Members' Experiment archive

This members' experiment about comfrey liquid feed took place in 2022.

Flea beetle (Psylliodes and Phyllotreta spp) is a common pest affecting brassicas in gardens and commercial growers. Garden Organic was approached by NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) to test a biostimulant, that is applied as a seed coating (developed by Wasware). We conducted a small trial in 2021 which showed that the biostimulant had a small effect on reducing flea beetle damage in oriental mustard leaves, but the effects were not statistically significant. We wanted to investigate this effect further, so we repeated the trial with a larger sample of people in 2022, this time growing rocket which is also very susceptible to the pest.

Each year we organise several citizen science experiments that our members can participate in to help inform the way we grow organically. This experiment - to survey beet leaf miner in the UK - is taking place in spring/summer 2024.

Each year we organise several citizen science experiments that our members can participate in to help inform the way we grow organically. This experiment - to look at growing Achocha in the UK - is taking place in spring/summer 2024.

This experiment investigated whether companion planting could reduce allium leaf miner damage in leeks.

We have tested a diverse mix of winter green manures that are suitable for over winter use in a garden setting.

We're completed a study of the vegetable amaranth in order to find out what you like about it - and whether you think it's a crop worth growing in our changing climate.

Each year we organise several citizen science experiments that our members can participate in - this is the list of experiments pre 2015.