News & Events

The University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, will host a 2 day Aquaponics Workshop between 6-7 June 2013. The workshop will directly follow the Aquaculture Association of Canada’s annual conference Aquaculture Canada 2013, also taking place in Guelph. See More

PCA  (Protected Cropping Australia) conference organisers have announced the speakers for the floriculture component of this popular industry event. Previously known as the Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Conference, this biennial event will be held at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park between 28-31 July 2013. See More

AUSVEG, the National Peak Industry Body for vegetable and potato growers, in conjunction with Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), will demonstrate the quality and safety of Australian produce to Asia’s biggest restaurateurs and industry stakeholders through an industry-first Reverse Trade Mission, designed to create novel export opportunities for Australian vegetable producers. See More

AUSVEG,  the National Peak Industry Body representing Australia’s vegetable growers,  plans to launch a 1800 Agronomist hotline for vegetable growers, an industry-driven initiative which will be introduced on a national basis to provide technical information and address gaps in knowledge across the industry. See More

Every business is for sale – at the right price. DOROTA (Dee) BRYKS provides an insight as to why you should start readying your business for sale from day one. See More

Steven Carruthers

Aquaponics, the integration of hydroponics and fresh-water aquaculture, is no longer a fringe growing technology. Commercial aquaponic enterprises are now operating successfully in many countries to supply fresh greens and protein-rich fish to nearby and distant markets. However, the growing technology is far from a precise science. See More

A practical conference for greenhouse, hydroponic and aquaponic growers

The biennial Protected Cropping Australia Conference will be held in Melbourne from Sunday 28 to Wednesday 31 July 2013. See More

Rick Donnan

Question

From a NSW hobby grower. Why are my tomato plants not fruiting? 

My tomato plants look healthy, but the flowers are not forming any fruit. There are plenty of flowers and the first two or three trusses produce fruit, but there is no fruit forming on the later trusses.

I grow the plants on reused coco slabs using a recycling drip irrigation system, feeding in an EC of 2.8 mS/cm. I use a general purpose two-part ‘Grow’ nutrient available from my local hydroponic store. I grow outdoors in a protected sunny spot and run the plants up a single string. There is no evidence of pests or diseases. Plant stems are thick and the leaves are dense and dark green in colour.

What is my problem? See More

The Australian vegetable industry today has endorsed calls from SPC Ardmona Managing Director Peter Kelly for Emergency Safeguard action to be put in place out of concerns for the damage and injury being caused to the local horticultural industry. Emergency Safeguard actions which are permitted under the World Trade Organisation rules would impose an emergency tax on cheap imported foods where domestic industries are suffering injury. See More

Australian Perlite has recently acquired the exclusive rights to manufacture and trade vermiculite ore from Brasil Minerios in Brazil. The mine at Brasil Minerios is the largest working deposit in the world and boasts the most modern processing facilities. Unlike other deposits around the world where vermiculite is a byproduct of copper mining, the Brasil Minerios mine is dedicated solely to producing vermiculite.  See More