O.G. Gardning Tips

20 years ago

Thought this portion of an ad from Gardens Aliive was worth posting. Hope you are all enjoying Spring; Fl. is sweet this time of the year

**************** ORGANIC GARDENING TIPS**********

BEST PRACTICES FOR GARDEN DISEASE CONTROL

It's almost always best to plant in raised beds since they allow

excess water to move out of the root area, thus preventing many

root diseases and fruit rots. When possible train vegetables to

grow upright using cages or trellises to prevent contact with the

soil.

Fertilize and water plants properly to keep them strong and

resistant to disease. The best method to irrigate a garden is to

run water between the rows or use trickle irrigation. Do not sprinkle

leaves -- this can encourage

disease problems. If

sprinkling is your only option, do it before 10 a.m.

Another important practice in the vegetable garden is to avoid

planting varieties in areas where the same vegetable or vegetable

from the same plant family were grown in the last 24 months. Avoid

the following rotations:

* tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes

* squash, cucumber, pumpkin and melons

* cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, turnips and collards

************************************************

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Comments (3)

dchall_san_antonio
20 years ago
In reply, here's something from Texas A&M at Stephenville...

Biological Control of Soilborne Fungi

It is known that certain fungal species in the genus Trichoderma feed on mycelium and sclerotia of Sclerotinia minor. Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia sp. All peanut fields in Texas tested to date have a natural population of Trichoderma. For several years, tests have been conducted in Texas using corn meal to stimulate Trichoderma development as a way to control the major soilborne disease fungi. When yellow corn meal is applied to fields in the presence of moist surface soil, Trichoderma builds up very rapidly over a 5 to 10 day period. The resulting high Trichoderma population can destroy vast amounts of Sclerotinia, Sclerotium and Rhizoctonia. This enhanced, natural biological control process is almost identical to the processes that occur when crop rotation is practiced. The level of control with corn meal is influenced by: 1) organic matter source 2) soil moisture, 3) temperature, and 4) pesticides used. Seasonal applications of certain fungicides may inhibit Trichoderma. Testing will continue to determine the rates and application methods that will give consistent, economical control.

What this says is that when you use ordinary corn meal to control fungal diseases, you no longer have to rotate your crops.
peggy_g
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for the info.
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mikkle
20 years ago
"This enhanced, natural biological control process is almost identical to the processes that occur when crop rotation is practiced." Considering the thousands of interconnected processes that take place in a soil environment, I wouldn't bet on it. Sounds like more of the "wonderful" scientific thinking that has graced the agricultural community for the past 150 years.