New Innovations – Lettuce Wall at Newtown College

NPTC Group of Colleges

23 June 2021

Newtown College (Part of @NPTCGroup of Colleges) is going all green-fingered as it introduces a new Horticulture course. This exciting new addition has brought with it a new collaboration with Cultivate, and a new initiative with the introduction of a lettuce wall to the Newtown College Foyer.

The new Level 1 & 2 Horticulture courses will be available from September. The course will utilize the fantastic facilities of Cultivate to do practical work, including accessing polytunnels, allotments, and projects within their grounds include growing via CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture).

The eye-catching addition of the lettuce tower in the Newtown College foyer is part of the Crop Cycle project, a Farm Urban system to cultivate lettuce and other greens using a soilless system of vertical towers. This project is funded by the Welsh Government to introduce indoor growing CEA of food crops into communities. Whilst we live in a rural environment, new ways of nurturing plants, using what is known as hydroponics, is revolutionary and is growing in popularity.

Cultivate are piloting a number of different controlled environment vertical farming systems to grow hyper-local nutritious crops to offer within the community. Local, sustainably grown food is absolutely key in tackling important issues surrounding our food system, climate change and biodiversity. This will allow Cultivate food business to increase the amount of local foods produced and in turn, consumed, ensuring that growing models become more sustainable and that our population can eat more locally grown, sustainable, healthier produce.

Richard Edwards Cultivate Crop Cycles project manager said:

“They taste great, are highly nutritious and are super fresh, visit our Deli in Newtown to try them for yourself!”

NPTC Group of Colleges Head of Agriculture, Catering, Hospitality and Horticulture, Sue Lloyd-Jones said:

“We are very excited about introducing the Horticulture Courses to Newtown College. These courses are already popular in our Brecon Beacons, Neath College and Black Mountains Colleges. With this fantastic collaboration with Cultivate, it gives us extensive facilities and involvement with initiatives such as the CEA. The lettuce wall provides a point of education for students to learn about potential food sustainability and the subtle shift toward urban or hyper-local cultivation. It demonstrates how to grow plants without soil but in nutrient-rich water with oxygen and light. It also serves as a local edible wall producing greens for our catering department’.

Identifying and Controlling Botrytis in Controlled Environment Tomato Production

By Rutgers University

June 2, 2021

Rutgers University has released an advisory on identifying and controlling Botrytis on controlled environment tomato production. Here are some of the most important things growers need to know.

About Botrytis

Botrytis, also known as gray mold, is caused by a fungus known as Botrytis cinerea. This disease is known to be devastating to tomato crops grown in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The fungus spreads rapidly when outdoor temperatures are cool and heating is used in the greenhouse.

Botrytis is found everywhere and prefers to attack injured plant tissue, meaning any dying or dead tissue on the tomato crop is at high risk for infection.

Infection Symptoms

The fungus is known to attack the flowers, fruit, stems, and leaves of the crop, especially after the crop has been pruned. Infections can also occur in cracks and leaf scars. The spores remain dormant until they sense stress from the plant.

Lesions on stems can turn into concentric rings that wrap the stem, causing the crop to wilt.

How to Prevent the Spread

The fungus spores can remain dormant for about 12 weeks. The spores prefer a temperature of 64°F to 75°F with high humidity. Leaves do not need to be wet for an infection to occur.

Using a horizontal fan to maintain airflow and keeping humidity levels low can help mitigate any infection risk. This is especially important on warm summer days that are followed by cooler nights.

Be sure to keep your facilities clean from any organic debris. All pruning material should be removed immediately.

To learn more, click here.

Lead photo: Botrytis infection on tomato fruit, showing rotted tissue and spores. Photo: Shawn Butler, NCSU