Feeding fruit & veggies in summer

Most soils during summer are likely to be pretty dry, which has a major influence on the soil microbes in your garden. Very dry soils can lead to some microbes and bacteria to die off. Many of the species which are most sensitive are those that are involved in rapid nutrient cycling – in other words, those that break down organic matter. This decline in nutrient cycling means that your plants don’t have ready access to these nutrients. In order to improve the soil biology and provide nutrients for your plants, soil moisture is required. I realise that this is difficult if you’re dealing with water restrictions, however it’s best to mulch and then water at the right time of the day (mornings are best). Don’t bother watering areas too far away from your plants – you may sacrifice a few roots, but if you’re on limited water, just water…

Summer Year Round Fertilising Programme

Need to know what to feed your plants during summer? Our Year-Round Fertilising Programmes have been specifically developed by experts who rely upon optimum plant growth to earn their living. Like humans, plants thrive on regular feeding throughout the year – happy, healthy plants are also more resistant to pests and disease. ℹ️ Hint – if you are wanting to achieve even better fertilising results, take the quantity recommended for feeding your plants for the quarter, divide it into 3 equal parts, and apply 1 part in each month of the season. It is not about applying more, but rather, applying more regularly. This way, your plants receive a continual feed of nutrients in order to achieve optimal health. During summer, consider what time of the day you’re watering and for how long. It’s generally better to water for longer, less often and in the mornings. By doing so, the water…

How to make your own fertigation system

Ross Kemp is a member of the Rose Society of South Australia and is from Riverton, a small town in the mid-north of SA. He designed his own fertigation system to stop pellet wastage, as he found that birds and other wildlife loved to eat them, so he’s kindly provided us with his research. “Fertigation used in home gardens is probably the most efficient and effective way of applying fertiliser to your plants. A fertigation system delivers nutrients directly to the plant by using a hose attached to the 13mm inline dripper system, with water delivering a rate of 1.7 litres per hour. The issue with fertigation is that most people need to get their head around how and why it works. Applying fertiliser by hand is possibly the easiest way that we fertilise our plants – unless you use a fertiliser cart, most people just grab a handful and…

How to improve hydrophobic soil

Now that summer has arrived, here’s a surprising reason why you should consider using organic fertilisers in your garden. Most gardeners are aware that organic fertilisers stimulate soil microbes, which in turn help your plants, however you may not realise that when you use an organic fertiliser, it actually helps soil to overcome water repellence issues, and now that we’re heading into the hottest part of the year, it’s the most crucial time for getting the best out of this precious resource. The inability of soils to take up water is really down to the waxy coating on soil particles. These waxes come from either soil microbes or plant material which hasn’t broken down completely (Eucalyptus leaves are a great example). When conditions become unfavourable, microbes secrete compounds which make the soil water repellent. For sandy soils, only about 2-4 % of the particles need to be coated for water…

An insurance policy for your garden

Did you know that fungi in the soil helps bacteria to survive under drought conditions, and therefore also help to maintain plant and soil health? Not only do fungi transfer signals and nutrients between plants, but they also interact with bacteria in the soil. Fungi are good at living and growing in drier conditions, but these conditions are not ideal for bacteria, as they like a bit more moisture. However new research shows that a number of soil fungi can transfer water, carbon and nitrogen to certain bacteria. Bacteria can also actively protect plants from attack by pathogens. This protection is obviously critical in times of plant stress where they are more susceptible to attack, and in dry conditions plants need all the help they can get. One species of bacteria which can be fed by fungi are the Bacillus species. These bacteria form spores to survive harsh conditions, and…

Geoscience, Microbes & Compost

This week I want to talk about microbes and waste disposal – or more accurately composting. Last year it was announced that geoscience researchers at Penn State University in the US are finally figuring out what organic farmers have always known: digestive waste can help produce food. Although farmers here on earth can let microbes in the soil turn waste into fertiliser which can then be used to grow food crops, the Penn State researchers are trying to find a way in which edible microbes could be grown in a minimal space using human waste as a food source, so that the spacecraft wouldn’t need to take as much food into space. Obviously, I am not trying to convince you to try this at home, however it’s just another amazing example of what microbes can do. What I found so interesting was the way in which the researchers were able to optimise…

Soil Odour & Health

As gardeners, I’m sure many of us have gone out into the garden after it’s been raining and you can smell that lovely earthy smell. You can often smell it when you turn over your compost heap. This is due to a compound called Geosmin, which is a compound secreted by bacteria know as Streptomyces. What it indicates is a soil that is biologically active – meaning it has a lot of bacteria and fungi in it. Exactly the sort of thing you want to have. Geosmin is a bit of a strange compound. Humans can detect it at very low levels and we love the smell of it in the soil. Geosmin gives beets that district earthy flavour, and it is even used in perfumes to get that earthy smell. We don’t know exactly why bacteria produce Geosmin – it may be to attract soil insect like the spring tails…