Thursday January 5, 2012
If you've ever started plants from seed, only to find your healthy seedlings suddenly drooping, shriveled shells of their former selves, then you know very well what "damping off" is. Damping off is a fungal disease that causes your seedlings to wither and die shortly after germination. A long-standing practice has been to water seedlings with chamomile tea to prevent damping off, but gardeners now have a more potent tool in their arsenal: worm poo.
Researchers at Cornell University recently reported that they have found that the compounds in vermicompost seem to protect seedlings from damping off. Damping off is caused by the pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum. Researcher Alison Jacks found that the beneficial microbes in vermicompost actually colonize the surface of the seed, protecting it from the pathogens by releasing a substance that prevents infection by interfering with chemical signals between the pathogen and the host (the seed.) They are currently researching to see if vermicompost has a similar effect on other plant diseases.
Many gardeners already make and use vermicompost because of its great nutrient quality. We knew that the beneficial microbes were helping our plants; we just didn't realize how much. If you aren't already, it would be a great idea to start a worm bin. Adding some vermicompost to your seed starting mix would be an excellent way to both prevent damping off and give your seedlings plenty of nutrients. Here are some ideas for getting started:
Saturday December 31, 2011
I wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for helping to make 2011 a great year. I hope the articles you've read here at About Organic Gardening have helped you grow better, solve problems in your garden, and really enjoy the fruits of your labor. I'm looking forward to a great 2012!
Happy New Year!
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Friday December 30, 2011
I admit to having a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to looking at seed catalogs. I go right for the vegetable section. Herbs, flowers --- nah. All I want to see are all of those tomatoes, the possibilities for salads and canning spread before me, just beckoning me to order just a few more heirloom varieties. Winter squashes, melons, lettuces and beans. These pages are addictive to me.
But then, at some point, I shake myself out of it and look at the herbs and flowers. My vegetable garden would be nothing, after all, without the work of the beneficial insects who call my garden home. Without the bees, I'd be trying to hand-pollinate my pumpkins, melons, and cukes every year. Without the lady beetles and soldier beetles, my pest control duties would be much more bothersome. And most beneficials are attracted to the garden through a combination of good organic practices (mulching, leaving some wild areas, and not spraying) and certain plants.
With beneficial insects in mind, I start leafing through the flower and herb sections. Here are some ideas for planting to attract beneficial insects:
Right away, I see several plants that belong on my list: dill, fennel, calendula, cosmos, sunflowers, sweet alyssum, yarrow, and thyme. I already grow some of these, but I can certainly find room to tuck a few more into my garden. Not only will they attract beneficial insects, but my garden will be prettier as a result.
Do you plant to attract beneficial insects? What are some of your favorite plants?
Thursday December 29, 2011
If you're getting ready to take down your Christmas tree, consider putting it to use out in your garden, rather than just tossing it on the curb. Here are some ideas for you:
1. Protect your perennials. Cut the branches off of your Christmas tree, and lay them over perennials in your garden. This will protect them from extreme cold, and also prevent them from heaving with the freeze/thaw cycle that many areas experience in late winter.
2. Use it for the birds. Simply stand your tree up, stand and all, out in your garden. Birds will use it for winter shelter, and then you can chop it up and compost it in the spring.
3. Chip it. If you're lucky enough to have a wood chipper, chip it up and use it as mulch.
4. Lay the branches over muddy areas of your garden. If your garden has a low area that just seems to get mucky before the ground freezes, lay a few of the cut branches on top of the area. It will reduce the mess as you walk through this area, and you can just pick the branches up and compost them in the spring when the ground thaws.
5. Use the trunk to edge a bed. If you have a more rustic, relaxed style to your garden, consider using your tree trunk to edge part of a bed or path way.
I hate throwing anything away. Many cities have municipal composting facilities and will pick up your tree, and that's a good option as well if you have it. If not, I hope these ideas are helpful.
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