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How did that soil work last yr...good right?
I would do one thing: focus on bringing those micro numbers up. Shoot for 10 ppm Zn, 90 ppm Mn, 4 ppm Cu and 3 ppm B. And if you haven't already get some kelp and/or some basalt in there for the ultra traces that form enzymes that drive plant health.
It will be impossible to drive the excess Ca off the cec sites so you should not have to reamend Ca for a while.
Unless you have a cover crop growing in the pots the paste test is not gonna mean much at this point as you wouldn't be supplying the microbes sugar...so they aren't doing their job right now solubalizing
minerals anyways.
Looks good to me though. Have a great yr.
Stank J.P.
Member
Hi guys, I was out starting to build my d.i.y. smartpots for this year and noticed the field fence i was wanting to use had a fair amount of rust on it. Do you see this as a problem? It certainly gave me pause.
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CaliGabe
Have never seen you mention Sea-Crop when it comes to trace and ultra trace minerals/elements. What are your thoughts? I've been a fan for years.milkyjoe said:
As for the cover crop were you using one before dealing with AEA? From your input seems pretty critical.
Thanks milkyjoe. Ya it worked great last year,
Here's a question. Does azomite, basalt, and glacial rock dust all do the same thing? Which is cover the micro nutrients right?
Also I know most people try to have 20 organic matter in their mixes, mines around 50 should I be concerned?
I was thinkin about adding some kind of rock dust and kelp and maybe some neem meal to the top 3 Inches or so then adding a layer of straw then a layer of compost and or earthworm castings... How does that sound? I'll prolly throw in some worms as well.
Here's a question. Does azomite, basalt, and glacial rock dust all do the same thing? Which is cover the micro nutrients right?
Also I know most people try to have 20 organic matter in their mixes, mines around 50 should I be concerned?
I was thinkin about adding some kind of rock dust and kelp and maybe some neem meal to the top 3 Inches or so then adding a layer of straw then a layer of compost and or earthworm castings... How does that sound? I'll prolly throw in some worms as well.
Leave out the straw...your mix should do fine if you bring the micros in to range.
You'll be able to head off any problems via foliar
You'll be able to head off any problems via foliar
Ditto what Backyard said. That straw in the soil would use up some of your N. And yea, all of those things provide similar ultra traces, using a variety just covers the bases better. Rock dust and kelp will do you as long as you bring Mn and the other micros up.
Well, no question it has the widest range of ultra traces available. But you got to be super careful...I have burned some plants fucking with it.
It is one of those things I will tinker with and use but it is literally so touchy I am not comfortable recommending anyone else use it. I don't want to be blamed for fucking up someone else's stuff.
For example if you are planning to grow 25 lb tomato plants the weekly foliar recommendation for that plant is 1 ml. And I can tell you much more is too much...almost too easy to fuck up.
The 3 AEA products I absolutely love are Sea Shield, Photomag and PHT-Phosphorous.
1) One real advantage of not using pots. These are popping up all over my grow area this spring...up to 25 ft away from the holes. Reckon I got a pretty decent fungal network going. And they are pushing right up through this salty, rock hard desert soil. I don't know if they will infect my new roots or not, but if they do it will be awesome.
2) An indoor Cherry Pie. I plan to run plenty of this outdoors. Big thanks to the brother that gave it to me.
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CaliGabe
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Cep
Milky, anything that forms large fruiting bodies on the surface won't be infecting roots. I'm sure there are arbuscular mycorrhizal species in your soil, they're everywhere. It's hard to get the native species to colonize if the soil is disturbed but you'll probably get there with inoculants.
Also, fine looking slice of pie there.
Also, fine looking slice of pie there.
furrywall11
Member
Hey big plant folk, I'm looking to do mounds this year instead of my usual smart pots.. I just flattened and cleared my space and I discovered that underneath my top soil it's all red clay and it goes down very deep... can anyone think of any reason why I shouldn't do yard and a half mounds on top of clay?
Primalraindrop
Member
@furywall11 I believe i have about 1.2 million gophers or moles or something. SO i have to put down a layer of landscaping fabric then smart pots. or i have to put down wire mesh before setting my pot down. or they eat my roots. the buggers. It has been fine as long as i have 2 covers underneath them.
bamboogardner
Active member
How did you get your gopher population down so low??? LOL Those ravenous creatures will eat everything in site. Those smoke bombs don't work, only way to get rid of them is to trap them. A regal pain in the arse. I actually bought this device that pumps propane and oxygen down into the hole, then ignites it. Dirt flying everywhere, but it definitely does the trick. Everytime I would use it, I would have to call the sheriff and tell him so they did not send out an officer to check on the "bombs" going off. They would traditionally get up to 5 calls everytime I would use the thing. Finally gave up on it and it is sitting in the shed. Check out the video on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFsCo-lN7d8
Bamboo gardener I've recommended the rodenator numerous times in this thread. No one understands it's the best 2000 you can spend on your farm. Killing those fuckers dead is PRICELESS.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/search.php?searchid=3987327
The above will show you just how many times.
Big up on rocking proper gopher control
https://www.icmag.com/ic/search.php?searchid=3987327
The above will show you just how many times.
Big up on rocking proper gopher control
I believe sea shield is available but not on the website yet...amazing stuff. Micronized fish (high omega 3), crab and shrimp shell and some other stuff...i am thinking an essential oil, Mn and possibly Si.
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CaliGabe
I'm wondering if they're getting their fish, crab and shrimp base from Pacific Gro in Raymond, WA? The guy that owns Sea-Crop knows the owner of Pacific Gro pretty well and in the same town. Kempf is probably Sea-Crop's biggest customer so connecting the dots makes sense.
I've been recommending Pacific Gro's fish ferts since I found out about them to those who use fishy stuff...even for teas. He does not extract the fish oils out like many companies do. I stopped in to visit the facility last time I was in Raymond but the owner was not there.
Thanks for the industry reference
bamboogardner
Active member
Anyone ever come up with a commercial Brix Mix solution like PVFS previously had? I know their formula is posted, and several others chimed in with homemade recipies, but was wondering if any company picked up where PVFS left off for an off the shelf product.
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