 2020 and transplanted on 3 June 2020 in the Brits area at Van Staden Qualigrow. Read More on this
Cabbage | 9 February 2021
Ruby King making its mark
The all-new big red cabbage adaptable for production right through the year, RUBY KING. Read More on this
27 January 2021
Cantaloupe melons for cool season production
STARKE AYRES has an extensive range of large-fruited cantaloupe varieties that are suitable for cool season production in frost-free growing areas. These were selected for the preferred fruit size, as well as high yield and high fruit quality. Read More on this
20 January 2021
Ruby Glace - Exciting replacement for Red Glace
Since its launch, RED GLACE has been a favourite with many growers, with its dark red colour and uniform leaves that separate with ease. But as time passes there is always a demand for something newer, something better. Read More on this
Home Gardening | 19 November 2020
5 reasons why seeds may not germinate
In this article we will discuss five common hurdles you can encounter and provide some solutions that will ensure your veggie garden will be fully stocked this summer! Read More on this
Eco-Friendly | 8 September 2020
Starke Ayres – creating a safe haven for owls
In 2016, Starke Ayres established an owl-breeding programme on its farm that uses these birds of prey, instead of chemically hazardous methods, to help keep pests at bay. Read More on this
Home Gardening | 8 August 2020
Hydrocache: saving water, saving plants
The issue of water scarcity is becoming increasingly urgent around the world, amid changing climate and rainfall patterns. In fact, UN Water predicts that, by 2030, more than 700-million people will be displaced due to global water scarcity. Read More on this
Research | 22 July 2020
Plant health research: key to food security
Maintaining plant health, and ongoing research to mitigate threats, are vital to ensure healthy crops and sufficient, sustainable food production to feed the growing world population. Read More on this
Quality | 21 July 2020
ISTA accreditation – your passport to seed trade across borders
Seed testing assists in determining the quality of seeds by closely examining their health, genetics and germination capacity. The Starke Ayres seed testing laboratory is among the testing facilities that have been certified by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) with the scope of accreditation being seed sampling, germination and purity. Read More on this
Kenya | 4 May 2020
Starke Ayres in Kenya: hybrids and innovation are empowering small-scale growers
The seed-growing industry in Kenya is evolving dramatically. Small-scale growers now account for a much larger share of the country’s production, and enjoy far better yields since the introduction of Starke Ayres’ hybrid seeds the past few years. Read More on this
Eggplant | 23 April 2020
Violet Moon: an eggplant on the rise
The eggplant, also known as aubergine or brinjal (Solanum melongena) is a member of the family Solanaceae and, as such, is related to potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. Read More on this
Beans | 23 April 2020
Exciting climbing bean varieties coming soon!
Starke Ayres offers a wide range of green beans ideal for various applications. The varieties are selected on merit for their disease tolerance, strong plant habits and high yielding potential. And meeting the quality expectations of growers and consumers are naturally very important. Read More on this
Melon | 23 April 2020