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  • From: "Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>
  • To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Organic Fertilizers
  • Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 14:27:52 -0500

Jeff has an excellent point. Nutrients should be added to promote microbial growth, not to sustain the plant. A couple of researchers I've already interviewed say that the most common problem they find with soil tests sent in by anxious gardeners is too much fertilizer in the ground that has killed microbes.
Doreen Howard

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Lowenfels" <jeff@gardener.com>
To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 12:31 PM
Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Organic Fertilizers


An organic system runs on microbes...bacteria and fungi that hold nitrogen
and other nutrients are attracted to the rhizosphere and eaten there by
nematodes and protozoa (remember the guys you studied in high school
biology). The excess wastes are nutrients in plant usable form. So when I
talk about organic systems with my readers, I use the term "Organic microbe
foods" instead of fertilizers which feed the plants, not the microbes. When
I refer to chemical systems, which I do as well in my columns, I use the
term fertilizer.

In any case, I usually use soybean meal usually at the rate of 4 lbs for 100
sq feet, aerated compost teas and compost. For newly planted perennials,
shrubs and trees, I mix in some baby oatmeal or wheat germ to increase the
fungal activity. I also use mycorrhizal fungi on almost everything when I
plant.

Cheers,

Jeff
www.alaskahumus.com
www.closetoinfinity.com

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