Tomatoes from Teeside

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Tomatoes from Teeside

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Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 8:57 am Post subject: Tomatoes from Teeside

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/4247716.stm

Tomatoes are set to become a year-round crop in industrial Teesside, thanks to factory waste. Thousands of plants, including many varieties which are imported from Europe during winter months, will be grown on a 23-acre site in Billingham.
Waste steam and carbon dioxide from a nearby factory will be pumped into the glasshouse, providing heating and a boost to growth. The first batch is due to reach supermarket shelves in early December.

Trev

Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 69
Location: Wokingham DC, Berkshire

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 10:09 am Post subject:
At first I thought the title referred to my father-in-law who resides in Teesside and is somewhat famed - or infamous - for his tomato growing. Also for misplacing a 50 ton digger in Egypt and buying an empty Rolex on a Spanish beach - don't get him started on these stories! He seems to supply his own CO2 & steam...

crackapple

Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 204
Location: teeside

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 7:26 pm Post subject:
Imagine the size of the greenhouse!! I know Teesside isn't pretty at the best of times but this can't be good.

crackapple

Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 204
Location: teeside

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 7:28 pm Post subject:
but at least the toms won't have travelled so far. i hope it works out.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 7:30 pm Post subject:
At least the waste heat/CO2 is getting used this way. Doesn't have quite the same ring as The Channel Islands though does it?

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 7:40 pm Post subject:

I've been thinking about this for a while and I can't decide; overall I think there must be much more harmful things going on? After all they're not going to turn these sites in to wildflower meadows or sites to rear rare breeds on, so at least the next best thing as crackapple says must be to use the space to cut road miles..

..not convinced about the need for fresh toms in December (although I understand with careful growing and storage you could achieve it at home) as I quite liked tinned toms and don't have any ethical problem with them, but people seem to want them, presumably it's better they come from there than Spain or further.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 8:04 pm Post subject:
Most years I'm picking fresh toms in December from our back hall, so it's not that odd. Not this year, bloody stupid 'Alicante' variety...

Trev

Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 69
Location: Wokingham DC, Berkshire

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 05 7:56 am Post subject:

Back to the Teesside father-in-law...

He & t'mother-in-law have enjoyed tomatoes all summer and have just turned the last of the into several jars of tomato chutney. This is from eight plants; four in the 6'x4' greenhouse & four against a south facing fence. Sungold is an annual regular but the others tend to be whatever's available at the local pub seed swap. Fred germinates all that will into seedlings and dishes out those he cannot use himself to all'n'sundry. He devotes an hour or two a day to tending the plants. I think he'd endanger his marriage if he found a way to grow tomatoes through winter too.

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