Gardening news – why broccoli is so good for you

Gardening news - why broccoli is so good for you

A new reason to eat your greens!

Eating broccoli may help to slow the progress of arthritis
According to new research, the first study into the effect of sulforaphane, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, on joint health shows that eating broccoli may reduce cartilage damage and osteoarthritis. So far tests have only been carried out on mice, human cartilage cells and cow cartilage tissue, but this new research shows that it could help to slow the progress of the disease which affects 8.5 million people in the UK. Scientists involved in the research are now keen to see how it works in humans. There is currently no pharmaceutical treatment for osteoarthritis and this may show that treatment through diet could be a safe alternative.

Gardening news - why broccoli is so good for you

Record sightings of slugs

Keep an eye out for slugs
Is the advice from the folks at slugwatch.co.uk. They’re asking members of the public to log sightings of slugs, especially large numbers of the slimy critters. They’re particularly interested in hearing about Spanish slugs, which were first spotted in the UK in 2012 and have the potential to be a problem. They reproduce in much larger numbers than native species and experts trying to find out whether the Spanish slugs have bred with our native species. If this is the case, it could mean that the new ‘hybrid’ slugs are able to tolerate different conditions, even frost tolerance. They’d also like to know if predators such as hedgehogs or birds are spotted eating them, as slug slime is often a deterrent.

Invasive beetle deals new blow to ash trees
The Emerald Ash Borer beetle (EAB) is making its way across Europe from the Far East and poses a significant threat to ash trees. Already prolific in North America, where it has spread up to 25 miles each year and killed tens of millions of trees, it has also been in Moscow since 2007 and the population is spreading. In the UK, several biosecurity measures are already in place to prevent the accidental introduction of EAB.

 

To find out more about growing your own brassicas, head over to our brassica hub page for growers’ guides, recipe suggestions, and our own range of plants and seeds.

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