YOUR INDUSTRY
PLANTS CAN HELP REDUCE EMISSIONS AND CHEMICAL USE Elaine Fisher
Kings Seeds owners Barbara and Gerard Martin and their new general manager Charlotte Connoley in the company’s Katikati warehouse
Seeds for flowers to feed beneficial insects, for plants which help regenerate the soil, and for green manure are among those in the thousands of sacks, bags and packets which fill the Katikati warehouse of Kings Seeds. Better known for its online business supplying seeds to home gardeners, the company also specialises in supplying smaller commercial growers, farmers, and horticulturalists with specific varieties to meet their needs.
If growers know aphids are likely to be a problem at a particular time of year, they can plant seeds, especially of Phacelia, three months early, to be sure to have a food source for the insects which will help control the aphids Charlotte Connoley, Kings Seeds general manager, says the regenerative agriculture movement is strong right now. “A lot of people see the benefits of using green manure to enhance soils, and plants to help reduce chemical inputs and lower emissions. These are in line 36 NZGROWER : MAY 2022
with the government’s aim for a more sustainable primary economy, as set out in its Fit for a Better World plan.” And there is a science to back up the use of plants to help improve the environment, including from research by Lincoln University, says Gerard Martin who, with his wife Barbara, owns Kings Seeds. “Flowering plants can help with integrated pest management programmes on orchards and vineyards by providing nectar and pollen for beneficial insects,” says Gerard. “Integrated pest management means growers monitor pests and use target sprays for specific pests when required. By understanding the lifecycle of pests and beneficial insects they can use nature to encourage the good guys to fight for them. “Providing a food source for the beneficial insects is imperative. For instance, if growers know aphids are likely to be a problem at a particular time of year, they can plant seeds, especially of Phacelia, three months early, to be sure to have a food source for the insects which will help control the aphids.” Knowing the feeding habits of beneficial insects is also vital. “Some, like parasitic wasps, have very short ’noses’ and can’t access nectar from many flowers, which is why alyssum, with its clusters of tiny flowers is an ideal food source. Alyssum is
