Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand May/June 2019 | Page 30

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FACTS
How the Dutch Innovated Greenhouse Tomato Growing
Arguably the most popular greenhouse-growing product, tomatoes and greenhouse
practises of today owe a big nod to the Dutch, going back to the mid 1990s. The
Dutch pioneered indoor tomato-growing techniques that led to varieties that
travel well and are extremely flavourful. Growers in the Netherlands pioneered
the pelleting system that coats seeds in a protective layer, making it easier for
mechanical seed dispersal. Additionally, methods of priming (triggering then
stopping the germination process) tomato seeds came from the Dutch, who were
among the first greenhouse growers to incorporate geothermal energy to save
costs. Horticultural tech companies such as Priva developed automated, climate-
control, and water-dosing systems that synchronise variables such as air vents,
CO 2  dosage, heating, cooling, and ventilation. Interestingly, nearly 80 per cent
of the world’s tomato seeds come from the Netherlands.
— qz.com
Why Time Slows Down Under Influence of Cannabis
The feeling of time slowing down for consumers after using
cannabis has interested researchers for years, but there are no
clear-cut answers as to why this happens. Studies have shown that a
brain network called the thalamo-cortico-striatal circuit is key to how
we perceive time. This collection of brain areas also contains many
cannabinoid receptors. So, when THC from cannabis floods the brain,
it could disrupt the normal functioning of these receptors, resulting
in distorted time perception. Research done by Deepak D’Souza, a
professor of psychiatry at Yale, showed that these time-distorting effects
were particularly strong amongst those who rarely consumed, with
medium and high doses leading to temporal overestimation and all doses
resulting in temporal underproduction. Meanwhile, frequent tokers (two
to three times a week or more) experienced no significant repercussions on
their time perception regardless of the amount of THC in their systems.
— leafly.com
Record-Holding Watermelon Equivalent of Two Beer Kegs
With summer right around the corner, plenty of people will be enjoying
watermelon under clear blue sunny skies. Chances are, when you head
to the market, you won’t see a watermelon as big as that grown by Chris
Kent. Kent, who is from Sevierville, TN., holds the record for producing
the world’s largest watermelon which weighed in at a hefty 350.5
pounds in Oct. 2013. According to the Watermelon Board, the
average watermelon weights 20 pounds, so Kent’s giant equalled
17.5 melons. Kent grew the massive melon from seeds he bred
himself and cultivated his melon outdoors, but watermelon can be
grown indoors and will do well in just about any hydroponic system
as long as there’s room to support the big vines. Perlite makes a good
watermelon-growing medium, however, growers may prefer something
heavier, like clay pellets, pea gravel, or silica stones.
— Maximum Yield Staff
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