"Mini-planters of aubergines, chillies, peppers and tomatoes will be displayed in homes instead of flowers, as breeders develop dwarf varieties that are decorative and capable of supplementing the weekly shop, the RHS says. Gardeners have also been looking for drought-tolerant plants after one of the driest springs and summers on record, with much of the country under a hosepipe ban in summer."
"Small veg plants are seen by plant breeders and nurseries as an expanding market, and have developed compact cultivars supporting a good crop of quality produce that are easy to grow and have eye-appeal as fully grown plants that will give weeks of satisfaction to gardeners. These are offered as seeds for people to raise on their own, plug plants are available by mail order and small potted plants are offered by garden centres."
The Royal Horticultural Society predicts a shift from cut flower bouquets to tabletop vegetable plants and compact edibles. Breeders are developing dwarf, decorative varieties of aubergines, chillies, peppers and tomatoes that supplement household food supplies. Demand for drought-tolerant plants rose after one of the driest springs and summers, prompting rose growers to crossbreed with central Asian, arid-adapted varieties. Compact vegetables are sold as seeds, mail-order plug plants and small pots, and suit cold frames, cloches or sunny windowsills where greenhouse space is limited. Popular choices include tabletop chillies, compact aubergines, hanging basket cucumbers and potted herbs; herb sales rose 10%.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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