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
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
Mycorr-what? An Introduction to the Soil Food Web
When you sit down to enjoy a big plate of spring greens, do you stop and thank the nematodes for your dinner? How about the flagellate protozoa or the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi? They are hard to pronounce, yes, and hard to remember when you don't have a microscope handy. Without their largely invisible, yet crucial, functions in ecosystems, however, we couldn't sustain our food production for long. On the flip side, if we consciously tend to these micro-biotic 'livestock' in our gardening … [Read more...] about Mycorr-what? An Introduction to the Soil Food Web
Seed Starting: Techniques and Products for Success
Seed Starting The lengthening days of late winter anticipate warmer temperatures soon to come. Springtime is just around the corner and you can get a significant head start on the growing season by starting seeds early. Whether you have a greenhouse or are limited to some extra counter or cabinet space, you can successfully start seeds for transplant weeks or even months before you could sow them outdoors. The process is both highly economical compared to buying fully grown … [Read more...] about Seed Starting: Techniques and Products for Success
From “How the “BLEEP” Did They Grow That?” Delicious Sweet Peppers Under the T-5’s
We have ventured into uncharted territory--growing sweet red peppers under T-5 flourescent fixtures. Snake oil, you say? No way you crazy @@#$'s could grow fully developed sweet peppers under simple flourescents, you scream? The picture does not lie. The secret? 1) Good Seed Stock We obtained Big Red pepper seeds from Sow True Seed 2) Excellent Potting Soil We moved the healthy seedlings to two different types of soil--McEnroe … [Read more...] about From “How the “BLEEP” Did They Grow That?” Delicious Sweet Peppers Under the T-5’s
Garlic: Bane of Raccoons and Vamps Everywhere: Scene 2
Last week, in the first installment of all things garlic, the discussion leaned towards picking the right varieties. Now, it's time to get dirty and put some cloves in the ground. 1)Mise en Place Some of the best ingredients for a garlic garden plot is alfalfa (hay, meal or pellets), bone meal or soft rock phosphate. Bone meal and soft rock both contain a good amount of the delicious phosphorous garlic gobbles up. I prefer soft rock since beneficial microbes (like mycorrhizae ) readily … [Read more...] about Garlic: Bane of Raccoons and Vamps Everywhere: Scene 2
