INVASIVE VEGETABLES? NEVER HEARD OFF !

BY Willem VAN COTTHEM

University of Ghent, Belgium

Since 2007 we are collecting seeds of tropical fruits and the classical vegetables
in order to offer them for free to development projects on different continents.
This initiative soon became a huge success, many “sponsors of seeds”
understanding that this is a very simple and practical way to help undernourished
people to fresh food, in particular the rural people in the drylands.

Nowadays, seeds are sent from all over the world to my personal address in
Belgium, where we select the species which would adapt to particular climates
and then send them to development projects in Asia, Africa and South America
(see www.seedsforfood.org).

It is interesting to see that a number of people have questions concerning the

possible invasive nature of some vegetables or fruits.

To the best of my knowledge there are no invasive vegetables. And if there are,
I would like to know them. My logic says: if one or another “foreign” vegetable
invades a new area where it is cultivated, no harm would be done because more
vegetables would mean more food. Would people really mind such an invasive
vegetable to spread easily, in particular the rural people in the drylands?
Suppose a variety of tomato, parsley, onion, beetroot, carrot, orange, lemon,
avocado, papaya, etc. would invade a desertlike area or a rural area in a Sahel-
country. Would people really mind? Would such a variety be an ecological
catastrophe or would the local population appreciate the proliferation of that new
kind of “free fresh food”?

I was looking for views of other people about this “problem”.

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ADAM STUART’s MESSAGE

Here is a message from Adam STUART (UK) who has a number of questions on
the topic:

“My name is Adam Stuart, and I will be living abroad in Malawi, Africa for a
number of years. I came upon your website or blog describing container
gardening while I was searching to determine what seeds might be best to bring
for gardening that would not be harmful to Malawian ecology. It appeared from
my preview of your work that perhaps you might have some insight into what
vegetables may not be good candidates. I’m hoping that you may be able to
shed some light on the subject, and hope it is alright to contact you in this
regard.

As an example, I am a huge fan of tomatoes. Having grown tomatoes in my own

garden, however, I recognize that tomatoes are most likely to reproduce year
after year; although, I haven’t found that they are likely to spread easily. If I
may ask, what is your opinion on this matter? Would tomatoes be an invasive
species in Africa? Are there specific tomato species that might be safer than
others?
Of course, I’m also interested in knowing what species would be ideal and/or not
ideal for gardening in Africa. I don’t want to be responsible for introducing
invasive species when I’ll be living in Malawi to help develop sustainable
economic practices that help protect natural resources instead of degrade them.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I understand you are likely to
be busy, so I appreciate what assistance you may be able to provide.

Best Regards,

Adam Stuart”

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MY REPLY (Willem)

I have sent the following reply to Adam:

Good to hear that you will be living in Malawi for a certain time, where my good
friend Patrick HARRY is promoting container gardening since 2007. It would be
good if you contact him over email (see his address).

To the best of my knowledge there are no invasive vegetables. Even if one or

another species would invade a certain area, it would be excellent for people and
animals (getting more food that way). I am sure people would not mind at all
and harvest that species for their own benefit.

It is difficult to say which are the best species for Africa. All depends upon the
climate. But seemingly the seeds of melons and pumpkins I gave to Patrick did
wonderfully well.

I would rather try different species and see what is going best (Trial and Error).
Seeds not germinating are still a contribution to the organic content of the soil.
So, no harm will be done.

Wishing you a lot of success and greetings to Patrick,

Willem

———————————————-

PATRICK HARRY’s MESSAGE

Patrick HARRY (Malawi) has sent a message with some very interesting data on
vegetable production with container gardening:

“I was reading very carefully your e-mail on the topic of introducing new seeds in
Africa. It is of great interest to hear people like Stuart having interest to stay in
Malawi and try to help in the development of Container Gardening.

Tomatoes, which he said he grows in his garden, can also do well in Malawi
despite the difference in climate. However it all depends on the variety.
The melons and pumpkins seeds, which you offered me as a gift when I was in
Belgium in 2007, are good examples of seeds introduced from Europe to Africa.
They do well despite the difference in climate. Those seeds, even if they were
newly introduced, survived the warm climate of Malawi and finally healthy fruits
were produced. This was a significant success through container gardening.

2009 - Malawi container gardening project: look what the seeds we were collecting did for these
kids. Let us multiply such initiatives like container gardening and school gardening for the benefit
of all those hungry kids in the world. Ladies and Gentlemen, at the decision-level of the
international scene, this green ball is laying in your camp! (Photo Patrick HARRY)

I am therefore encouraging Stuart to bring with him a lot of vegetables and some
tree species from Europe, which can be introduced in Malawi through container
gardening. I am ready to meet him and he is welcome to contribute to the
project for the better of the people of Malawi, so that hunger, poverty and
desertification can be combated all together through container gardening.

I wish you all the best.

NOTE: The e-mail address for container gardening project is

containergardeningmw@yahoo.com.

Patrick Harry.
(Director/ Coordinator of Container gardening project- Malawi)”
2009 - Malawi container gardening project: Kids in particular love to participate in container
gardening, apparently with astonishing success. Something to consider when taking initiatives to
halt malnutrition in the drylands. (Photo Patrick HARRY)

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MY FINAL REMARK (Willem VAN COTTHEM)

What a pleasure to hear that melon and pumpkin did so well in Malawi. Our
sincere thanks go to all our sponsors of seeds. Can you imagine that eating a
melon or a pumpkin in Europe, Canada, the USA or Australia, saving the seeds
instead of throwing them in the garbage bin or on the compost heap, is helping a
number of kids in Malawi to juicy fruits or a tasty pumpkin soup?

Do I hear more critics on our action “Seeds for Food”? Invasive vegetables? Not
in Malawi! No where!