We tend to look at funguses by first showing it our upturned nose. They can wreak havoc on a garden virtually overnight. Unsexy villains like powdery mildew, verticullium wilt, and the ever punctual early blight can transform a mild-mannered gardener into a curled up ball of whimper. Amidst this rogue's row exists funguses that actually benefit the plant and the soil. Perhaps the best known are mycorrhizae, a Samaritan fungus that creates a symbiotic relationship with the plant. Mycorrhizae … [Read more...] about Mycorrhizae–The Happy Joy Sharing Fungus
Search Results for: mycorrhizae
Some Helpful Tips for Growing Squash
-Pam Scott- Spring is in full swing. Most of us have our seeds and seedlings tucked safely in the ground as we head full speed towards summer. On these 80-90 degree days it's hard to imagine that it was only weeks ago that we were hit with a heavy frost. Summer vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, okra, beans, squash, and cucumbers are growing quickly due to warm sunny days and rainy nights. One of the most frequently asked questions we hear these days is “How do I keep bugs and mildew from … [Read more...] about Some Helpful Tips for Growing Squash
Building a Raised Bed
-Ryan Blankenship- Whether you live in the city or out in the country, the best way to have complete control over your garden is by building a raised bed. I say this because everyone’s soil is going to be different. It could be very sandy, loamy, high or low in nitrogen, or even solid red clay like mine is. The best way overcome challenges presented by your soil is by building a garden bed on top of your existing soil. The first step is determining the size bed you would like to … [Read more...] about Building a Raised Bed
Grow Big with Canna Nutrients
-Jordan Trent- Does looking at a wall of different nutrient brands leave you with analysis paralysis? I get asked pretty much every day to help at least one of our customers wade through the sea of reputable nutrient brands that stock our shelves. Assuming the customer isn’t looking specifically for an all organic line, I pretty much always give the same answer: Canna. Canna is a Dutch company that I’ve used for years in my personal growing life, after getting a recommendation at, you guessed … [Read more...] about Grow Big with Canna Nutrients
Beginning Hydroponics: Walking Through a Simple DIY Hydro Setup
-Naomi Austin- I started working at Fifth Season almost two years ago. I was hired because I love plants and am easy to talk to. Was I a super-experienced gardener? No, but I had basic gardening experience and wanted to learn (and HAVE learned) so much, by talking to customers and colleagues, and from my own experiences with plants at the store and at home. Now I am confident in my understanding of most plants’ basic needs, including common garden plants and houseplants in the home. One area … [Read more...] about Beginning Hydroponics: Walking Through a Simple DIY Hydro Setup
So Much Soil!
-Luis Guerra- We carry a wide range of soils at our Fifth Season locations, and we know it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming to select a soil that’s right for your particular growing situation. It may seem like dirt, is dirt, is dirt, but the truth is that different plants have different needs, and even the same plants have different needs depending on where they are in their growth cycle. While we are always happy to talk with you in person, we thought it might be helpful to have a … [Read more...] about So Much Soil!
More About Marvelous Microbes
-Chris Amaya- Beneficial bacteria is the heart and soul in all living soil that lays beneath our feet, but when it comes to observing beneficials in hydroponics we learn that microbes are not only for organics. The constant interaction between bacteria and plants play a large role in factoring soil fertility and plant health. Although there are hundreds and hundreds types of microorganisms on this earth, plants especially thrive when they have a good mix of mycorrhizae, bacteria, and … [Read more...] about More About Marvelous Microbes
Beneficial Microorganisms and Why We Love Them
-Luis Guerra- Working indoors with hydroponics or bagged soil is a great way to get the results you need without some of the hardships that arise when growing outdoors. But some thing indoor plants are not exposed to that is crucial in plant development and health is beneficial microbes and fungus. Just beneath our feet, these microorganisms are quietly working symbiotically in nature to enhance plant health. Lucky for us there are devoted scientists studying and identifying which of … [Read more...] about Beneficial Microorganisms and Why We Love Them
The Fungal Internet: Mycorrhizal Fungi & More
Just like humans, plants have a social network, or web, that they use to communicate with each other. There is literally a fungal internet in which information-carrying chemicals travel through the network to other plants. The information sent is used to help the other plants connected to the network cope with insect attacks, pathogens, and drought stress. The source of this underground network of communication is mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizae is a thread-like fungus that grows … [Read more...] about The Fungal Internet: Mycorrhizal Fungi & More
Organic vs. Non-Organic Approaches
As popular interest in organic gardening continues to grow, the way in which we approach our system of food production is slowly beginning to shift. Industrial farming appears to create an abundance of food, but at what cost? It largely bypasses soil biology, it is puffed up with fertilizers that are artificially high in NPK’s (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) which are derived from petroleum and hence, are unsustainable requiring ever greater input. Even more troubling, excess nitrogen and … [Read more...] about Organic vs. Non-Organic Approaches
