Rising rental fees could cause premier plant expo to wither
The Kaset Fair remains a top regional showcase for horticulturalists, but as the host university increases costs, growers are beginning to question whether participating is worthwhile, jeopardising the event's future
- Published: 20 Jan 2013 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Brunch
The annual agricultural fair at Kasetsart University's Bang Khen campus is coming up this Feb 1-9, and if you are looking for improved varieties of fruit trees to plant, you are likely to find them there. Last year's offerings included edible fig and Indian gooseberry, or emblic, with fruit as big as your big toe instead of your thumb. There were also mangoes that weighed one kilogramme or more each, jackfruit with red flesh instead of the traditional golden yellow or yellow orange, sapodilla with fruit the size of Vietnamese guava, marian plum or maprang with fruit the size of a hen's egg, dwarf coconuts that bear 30 to 50 fruit per bunch, bananas with metre-long bunches of fruit with hands bearing up to 21 fingers instead of the usual 12 to 14, limes with fruit as big as golf balls, and many others. Either the actual fruit or photos of them were shown, so that buyers would have an idea of what to expect from the trees.
SHELL SHOCK: It’s the season for tamarind, but beware of fruits with broken shells.
Last year also saw many different varieties of plants with variegated leaves. If you have a soft spot in your heart for variegated plants, the fair may have something in store for you. Also, expect to find new cultivars of decorative plants to add to your collection. What's good about the fair is that the nursery owners themselves are selling the plants, and they are very helpful in giving tips on how to grow them successfully.
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