Any way to know about the nutrient content before you grow?

[Soliloquy]

I read an article recently that explained how, by selecting for traits such as size, color, disease and pest resistance and shipping readiness, the nutrient content in our fruits and vegetables has been getting lower and lower. I imagine some heirloom seeds don't have that problem, but is there any way of determining the approximate nutrient content before you buy and grow plants? That is, has anyone studied the nutrient content of various varieties and determined which are best?

Failing that, what are some ways to ensure that the plant has the maximum nutrient content possible?

 

[dim]

google for High Brix Gardening .... you will learn lots

and search google for Actively Aerated Compost tea ...

start using nutrients etc such as seaweed, fish hydrolosate, worm humus (vermicompost), bat guano, volcanic rock dust etc ....

there are companies who market these specialist products .... Advanced Nutrients , Biobizz and Plagron are but a few (check their websites.... they market towards guys who grow 'medical' cannabis, but their products work wonders on all plants)

and here is a brix chart that shows the sugar content on fruit and veg:
http://www.highbrixgardens.com/pdf/brix-chart.pdf

and if you want to measure the brix values yourself, buy a refractometer

 

[headfullofbees]

I've posted a recipe for actively aerated compost tea in the relevant thread in the General Gardening Forum, which I have found with experience to be very good for the soil, as well as my plants, and which I swear by.

I'm also fortunate enough to have a holiday home by the sea, and make my own seaweed extract.
POOH! What a smell, but all good stuff.

 

[dim]

I've posted a recipe for actively aerated compost tea in the relevant thread in the General Gardening Forum, which I have found with experience to be very good for the soil, as well as my plants, and which I swear by.

I'm also fortunate enough to have a holiday home by the sea, and make my own seaweed extract.
POOH! What a smell, but all good stuff.

I use AACT aswell .... works wonders ... I use worm humis (vermicompost) as my main ingredient, but I also add topsoil from a nearby forest .... I then add the molasses, seaweed extract, humic and fulvic acid (rootgrow), bat guano, and fish hydrolosate ... I also use a fishtank heater and keep the temp at a constant 20 degrees C

so, in essence, I brew a 'super compost tea'

be careful with homemade seaweed extract .... some guys have probs if they dont remove all of the salt content

 

[Soliloquy]

Thanks all! I figure if I'm going to grow my own, they might as well be as nutritious as possible.