Up at the Big House

We have been enjoying Blackberries for several months now. Some tiny little round balls picked from alongside drainage dykes in France. Some huge from my cultivated variety which is trained vertically and is producing fruit at 2.5m High.

They are a grand sight at this time of year.

There is some progress with my Purple Sprouting Broccoli plants which were eaten to skeletons by caterpillars in my absence.

Some have done better than others. This is one of the plants I pictured last time.

Some have done better. I think the next report will have to wait until the Spring when we see if we actually get any worthwhile crop.

They will continue to receive extra care throughout the Winter.

Well I have some photographs which at this stage are pretty convincing to me.

The Independent Scientist, Bsc MSc Soil Science, appointed by the Compost Producer to analyse my compost sample was looking for Hormone Effects or Disease in Tomatoes. So he sowed Rocket, a totally un related species.

He reported Germination was Normal.

So I sowed Rocket.Here is the Germination compared with a CONTROL SAMPLE most necessary in any meaningful test.

Not as normal as the control sample. Slow just the same as Tomatoes.

He reported Development was Normal.

Here is the development stage 1.

Tomato germination had been around 50% that of the Control sample. This picture shows PRECISELY 50% germination for Rocket, 9 seedlings in the Toxic compost and 18 in the Control.
Development in Tomatoes had been slow and the plants were dwarf. The Rocket is around 50% shorter than the Control. Yes there is also a colour difference which was the same in Tomatoes, a dull darker look.

I suspect that as time goes on the Rocket may show some Hormonal effects, there could be traces in today's picture. I also sowed Tomatoes in the same pots. Germination has been, you guessed it around 50% compared to the Control.

As I have said before I have nothing against the Compost Producer, they are victims of the Big Chemical Companies the same as the rest of us. They need to make sure they admit no liability.
Something is very very wrong when an 'Independent' Scientist is prepared to compromise himself. With his final conclusion.

That my Tomatoes were contaminated on the Bench or there was an attack by Greenfly.

Oh yes so these things only ever occur to plants in their compost? I asked them, "Do you think I am Paul Daniels".
Do you think I would take the trouble to fake evidence, take Tomato plants for a 2000 Mile trip round France and want nothing from them.

Did you catch the Radio4 Gardeners Question Time episode which covered the Contaminated Muck problem.

The subject was covered well and representatives from all the people I contacted were there. The announcement was made about Aminopyralids being removed from sale. The Dow Agrochemicals representative said it was a shame as it was a valuable product for Farmers to increase their yields.
Yeh, increase your yield and totally destroy others, nice.

My Tomato crop for the year is now so late that I have not had one ripe one yet!! I was trialling late cropping as we were away until September but I did want some Tomatoes upon our return.

I have movement on the Compost which I found to be contaminated. The Compost Supplier had an 'Independent Scientist' to test the sample I sent. What do you think his 'findings' / conclusions were? What do you think his methods were?

More on that when my own test results are complete, with photographs.