Category Archives: Soil

Kitchen Waste Collection (AKA The Fruit Fly Dilemma)

Okay, so the fruit flies were REALLY bugging me. They started up when we started collecting our kitchen waste that was compostable on the kitchen counter. No duh – I should have seen this coming. We were using a metal mixing bowl to collect our vegetable scraps, open to the elements…and bugs.  The solution was […]

Aluminum (Al)

aluminum is considered a trace element in soil fertility and plant nutrition because it is found in relatively low concentrations in plant tissue, and is not one of the 13 essential elements required for plant growth it is a major soil constituent, and if it’s concentration is too high in the soil, it can be […]

Chlorine (Cl)

chlorine is one of the 13 essential elements for plant growth, and is considered a micronutrient based on the concentration required for plant growth principle form of uptake: ionic form, chloride (Cl–) amount required for healthy plant growth: 100 ppm, dry soil matter chloride ions primarily move through the soil via diffusion soil factors that affect chloride uptake by […]

Molybdenum (Mo)

molybdenum is one of the 13 essential elements for plant growth, and is considered a micronutrient based on the concentration required for plant growth principle form of uptake: molybdate anion (MoO42-) amount required for healthy plant growth: 0.1 ppm, dry soil matter amount of molybdenum required is greatly reduced if the form of nitrogen supplied to the plant is […]

Manganese (Mn)

Manganese is one of the 13 essential elements for plant growth, and is considered a micronutrient based on the concentration required for plant growth principle form of uptake: ionic form (Mn2+) amount required for healthy plant growth: 50 ppm, dry soil matter manganese ions primarily move through the soil via diffusion soil conditions related to deficiencies in manganese: calcareous […]

Zinc (Zn)

Zinc is one of the 13 essential elements for plant growth, and is considered a micronutrient based on the concentration required for plant growth principle form of uptake: ionic form (Zn2+) amount required for healthy plant growth: 20 ppm, dry soil matter zinc ions primarily move through the soil via diffusion excessive zinc in soil can lead to […]

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is a species of beneficial nematode sold commercially by the name “NemaSeek Hb”. These nematodes seek out plant root pests and larvae of insect pests. These beneficial organisms parasitize the larva or pupa of the pest while it’s in the soil, and sometimes above ground nymph or adult insects. How to Use Find usage […]

Cover Cropping: Peaceful Valley Organic Soil Builder Mix

I’m trying out a new cover crop blend this year in my Tomato & Potato Beds. It’s a blend made by Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply that contains: Bell Beans BioMaster Winter Peas Purple Vetch Lana Vetch Common Vetch Cayuse Oats Even though I’m a little late in planting it, I think it will […]

Beneficial Nematodes

Benefits eat various plant predators, such as: Army worms borers cucumber beetles cutworms gypsy moths Japanese beetles (white grubs) root maggots root weevils wireworms see specific species for their target prey beneficial nematodes are totally safe to use: they are not harmful to humans, pets, plants, birds, earthworms, honeybees, or beneficial insects the way they […]