Dr. Russell Sharp reviews two recent failures in soilless agriculture: Swiss aeroponics firm CleanGreens went bankrupt after a promised CHF 50M investment failed to materialize, and Growy Singapore—an 8,000 m² vertical farm taken over from a US operator—entered liquidation within a year due to high costs and insufficient local investment despite government support.

The episode looks at what went wrong, the impact on employees and technology, and notes Growy's Amsterdam site remains operational. Tune in for a concise breakdown and a preview of tomorrow’s episode on a cold-tolerant tomato variety.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Dr. Russell Sharp examines whether warm‑climate perennials like avocados can be grown economically indoors in cold countries. He reviews a Norwegian research trial using waste heat, cheap hydroelectric power, LED greenhouses, and micropropagation to produce local avocados, and discusses pollination, growth timelines, and energy costs.

The episode weighs the trade-offs between long production times and local quality/supply benefits, shares practical hydroponic lessons, and invites listeners to share unusual crops they’ve grown.

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Yara  

Oslo

Jonas Gahr Støre

Erna Solberg 

Jens Stoltenberg

Erling Haaland

Martin Ødegaard

Ole Gunnar Solskjær

John Arne Riise

Svalbard

Agrinos

Nobel Prize

Jo Nesbø

Edvard Munch

Dr. Russell Sharp exposes claims that fertilizers contain 60–90+ elements, showing many listed elements are impossible, radioactive, or toxic and explaining that plants only need a small set of essential nutrients.

He evaluates sea-mineral and rock dust products, warns listeners to question extravagant element lists, and urges asking manufacturers to provide an exact element breakdown.

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Dr. Russell Sharp examines Sensai Farms, Larry Ellison’s high‑profile hydroponic project in Hawaii, funded with hundreds of millions but hampered by cost overruns, design flaws, failing AI and robots, and unreliable power systems.

The episode covers how these problems drove up production costs, affected local access to affordable produce, and forced Sensai to pivot from large‑scale growing to licensing its technology, raising questions about tech solutions in agriculture.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Tony Blair

Sadiq Khan

Nigel Farage

Kemi Badenoch

Dr. Russell Sharp highlights the eye-catching new pumpkin variety "Thriller": a dual-purpose edible and decorative squash with orange interior and green-striped exterior, set for commercial release in 2026.

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Halloween pumpkins

Squashes and gourds

Hampton Court Flower Show

Soil Ninja

The Plant Rescuer 

Tony Le Briton

Dr. Russell Sharp explains why plants like rhododendrons and other ornamentals sometimes flower in autumn — a phenomenon called precocious flowering caused by stress or unseasonal warmth. He outlines how this early bloom reduces spring displays and can ruin fruit crops.

The episode discusses implications for hydroponic and indoor growers (especially strawberries and perennial crops), the need for cold treatment in some species, and practical considerations for vertical farming and controlled environments.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Azalea

Camellia

Hydrangea

Skimmia

Pieris

Skimmia

Vaccinium

Hosta

Heuchera

Astilbe

Japanese Maple Acer palmatum acer japonicum

Leonardslee Lakes

Borde Hill Garden

Sheringham Park

Botanischer Garten Bremen

Alan Titchmarsh

Chris Beardshaw

Sarah Raven

Nigel Dunnett

Joe Lamp’l

Costa Georgiadis

Peter Cundall

Kazuyuki Ishihara

Frank Ferragine

Louis Benech

Capability Brown

Gertrude Jekyll

Vita Sackville-West

Christopher Lloyd

Chelsea Flower Show

Roy Lancaster

Dr. Russell Sharp explores whether ferns are a viable hydroponic crop, covering their limited edibility, high value as houseplants, and conservation concerns from historic "fern mania."

The episode explains fern biology and propagation—spores, gametophytes, divisions and micropropagation—plus humidity, foliar uptake, and practical hydroponic considerations for successful cultivation.

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Joe Swift

Home Grown

Marf’s Kitchen Garden

Nettles & Petals

Tales from the potting shed Adam kirtland

NPK Hydroponics

NPK Media

Kyle Kushman

Advanced Nutrients Big Mike Straumietis

Dr. Russell Sharp explores Harvest London’s open, glass-walled hydroponic farm at Canary Wharf—an accessible vertical farm supplying leafy greens and microgreens to local restaurants and food stalls. The multi-tier, pesticide-free system is visible to the public, making hydroponics educational and tangible for visitors.

The episode highlights how public display boosts trust and perceived value, the site’s strict biosecurity and clean operations, and why integrating visible farms into food halls can be more effective than hidden rooftop setups.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Harvest London

Canary Wharf

Canada Square

Pear Tree Kitchen

Pizza Pilgrims

Chelsea Physic Garden

Russell introduces his hydroponics-themed Top Trumps card pack covering 32 pests, diseases and physiological issues, scored by damage, commonness, difficulty to treat and "bounce-back" ability. He outlines plans to print the cards, asks for feedback on entries, and notes podcast milestones and resources at eutrema.co.uk.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Donald Trump

Melania Trump

Baron Trump

Chelsea physic garden

Kew gardens

Royal botanical gardens edinburgh

Brooklyn botanical gardens

RHS Wisley

RHS bridgewater

tender shoot garden club

Indy Rana

tender shoot garden club greenfulness

Dr. Russell Sharp explains how stomata—tiny pores on leaves controlled by guard cells—regulate gas exchange and water loss, why their opening matters for photosynthesis, and how stomatal conductance is measured and used to assess plant stress.

He also shares a simple, practical method for growers: the clear nail varnish peel technique to capture leaf impressions and view stomata under a microscope, plus notes on measuring limitations and applications for hydroponic systems.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Chelsea Flower Show

Monstera

Philodendron

Autoflowers

Photoperiod

Autoflower

Alan Titchmarsh

Monty Don

Rachel De Thane

James Wong

Gardeners World

Horticulture Week

Gardeners Question Time

RHS Royal Horticultural Society

Garden Organic

Joe Swift

Soil Association 

Organic Farmers & Growers

Hampton Court Flower Show