Hydroponics Daily

Dr. Russell Sharp of Eutrema shares practical advice for anyone launching a hydroponic product, covering market realities, product differentiation, and regulatory pitfalls.

Key takeaways: the UK market is quiet, focus on unique solutions, be prepared to say no, manage marketing spend, understand regulations, protect your business by bootstrapping, and treat grow shop owners as vital partners.

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

Hello and welcome back to Hydroponics Daily. Dr. Russell Sharp breaks down the new UK fertiliser and biostimulant consultation that could force costly registrations, third‑party efficacy testing and ingredient disclosure, risking many small brands and shrinking product ranges.

He explains the likely impact on hydroponics, lawn care and agriculture, why larger multinationals may benefit, how Utrema expects to cope, and urges listeners to respond to the consultation.

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

Dr. Russell Sharp explores how breeders, genetic tools (including CRISPR) and environmental controls in hydroponics can reduce strong or bitter flavours in vegetables.

He highlights examples—low‑sulphur Brussels sprouts and onions, milder marrows/zucchini, soap‑free coriander, low‑oxalate spinach, less‑phenolic eggplant and sweeter lettuce—and points to hydroponic fertilizer strategies and business opportunities for growers and breeders.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/soil-conditioners/liquid-gypsum/

Christoph Matthes — Kultursaat e.V.
Nigel Kingston — Syngenta Seeds
Kevin Dudley — Cloughjordan Community Farm
Pat Malone — Cloughjordan Community Farm
Alfred Breed (Senior) — Mertoun Gardens
David Cain — International Fruit Genetics (IFG)
Rob Johnston Jr. — Johnny’s Selected Seeds
V. Ognev — Agrofirm Poisk
N. Geraskina — Agrofirm Poisk
Frits Herlaar — Rijk Zwaan

Hoza Zaden — Hoza Zaden
Allium Seeds UK — Allium Seeds UK
Bejo Zaden — Bejo
De Groot en Slot — De Groot en Slot
Nunhems — BASF Vegetable Seeds
Seminis — Bayer Crop Science
Syngenta Vegetable Seeds — Syngenta
Rijk Zwaan — Rijk Zwaan
Enza Zaden — Enza Zaden
Sakata Seed Corporation — Sakata
Takii & Co. — Takii
Tokita Seed — Tokita Seed
Hazera — Limagrain
HM.CLAUSE — Limagrain
Vilmorin-Mikado — Limagrain
Clause Tezier — Limagrain
Gautier Semences — Gautier Semences
Tozer Seeds — Tozer Seeds
Pop Vriend Seeds — Pop Vriend Seeds
KWS Vegetables — KWS SAAT SE
East-West Seed — East-West Seed
Known-You Seed — Known-You Seed
Advanta Seeds — UPL
Namdhari Seeds — Namdhari Seeds
Mahyco Vegetable Seeds — Mahyco
Nippon Norin Seed — Nippon Norin Seed Co.
Mikado Kyowa Seed — Mikado Kyowa Seed
Kaneko Seeds — Kaneko Seeds
NongWoo Bio — NongWoo Bio
Asia Seed — Asia Seed Co., Ltd.
Dongbu Farm Hannong Seed — Nongwoo Bio Group
Sakata Korea — Sakata Seed Corporation
Sakata EMEA — Sakata Seed Corporation
Sakata Vegetables Europe — Sakata Seed Corporation
Enza Zaden Research — Enza Zaden
Rijk Zwaan Research — Rijk Zwaan
Bejo Research — Bejo
Syngenta Seeds Research — Syngenta
Takii Europe — Takii
Takii Japan — Takii
Hazera Netherlands — Limagrain
Vilmorin SA — Limagrain
HM.CLAUSE USA — Limagrain
Clause (France) — Limagrain
Groupe Florimond Desprez — Florimond Desprez
Nickerson-Zwaan — Limagrain
Hollar Seeds — Hollar Seeds
American Takii — Takii
PanAmerican Seed — Ball Horticultural Company
Ball Seed Vegetable Program — Ball Horticultural Company
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds — Rare Seeds (Baker Creek)
W. Atlee Burpee — Burpee
Park Seed — Park Seed
Harris Seeds — Harris Seeds
Seedway — Seedway
Territorial Seed Company — Territorial Seed
High Mowing Organic Seeds — High Mowing Organic Seeds
Vitalis Organic Seeds — Enza Zaden
Bingenheimer Saatgut — Bingenheimer Saatgut AG
Sativa Rheinau — Sativa Rheinau AG
Reimer Seeds — Reimer Seeds
Ferry-Morse — Central Garden & Pet
Botanical Interests — Epic Gardening
Seeds of Change — Seeds of Change
Thompson & Morgan — Thompson & Morgan
Mr Fothergill’s — Mr Fothergill’s Seeds
Kings Seeds — Kings Seeds
Suttons Seeds — Suttons Seeds
Dobies — Dobies
D.T. Brown — D.T. Brown
Eden Brothers — Eden Brothers
Johnny’s Selected Seeds — Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Adaptive Seeds — Adaptive Seeds
Real Seeds — The Real Seed Company
Franchi Sementi — Franchi Sementi
Semenzaio Artigianale Italiano — SAIS S.p.A.
CN Seeds — CN Seeds
Unwins — Unwins Seeds
Maraldi Sementi — Maraldi Sementi
Semo (Czech Republic) — SEMO a.s.
MoravoSeed — MoravoSeed
Vesco Seeds — VESCO Seeds
Beidahuang Seed — Beidahuang Group
Winall Seed — Winall Hi-Tech Seed
Yuan Longping High-Tech — Longping High-Tech
China National Seed Group — China National Seed Group (CNSGC)
Bayer Vegetable Seeds — Bayer Crop Science
BASF Vegetable Seeds — BASF
Limagrain Vegetable Seeds — Limagrain
KWS Saat — KWS SAAT SE
Enza Zaden USA — Enza Zaden
Rijk Zwaan USA — Rijk Zwaan

Dr. Russell Sharp closes out Hydroponics Daily’s 2025 run with a compact guide to the most toxic plants. He explains why “natural” or “plant‑derived” doesn’t mean safe and shares examples of species that can cause severe harm.

The episode lists the top poisonous plants to watch for, such as hemlock, giant hogweed, deadly nightshade, Brugmansia, monk’s hood, yew, oleander, castor bean, water hemlock and foxglove, plus practical safety warnings for growers and gardeners.

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

Tony Knight — Colorado State University
Richard Walter — Colorado State University
James Pfister — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Bryan Stegelmeier — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Michael Ralphs — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Dale Gardner — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Kip Panter — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Benedict Green — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Kermit Price — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Clinton Stonecipher — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory

Kevin D. Welch — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Daniel Cook — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Scott Larsen — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Jennifer Colvin — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Tracy McCluskey — USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Lynn James — USDA-ARS
Stephen B. Lee — USDA-ARS
Derek Bailey — USDA-ARS
Michael H. Smith — USDA-ARS
Daniel R. Gardner — USDA-ARS

Elizabeth A. Dauncey — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Nicola Bates — Veterinary Poisons Information Service
Sally Bradberry — National Poisons Information Service
Simon Thomas — National Poisons Information Service
Allister Vale — National Poisons Information Service
Michael J. Balick — New York Botanical Garden
Lewis S. Nelson — Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Richard D. Shih — Weill Cornell Medicine
Noah Whiteman — University of California, Berkeley
Sonny Larsson — Uppsala University

Sarah Lister — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Ahna Brutlag — Pet Poison Helpline
Justine Lee — Pet Poison Helpline
Tina Wismer — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Steven Hansen — Pet Poison Helpline
Timothy J. Evans — University of Illinois
Rebecca H. McClanahan — University of California, Davis
Philippa A. Smith — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Eimear M. Nic Lughadha — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
William Milliken — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Edward P. Krenzelok — Pittsburgh Poison Center
Robert S. Hoffman — NYU Grossman School of Medicine
William Banner — Oklahoma Center for Poison & Drug Information
Paul M. Wax — UT Southwestern Medical Center
Henry A. Spiller — Kentucky Poison Control Center
Mary Ann McGregor — Texas Poison Center Network
Kurt A. Kleinschmidt — Texas Poison Center Network
Donna L. Seger — Tennessee Poison Center
Christine Murphy — National Capital Poison Center
Gwen Wurm — Oregon Poison Center

David Trinklein — University of Missouri Extension
Karen Funkenbusch — University of Missouri Extension
Ralph Whitesides — Utah State University Extension
Corey Ransom — Utah State University
Bret A. Scasta — University of Wyoming
Keith Johnson — Purdue University Extension
Debra Hagstrom — University of Illinois Extension
Tom Dudek — University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Maryline Seigler — University of Florida
Stephen L. Welsh — Brigham Young University

Craig A. Schmutz — University of Saskatchewan
David W. Hulbert — University of Queensland
Caroline Veresoglou — Freie Universität Berlin
Daniel J. Kliebenstein — University of California, Davis
Mark A. D. Goodwin — University of Georgia
James A. Duke — USDA
Julia F. Morton — University of Miami
Lawrence Kaplan — University of Massachusetts Boston
Peter A. Cock — Australia (Plant Toxins Research)

Robyn M. Gleadow — Monash University
Ian E. Cock — RMIT University
Philippa M. Forrester — University of Sydney
Mary T. Fletcher — The University of Queensland
Robert J. Petroski — University of Queensland
John M. Coleman — CSIRO
Ralph D. Tanner — CSIRO
Andrew W. Poulsen — CSIRO
John A. Sutherland — University of Adelaide
Peter J. McGee — University of New England

Bryan G. Fry — The University of Queensland
Alan L. Hart — University of Oxford
Mark W. Gurnell — University of Cambridge
David J. Watson — University of Tasmania
Ian D. Rae — Monash University
John M. Jacobsen — Montana State University
Wendy C. Weedon — University of Florida

Karin L. Wieringa — Wageningen University & Research
Rohan A. Davis — The University of Queensland
Vicki A. L. Mellick — University of New South Wales
Paul G. Jones — University of Reading
Nigel J. C. Veitch — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Monica F. M. Gruber — University of Bristol
Anne Osbourn — John Innes Centre
Michael Heinrich — UCL School of Pharmacy
Christine A. Smart — Cornell University

Host Dr. Russell Sharp of Hydroponics Daily explains how hydroponic fertigation and his product Gold Leaf (Liquid Gold in the UK) can be used to biofortify edible crops with nutrients like iodine, selenium, iron, zinc and silicon.

The episode covers practical benefits, higher micronutrient content, potential shelf-life and quality improvements, and serious cautions, especially selenium toxicity, stressing professional handling and precise dosing.

Listeners learn why hydroponics makes targeted nutrient enrichment easier than soil, which crops have been shown to respond (lettuce, basil), and how biofortification might impact human nutrition and future dietary needs.

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

Howarth E. Bouis — International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) / HarvestPlus

Amy Saltzman — HarvestPlus

Wolfgang H. Pfeiffer — HarvestPlus / CGIAR

J.V. Meenakshi — IFPRI

Ekin Birol — IFPRI / HarvestPlus

Edward A. Boy — HarvestPlus

Dean A. Boy — HarvestPlus

Daniel Asare-Marfo — IFPRI / HarvestPlus

Erick Boy — HarvestPlus

Jan W. Low — International Potato Center (CIP)

Robert O.M. Mwanga — International Potato Center (CIP)

Maria I. Andrade — International Potato Center (CIP)

Hugo Campos — International Potato Center (CIP)

Graham Thiele — International Potato Center (CIP)

Marcin G. Wirth — ETH Zürich

Ines Slamet-Loedin — International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

B.P. Mallikarjuna Swamy — International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Rainer Schulin — ETH Zürich

Roslyn B. Gleadow — Monash University

Christine H. Foyer — University of Birmingham

Ismail Cakmak — Sabanci University

Güzel Velu — CIMMYT

Iván Ortiz-Monasterio — CIMMYT

R.P. (Ravi) Singh — CIMMYT

Velu Govindan — CIMMYT

Yuri (Y.) Hao — CIMMYT

Manish Roorkiwal — ICRISAT

Rajeev K. Varshney — CSIRO / formerly ICRISAT

Hari D. Upadhyaya — ICRISAT

Rajeev Gupta — CSIRO

Michael J. Welch — Cornell University

Ross M. Welch — Cornell University

Robin D. Graham — University of Adelaide

Richard D. Thompson — ETH Zürich

Philip J. White — The James Hutton Institute

Martin R. Broadley — University of Nottingham

Steven P. McGrath — Rothamsted Research

Andy R. Smith — University of Cambridge

Cathie Martin — John Innes Centre

Lionel J. Dupont — INRAE

Victor Raboy — USDA-ARS

Paul M. Hasegawa — Purdue University

Jian-Kang Zhu — Purdue University

David E. Salt — University of Nottingham

Nicolaus von Wirén — Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)

Ute Krämer — Ruhr University Bochum

Hakan Wallin — Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

M.S. (Mike) Griffiths — University of York

Elad Tako — Cornell University

Julia F. Kotzé — University of Pretoria

Richard P. Glahn — USDA-ARS

Raymond P. Glahn — USDA-ARS

James P. Li — University of Minnesota

Tom L. Sleper — University of Missouri

Dean DellaPenna — Michigan State University

Robert A. McClung — Carnegie Mellon University

Peter Beyer — University of Freiburg

Ingo Potrykus — ETH Zürich

Paola Carillo — University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”

Roberto Papa — Marche Polytechnic University

Cristóbal Uauy — John Innes Centre

Nigel G. Halford — Rothamsted Research

Peter R. Shewry — Rothamsted Research

Alison J. Smith — University of Cambridge

Catherine J. Dixon — University of Leeds

Darren J. Plett — CSIRO Agriculture and Food

Mark Tester — University of Adelaide

Jana K. Scharfenberg — University of Hohenheim

Ivan Baxter — Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Brian Larkins — University of Arizona

Torbert Rocheford — Purdue University

Regina A. Feil — University of Bonn

Karl-Josef Dietz — Bielefeld University

Hans-Peter Braun — Leibniz University Hannover

Elizabeth A. Ainsworth — USDA-ARS / University of Illinois

Donald R. Ort — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Krishna K. Niyogi — University of California, Berkeley

Sabeeha S. Merchant — University of California, Berkeley

Joanna Barłóg — Poznań University of Life Sciences

Mariola K. Kozak — Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Ramesh V. Sunkar — Oklahoma State University

Amitava Roy — Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)

K.V. Prasad — Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR)

K.C. Bansal — National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI)

Usha Kiran — NABI

Ramesh Chand — Banaras Hindu University

A.K. Singh — Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR)

A. Raman — Punjab Agricultural University

B.S. Gill — Texas A&M University

Ravi Singh — CIMMYT

Mahmoud S. Hussein — University of Guelph

Youbin Zheng — University of Guelph

Rowan F. Sage — University of Toronto

Bernard R. Glick — University of Waterloo

Leon V. Kochian — Cornell University

Jason P. Wallace — University of Georgia

Maria C. Gelli — University of Florida

Adam J. Boggs — University of California, Davis

James V. Anderson — USDA-ARS

Bruce Bugbee — Utah State University