you have probably condemned me to watching all the other linked videos about the trials rather than doing what I'm supposed to be doing!
Whatcha think I'm doing this morning then, eh?!!!
Can't help wondering whether keeping your soil healthy with plenty of rotted manure and compost incorporated isn't the best, cheapest and easiest way of ensuring that most crops will thrive though
Watch this next then perhaps?
Am I Using Too Much Compost and Mulch?G5d98JHuk80
and then the sequel
:
No Such Thing as Too Much Compost?k3fUy8_1qxU
Dunno if you have read the musings of Dr Linda Chalker-Scott (PhD, Associate professor in the department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Washington State University)? I own and have read her book "
The Informed Gardener" which makes interesting reading but, for me, just leaves more questions in my mind that the answers she provides. I have that problem with all her online material too - I want to ask "But what about X" - I don't find enough breath of evidence in her publications to convince me, but only to say "In these rather narrow circumstances X happened". Be interested to know if other folk have that too.
Much of he musings is available here (for when you have finished wandering through the YouTubes linked above
)
Amongst the myths debunked are:
Don't stake new trees
Don't use Bone Meal when planting e.g. young trees
Water droplets don't cause leaf burn
Don't put crocks / gravel etc. in the bottom of pots (that's been known for 100 years or more, still common practice, I'm still not convinced its always wrong!)
Pressure treated timber (and perhaps more importantly: sawdust from pressure treated timber used in horticultural products) can cause harmful chemicals to be absorbed by plants
Ditto: water retaining gel will leach harmful chemicals into food crops
Pine needles won't acidify soil when used as a mulch
... etc ...
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20chalker-scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/index.html