17 Mar 2021
The results are in for Year 9 Agriculture’s radish growing competition. After careful deliberation by an impartial judge (Ms Forner), Damanpreet Kaur and Isabella McCloskey have taken out the best all round radish. Meanwhile Kate Jackson, Erica Cunial and Emily Foord produced the most radishes by weight.
Five weeks beforehand, the radish seeds were sown as part of an initiative to teach safe tool use. The students employed hand trowels, hand forks, rakes and chipping hoes to cultivate the soil and harvest their plots. They were able to then use chicken manure, sheep manure, seasol and worm castings in whatever mix they chose to grow the radishes.
“I’m very impressed with the students’ ability to use the tools in a safe and correct manner.” exclaimed Mr Chirgwin, “I reckon we have some Royal Easter Show quality radishes here.”
Judge Susie Forner described the radishes on show as “very high quality and very tasty.” The criteria for her scoring was weight, size, colour, defects, crunchiness, initial taste and aftertaste.
Year 9 Agriculture will now turn their attention to planting legumes (broadbeans) in the same area of production. Mr Chirgwin would like to pass his thanks onto John Ronan, Ken Townsing and Susie Forner for making the competition possible.
