By Geoff Fisher 
By Victoria Plum
I was lucky enough to go to one of the annual free lectures at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, last night, where Professor Rebecca Earle from the University of Warwick talked on “The Potato: between Science and Peasant Knowledge”.
Before the lecture I looked at starch particles through microscopes; research here is in the varying amounts of starch and its availability in the 4,500 varieties of potatoes and how that starch might be of use to us in the future.
The JIC is researching ways of breeding blight resistance into the crop to maximise productivity. The potato is such a crucial crop for much of the world, and this would reduce chemical reliance too.
The lecture was fascinating. It used to be thought that peasant smallholders worldwide were ignorant and reluctant to change or innovate, particularly when presented with something new like a potato.
But in fact our speaker showed that smallholders (the average size plot could be two hectares) were (and still are) very productive and forward thinking. I recommend these lectures to you.
Our speaker at this week’s Reepham & District Gardening Club meeting was Kristopher Harper-Allison, who told us about the creation of the Community Cube Garden at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show.
The challenge here was to tell a story with a theme – in this case the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, which involved land girls, women in farming, kitchen gardens, etc., all within a three-metre cube space which must be visually available from 360 degrees.
There could be no hiding places, so this demanded clever use of space and careful planning. A sum of £3,000 was available to spend – and favours were pulled in. A wicker goat was borrowed for the display because goats were an important part of rural economies. (Did you know that President Tito banned goats when he was president of Yugoslavia because he thought it would force the peasants to modernise their thinking?)
This hot year has favoured my succulent collection. I really like succulents. I find their oddness and patterned growth fascinating. I am happy with the interesting foliage, so flowers are a real bonus.
A few years ago a gardening club friend gave me a rare succulent. This year it has flowered – and what a flower! It is Orbea variegata (formerly Stapelia variegata), also known as a carrion flower, which gives you a hint that the scent is not pleasant.
At the next gardening club meeting it’s Wally Webb again on Tuesday 20 October at 7.30 pm in the Town hall, Church Street, Reepham, where he will give a spooky talk. Please join us and bring your friends to enjoy what is bound to be an entertaining evening.
I have just been in Suffolk for a few days and was able to visit a gardening club show in Hundon where there was a good show of produce. One of the competitions was for the smallest potato, another for the ugliest vegetable and another was to match baby photos of committee members with their adult photos. Is this something to look forward to in Reepham next year?
Above: Orbea variegata. Photo: Tina Sutton