It was reported way back in 2007 that a South Korean
scientist called Mi-Jeong Jeong claimed that playing music – specifically
Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ – helped speed the growth and blossoming of rice
plants.
But while many of our customers enjoy listening to music as
they introduce our plants to their forever homes, we have yet to see any
scientific evidence that this actually encourages growth. It is thought that
the vibrations created by the sound waves produce movement in the plant cells,
which stimulates the plant to produce more nutrients.
Sounds feasible.
It seems to work with our staff too, as a walk across various
sections of the nursery reveals an eclectic mix of musical tastes, depending of
course on who might be working in a certain area on a certain day.
Out on the G beds you might well hear Classic Rock being
belted out by Robert Plant or possibly Kate Bush singing about the ‘Flower of the
Mountain’.
In the potting shed, with its whirring machinery and
conveyor belts, the sounds tend to vary between Reggae and Heavy Metal, so
Misty in Roots or Krokus could be helping with the potting.
In young plants they seem to have a liking for dance music
from various artists, including Olive, while in the multi-span tunnels the
radios seem to be tuned into mainstream pop stations, perhaps listening to the Hothouse
Flowers or Lily Allen.
In the administration offices, there is known to be a
penchant for Progressive Rock in certain quarters; perhaps Peter Gabriel dressed
as a flower and singing about lawnmowers and ‘The Return of the Giant Hogweed’?
But this hasn’t just been an excuse (as if one were needed)
to roll out a list of horticultural music puns; Palmstead is fully licensed
with PRS and PPL to play music, so it is always refreshing to hear the various
team members enjoying listening to their favourite tunes while they work. And
if in some small way that gives the plants a boost too, we’re all for it.
Please excuse us now, as we’re continuing with a project to
pipe Handel’s ‘Water Music’ into the glasshouse…