UK: Caffeine secret ingredient to giant veg?

A record-breaking giant vegetable grower has revealed that a caffeine kick is the secret ingredient to growing his giant slug-free cabbages.

Kevin Fortey, from Cwmbran, says his six-feet-wide cabbages are the result of a growing season using free coffee grounds, derived from Costa Mocha Italia and Old Paradise Street blends, to naturally balance compost piles to give his crop a pick-me-up.

Mr Fortey said: “I have been using Costa’s coffee grounds on my cabbages for some months now and I’ve seen a huge improvement in the quality of my veg.

Coffee grounds are "greatly beneficial"
“Coffee grounds are an excellent source of slow-release nitrogen, calcium and magnesium that are greatly beneficial for the growth of plants."

“As well as a soil conditioner, they have been used to protect the plants from snails and slugs and this has helped to save me money and to get the best out of my veg.”

Kerry Parkin, of Costa said: “Our new Costa Grounds for Grounds initiative is one of the many ways we are diverting waste from landfill whilst giving back to our customers. Other unused grounds are converted to bio-gas.”

Source: walesonline.co.uk