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Melons and aubergines thrive in Oxfordshire hot summer experiment
Overview
An agricultural experiment at Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire successfully grew watermelons, melons, and aubergines outdoors during the UK's hottest summer on record. Led by Tim Mitchell as part of the Gaia Foundation's Crowd Breeding Project, the initiative aims to build food resilience and genetic diversity into UK crops to help them adapt to changing climate conditions.
Key points
- Watermelons, melons, and aubergines were successfully grown outdoors at Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire.
- The experiment coincided with the UK's hottest summer on record, providing ideal conditions for the heat-loving crops.
- The project is part of the Crowd Breeding Project, led by the international charity the Gaia Foundation.
- The scheme aims to build food resilience and introduce genetic diversity through natural cross-pollination to help crops adapt to climate change.