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#1
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Taste, Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote:
.....snip..... Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" of organic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blind trials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organic produce. Why would these exist? It almost impossible to do anyway, because everything (soil, slope, aspect, ph, watering, handling, storage, cooking) affects taste and it would be impossible to produce the amount of raw material that could be considered to be identical to generate statistically valid results. Anyway, I grew tomatoes this year "organically" and they tasted shite, like cardboard. These were the Roma seedlings our neighbour gave us. In the same plot, self seeded, grew one cherry tomato plant that tasted beautiful. Similar story with the potatoes. a neighbour gave us a butter plate size potato they had they had sprouted, so it was split and planted along with our usual range of potatoes. Again, it was bland compared to the Keflers, Desire, etc that we also planted. The problem of taste is largely a result of modern agriculture selecting varieties that are quick growing, handle easily and store easily. Taste is the last thing they care about. For the home gardener, if you want taste, look at heritage seeds and varieties. |
#2
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Taste, Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in
: SNIP For the home gardener, if you want taste, look at heritage seeds and varieties. Thanks Terry - that sums up nicely what I have been thinking but I was curious about the "chemical taste factor". From the replies to date, that seems to have been settled fairly well as well for me. Ivan. |
#3
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Taste, Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in
: SNIP For the home gardener, if you want taste, look at heritage seeds and varieties. Thanks Terry - that sums up nicely what I have been thinking but I was curious about the "chemical taste factor". From the replies to date, that seems to have been settled fairly well as well for me. Ivan. |
#4
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Taste, Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in message ...
Ivan McDonagh wrote: ....snip..... Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" of organic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blind trials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organic produce. Why would these exist? It almost impossible to do anyway, because everything (soil, slope, aspect, ph, watering, handling, storage, cooking) affects taste and it would be impossible to produce the amount of raw material that could be considered to be identical to generate statistically valid results. Anyway, I grew tomatoes this year "organically" and they tasted shite, like cardboard. These were the Roma seedlings our neighbour gave us. In the same plot, self seeded, grew one cherry tomato plant that tasted beautiful. Similar story with the potatoes. a neighbour gave us a butter plate size potato they had they had sprouted, so it was split and planted along with our usual range of potatoes. Again, it was bland compared to the Keflers, Desire, etc that we also planted. The problem of taste is largely a result of modern agriculture selecting varieties that are quick growing, handle easily and store easily. Taste is the last thing they care about. For the home gardener, if you want taste, look at heritage seeds and varieties. I largely concur. Taste is improved by organic method only on average, and taste depends on many more variables. I am pretty sure a chemical brandywine will taste a lot better than an organic Roma. Likewise, we love our homegrown lettuce because looseleaf lettuce (best tasting, perfect for cut-and-come again, but very perishable) is just a superior green than any heading lettuce (can travel, no taste). Nothing to do with organic. One of the advantages of organic cultivation is that the balanced soil will reflect, on average, in a better tasting veggie through better health and metabolism of the plant, and better micronutrient profile. This said, I found lettuce or chard grown on straight manure to be worse than lettuce or chard grown in leaf mold with just a bit of manure. I found that wood ash improved the taste of many vegetables in my acid soil. I am sure that lime would work almost as well. |
#5
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Taste, Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in message ...
Ivan McDonagh wrote: ....snip..... Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" of organic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blind trials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organic produce. Why would these exist? It almost impossible to do anyway, because everything (soil, slope, aspect, ph, watering, handling, storage, cooking) affects taste and it would be impossible to produce the amount of raw material that could be considered to be identical to generate statistically valid results. Anyway, I grew tomatoes this year "organically" and they tasted shite, like cardboard. These were the Roma seedlings our neighbour gave us. In the same plot, self seeded, grew one cherry tomato plant that tasted beautiful. Similar story with the potatoes. a neighbour gave us a butter plate size potato they had they had sprouted, so it was split and planted along with our usual range of potatoes. Again, it was bland compared to the Keflers, Desire, etc that we also planted. The problem of taste is largely a result of modern agriculture selecting varieties that are quick growing, handle easily and store easily. Taste is the last thing they care about. For the home gardener, if you want taste, look at heritage seeds and varieties. I largely concur. Taste is improved by organic method only on average, and taste depends on many more variables. I am pretty sure a chemical brandywine will taste a lot better than an organic Roma. Likewise, we love our homegrown lettuce because looseleaf lettuce (best tasting, perfect for cut-and-come again, but very perishable) is just a superior green than any heading lettuce (can travel, no taste). Nothing to do with organic. One of the advantages of organic cultivation is that the balanced soil will reflect, on average, in a better tasting veggie through better health and metabolism of the plant, and better micronutrient profile. This said, I found lettuce or chard grown on straight manure to be worse than lettuce or chard grown in leaf mold with just a bit of manure. I found that wood ash improved the taste of many vegetables in my acid soil. I am sure that lime would work almost as well. |
#6
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Taste, Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in message ...
Ivan McDonagh wrote: ....snip..... Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" of organic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blind trials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organic produce. Why would these exist? It almost impossible to do anyway, because everything (soil, slope, aspect, ph, watering, handling, storage, cooking) affects taste and it would be impossible to produce the amount of raw material that could be considered to be identical to generate statistically valid results. Anyway, I grew tomatoes this year "organically" and they tasted shite, like cardboard. These were the Roma seedlings our neighbour gave us. In the same plot, self seeded, grew one cherry tomato plant that tasted beautiful. Similar story with the potatoes. a neighbour gave us a butter plate size potato they had they had sprouted, so it was split and planted along with our usual range of potatoes. Again, it was bland compared to the Keflers, Desire, etc that we also planted. The problem of taste is largely a result of modern agriculture selecting varieties that are quick growing, handle easily and store easily. Taste is the last thing they care about. For the home gardener, if you want taste, look at heritage seeds and varieties. I largely concur. Taste is improved by organic method only on average, and taste depends on many more variables. I am pretty sure a chemical brandywine will taste a lot better than an organic Roma. Likewise, we love our homegrown lettuce because looseleaf lettuce (best tasting, perfect for cut-and-come again, but very perishable) is just a superior green than any heading lettuce (can travel, no taste). Nothing to do with organic. One of the advantages of organic cultivation is that the balanced soil will reflect, on average, in a better tasting veggie through better health and metabolism of the plant, and better micronutrient profile. This said, I found lettuce or chard grown on straight manure to be worse than lettuce or chard grown in leaf mold with just a bit of manure. I found that wood ash improved the taste of many vegetables in my acid soil. I am sure that lime would work almost as well. |
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