The following new products have recently been announced by CHA members;

Hoogendoorn Growth Management has launched Hoogendoorn Sensiplant to remove many of the traditional problems in determining soil humidity. This easy, wireless solution for pot plant cultivation ensures precise irrigation for all plants and offers significant time savings.
To view a short demo clip, visit www.sensiplant.com or obtain more details from Hoogendoorn.

The H2O-2GO mobile water cart for the horticulture trade is now available from Pendred. It is particularly suitable for plant watering in stores, garden centres or greenhouses. The carts can be branded for different requirements or incorporate graphics to enhance promotions or related products. Contact Pendred Humidification for more details or email: info@h2o2gocarts.com

Vitax has added two new organic fertilisers to its range - one for strawberries and soft fruit and another for potatoes and vegetables. Both are ideal for use in barrels, tubs and planters as well as more conventional situations. (Hort Week, 20th March)

At the Grower of the Year Awards 2008, the Technical Product of the Year Award went to Hortec for its QuickCut trimming machine (Hort. Week, 16th March)

Whetman Pinks introduced seven new varieties of Dianthus and re-launched Bailey's Celebration at this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

David Austin Roses introduced three new varieties at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. These are Rosa 'Young Lycidas', Rosa 'Sir John Betjeman' and Rosa 'Wisley 2008'

Solufeed has a new acidic fertiliser, which is billed as a useful product for glasshouse strawberries.

This is promising to be an exciting year for Raymond Evison's Guernsey Clematis as his new clematis book "Clematis for Small Spaces", published by Timber Press and launched in January, is already in its first re-print. The company will also be launching the new red clematis Rebecca™ at the 2008 Chelsea Flower Show in May.

Floramedia have produced VERDANT, a weather resistant display board which is comprised from a mixture of recycled domestic waste and FSC virgin fibres.

Certis has been active in winning approval for a number of its products. Floramite, which is designed to attack mites, was recently approved for use in the UK on strawberries, raspberries and other plants. Another Certis product, Zin Zan - which helps the uptake of potato blight spray - has now been cleared for use at any stage of crop development (Hort Week, 1st May)

Access Irrigation have launched the 2008 edition of their full colour 64 page components catalogue. The catalogue is available in a printed form or is downloadable as a PDF from the Access Irrigation website

Capatex has introduced a new range of plastic fixtures and fittings by Arno Plast, one of Italy's leading orchard and vineyard accessory manufacturers. Items include special plastic clips, post protection caps and systems to attach netting to support post and wire structures. (HortWeek 14th Feb 2008)

Hotbox International continues to add to its extensive product portfolio with the addition of the Cezio Humidifier. Easy to install, the Cezio Humidifier can be connected directly to the water supply or to a water tank. Osers can choose between 3, 5 and 6.5 ltrs output simply by adjusting the housing.

Meiosis Limited has four exciting raspberry varieties that are available for trial by the UK industry: Cascade Delight, Cowichan, Autumn Treasure and Marcela. Cascade Delight and Cowichan are summer fruiting varieties, whereas Autumn Treasure and Marcela are primocane fruiting. Stocks of the four varieties are currently being bulked up by propagators under contract to Meiosis and substantial numbers of potted plants will be available to growers for planting trials in spring 2008. If growers are interested in obtaining plants they should contact Meiosis and place their orders as soon as possible.

Flowering Plants Ltd unveiled a new self-cleaning filtration system at GAN 2008. The system, for professional horticulture, uses a natural approach that promotes beneficial microflora while digesting algae and pathogens.

Hotbox International has introduced a meter than can measure pH and EC in both soil and water. Managing Director Steve Hinch said the Eutech Cyberspan Duel Display was simple to operate, robust and offered a breakthrough in terms of affordability. (HortWeek, 8th Nov 2007). These and several other recently released products are now available to puchase directly from the new look Hotbox website, including the LogTag Interface Cradle and LogTag Temperature Recorder

Hydor Limited has introduced a new range of easy to fit fans to add to its extensive range of ventilation products and accessories, designed for the agricultural and horticultural market. The HMT Easi range has been designed specifically for hydroponic and small home growers, and is available in four different models. Sizes include 100, 125, 150 and 200 diameters and each model is supplied complete with a fitted plug, eliminating the need for wiring.

IPM Essen 2008 proved a successful launch-pad for a moisture-retentive growth-promoting soil additive from Arpolith Direkt, which it claims could transform international horticulture. The German manufactured granular additive has taken more than 30 years to develop, and in tests has shown to reduce water use by 60 per cent, while yielding about a 40 per cent rise in plant mass.

Agralan launched a new Thrips Pheromone Kit at GAN 2008 . The kit contains a new pheromone from Biobest which attracts thrips at a much earlier stage than existing products such as sticky traps

H. Smith Plastics have introduced a Linked Round Pot that fills a niche between the multicell pack and individual pots. When used with the carry tray the Linked Pot provides a strong neat unit for filling, growing and retailing (The Commercial Greenhouse Grower, Feb 08)

At a special day of plant-focused seminars held at Glee Mike Sokolowski of David Austin Roses impressed with a new season variety, 'Summer Song'; a burnt orange rose with cupped blooms and strong scent (Planteria Nov/Dec)

Hotbox International has launched its new Enviro-Log data logger. This data logger enables a grower to capture data for up to 10 unique variables and 5 outputs for control purposes. The Enviro-Log itself will record 24 hours worth of records for each input and enable users to view the results graphically. By connecting the Enviro-log to their computer users can continually download data, then store it for as long as they want and analyse it how they want.

Hydor Ltd have developed a new high pressure 'Misting System' which features a unique mounting concept. This means it is no longer necessary to prefabricate pipes at the factory, or cut threaded holes in pipes with larger wall thickness, weld branch pieces on to pipes or use expensive cutting ring fittings for nozzle mounting. The Hydor misting system is based on 12 mm A4 stainless acid-proof pipe with a wall thickness of just 0.6mm. The entire system is specially developed to ensure simple, fast and inexpensive mounting and piping, whilst being sturdy and reliable.
 
Humax Horticulture have announced the launch of a comprehensive range of grow-your-own Fruit and Vegetable Bags. The decision follows the runaway success of the Humax Organic Potato bag. Record sales and an overwhelming response from customers prompted the company to develop additional products for the popular grow-in-the-bag concept. The extended range will now include formulas for Tomatoes, Carrot and Root Crop, Peas and Beans, Peppers and Chilli, Onion Garlic and Leek, Marrow and Cucumber, Sweetcorn, Strawberries, Potates and Salad Crop.
 
Certis has announced that the insecticide Oberon has been granted label approval for the treatment of whitefly (Bemisia and Trileurodes species) on cherry tomatoes. Oberon can be integrated with biological control.Certis has also recently acquired the Luxan Gro-Stop chlorpropham (CIPC) product portfolio. As a major distributor of this potato sprout-suppressant on stored potatoes, Certis has vowed to assist growers to meet retailer's demands for lower chemical residues.
 
Horticulture Week readers can now sign up to receive the latest grower news on field grown crops, soft fruit, top fruit and protected crops via the new Grower Bulletin. Sign up at www.hortweek.com.
 
Humax Horticulture have launched the Organic Potato Bag - a unique 'grow your own' product. As a handy-sized, ready-to-use 35ltr pack, the bag can be positioned conveniently on patios, balconies or in small gardens and is filled with an organic growing medium that provides the perfect growing conditions for potatoes. Garden Centre Manager, Jonathan Briers said 'the potato bag almost caused a riot! We've never seen a product fly out of the door so quickly.'
 
Cropaid Ltd launched its product Cropaid NPA (Natural Plant Antifreeze) in 2006. It is a biological and ecological aid for plants, which will increase plants' resistance to heat, cold and frost injuries by giving them the ability to produce their own anti-freeze proteins. It will also increase crop yield and quality. Tested by ADAS UK LTD. and 2006 winner of the Technical Excellence award at the Four Oaks International Exhibition.
 
Farm - Fos Limited has been appointed as distributor in the UK and Eire of Twin N a new organically approved, reliable, cost effective selection of high yielding Nitrogen fixing microbes. Used as a soil improver on all crops, fixing both atmospheric nitrogen and releasing soil elements to the crop it is the natural alternative to Ammonium Nitrate.
 
Vitax is supplying the new Even-Spred 2130 broadcast salt spreader. A heavy-duty unit designed specifically for spreading winter salt, the 2130 has large stud tread pneumatic wheels and a revised design aperture for high output spreading across widths from 2.4m to 4.60m.
 
Hotbox International has developed the Sulfume T vaporiser, which has a timer to enable more control of energy and sulphur use.
 
David Austin Roses has introduced two new cut flower roses at Horti Fair - 'Emily' (a fragrant pink) and 'Patience' (a highly commercial buttermilk colour)

H Smith Plastics has added a 9cm square pot to its range of products. An economical pot, it was introduced at the request of customers already using Smith's 7cm pot but requiring a larger one as well. All the company's products are made from reclaimed high-impact polystyrene
 
Hotbox International has launched a new Sequence Timer. The timer is independent of the 24hour clock so any time can be selected and repeated more than once. It enables the user to set the 'on' and 'off' periods from 5 seconds to 4 days making it ideal for use with irrigation, dosing or lighting systems.
 
Access Irrigation has introduced a submersible pump with a self-cleaning filter built into the base. This uses a secondary impeller at the base of the pump to produce continuous jets of filtered water, cleaning the filter up to 120 times a minute and allowing the pump to operate in dirty water all season without the need for manual cleaning. The design can filter water to 100 microns, removing the need for addition filtration.