Blog
Blog
Read the latest Starke Ayres Seed News magazine
Butternut | 12 September 2024
Squashing misconceptions about Gummy Stem Blight
Growers of butternut, pumpkin and squash are all too familiar with a disease known as gummy stem blight (GSB). The fungal pathogen, previously known as Didymella bryoniae, may cause significant yield loss on most cucurbit species. The fungus has been re-classified as a complex of Stagonosporopsis species able to cause GSB, black rot (BR) and, sometimes, brown etch (BE) on cucurbit crops. 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
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
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
Zambia | 5 September 2023
Shiba F1 Butternut: A profitable and healthy crop for Central Province, Zambia
Any grower looking for a profitable and nutritious crop for the upcoming season needs to look no further than Shiba F1 hybrid butternut squash. This crop is relatively easy to manage with a high yield potential. With little need for extensive pest and disease control measures, farmers can produce this vegetable at a reasonable cost while also providing a healthy food option for consumers. Read More on this
Butternut | 26 October 2022
Melora Butternut: A perfect match for any KZN market
This season Melora – a variety perfect in size and that produces excellent yields – was planted with great success in KwaZulu-Natal. Read More on this
Butternut | 13 September 2022
Butternut Carmela scores a massive plus in Southern Province, Zambia
The butternut hybrid Carmela has impressed small-scale farmers in the Monze district of Southern Province, an area selected as part of Starke Ayres Zambia’s pilot project to accelerate rural farmer access to improved/hybrid vegetable seeds. Read More on this
Butternut | 19 May 2021