Saturday, January 30, 2016

Recommended Soil pH for Growing Garden Fruits and Vegetables

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Different types of vegetable plants require varying degrees of soil acidity.Basically soil pH is a measure of the amount of lime (calcium) contained in your soil, and the type of soil that you have.

Generally, soils in moist climates tend to be acid and those in dry climates are alkaline.
A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil and one with a pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline. The soil must be adjusted to suit the plant which will occupy that area if it is not already within that plants requirement range.

VegetableOptimal pH
Artichoke(globe)5.6-6.6
Asparagus6.5-7.5
Avocado6.0-7.0
Beans6.0-7.0
Beet5.6-6.6
Broccoli6.0-7.0
Brussels Sprouts6.0-7.0
Cabbage5.6-6.6
Cantaloupe6.0-7.0
Carrot5.0-6.0
Catnip5.0-6.0
Cauliflower6.0-7.0
Celery6.0-7.0
Chard6.0-7.0
Chili pepper5.0-6.0
Chives5.0-6.0
Cucumber5.0-6.0
Dill5.0-6.0
Eggplant5.0-6.0
Garlic5.0-6.0
Gourds5.0-6.0
Kiwi5.0-7.0
Leek5.0-6.0
Lettuce6.5-7.0
Mint6.0-7.0
Mushroom7.0-8.0
VegetableOptimal pH
Okra6.0-8.0
Onions6.2-6.8
Parsley6.0-8.0
Parsnip5.0-7.0
Peas5.6-6.6
Peanuts5.0-6.0
Peppers6.0-8.0
Potato5.8-6.5
Pumpkins5.0-7.0
Radish6.0-7.0
Raspberry6.0-6.5
Rhubarb5.0-7.0
Rutabaga5.0-7.0
Shallots5.0-7.0
Spinach5.0-7.0
Squash6.0-7.0
Strawberries6.0-7.0
Sunflowers6.0-7.0
Sweet corn6.0-7.0
Sweet potatoes5.0-7.0
Swiss chard6.0-7.0
Tobacco5.0-7.0
Tomatoes5.5-7.0
Turnip5.0-7.0
Yam6.0-8.0
Zucchini6.0-7.0

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

How Dirt Makes You Happy – Antidepressant Microbes In Soil The New Prozac?

copypaste from: http://bestplants.com/how-dirt-makes-you-happy-antidepressant-microbes-in-soil-the-new-prozac/


it is really a pleasure to read this article!! jom baca..... masuk kebun jommmm

antidepressant-soil-happy-43020151355
Depression is certainly a silent killer. One that eats you up inside and prevents you from enjoying life to the fullest. Most of the time, depression occurs after an unfortunate event in our lives.
Numerous studies have revealed that some people may even have a genetic predisposition to developing chronic depression, at a certain point in their life.
One thing is for sure: Xanax, Prozac and other prescription antidepressants do come in handy for alleviating the symptoms of depression.
They do this by artificially increasing the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, two important neurotransmitters which are informally referred to as the “Hormones of Happiness”, as they are known to induce that general sense of well-being we all crave.
Nonetheless, the fact that antidepressants come with a fair amount of side effects is not a secret to anybody, this is why an increasing number of people and doctors have turned to natural or holistic approaches.

Discovery Of Soil “Friendly Bacteria”

A recent study has made a breakthrough discovery, revealing the existence of a “friendly bacteria” present in the soil, which can naturally increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Resulting in the same effect as prescription antidepressants.
The study was conducted at two of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious universities (the University College in London and the Bristol University), on laboratory mice.
It has shown that this friendly bacteria altered the behavior of the laboratory mice the same way as antidepressants.
The explanation for this is more complex than one might think, and before detailing the mechanism of action of this friendly bacteria present in the soil, it must be said that people who suffer from an impaired immune system are more prone to developing mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety disorder.
Bacteria and viruses can strengthen our immune system (our natural defense mechanism) to a certain extent, thus making us less vulnerable in front of diseases and, apparently, in front of depression.
This is precisely what this mood-friendly bacteria seems to do.
There is a strong connection between the brain, the bodily processes and the immune system.
Having a strong and fully functional immune system is vital not only for our overall physical health, but for our mental health as well.

Know Your Plant Pest For Better Control

copypaste article from: http://bestplants.com/know-your-plant-pest-for-better-control/

happy reading!

know-plant-pest-06302015
When controlling any plant pest you need to know the type of insect to give the right control. Knowing the difference between nocturnal (night feeding) and diurnal (day feeding) insects will help you solve many problems.

Night Feeders
For example. when a plant’s leaves get more ragged every day, but you can’t see anything on the leaves causing the troubles… suspect a night chewer. There are lots of them.
Snails, slugs, earwigs and cutworms – notorious garden enemies – all night feeders. To double-check the diagnosis, take a flashlight and inspect the plant at night after 10 PM if possible.
Look carefully through the plant, on the ground beneath it, under and over leaves. You’ll probably find the culprits.
Chewing and Sucking Insects
tomato-caterpillar-06302015
You probably know of two kinds of insects in terms of the way they feed on plants:
  • Chewing insects that cut holes in leaves – caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, earwigs, snails and slugs (which aren’t insects but might as well be).
  • Sucking insects that push their pointed snout mouth parts into plant tissue and suck out juices – aphids, scale insects, white flies, mites.
It’s easy to get the impression that all sucking insects are small like aphids and mites and that all chewing insects are large like caterpillars and earwigs.
But this is not necessarily so. The squash bug, chinch bug, and some of the stink bugs are the size of your little fingernail – large as insects go – yet they are sucking insects.
Their mouth parts work the same as the much smaller aphids, white fly, and mites. On the other hand, some chewers are quite small; the black flea beetle that chews leaves is less than 1/4 inch in diameter.

Rolled-up leaves

The leaf that is rolled, puckered, or twisted out of its normal shape is a plant doctor’s delight.
With few exceptions, you are almost sure to find the cause if you examine it carefully.
Some caterpillars make it and art form and their specialty of leaf rolling. When you unroll a leaf, expect first to find a little, green, hairless caterpillar on the inside.
This is a leaf roller. You have to blast the leaves with a spray application in order to get it inside where the worms are.
If there are just a few such rolled leaves pick them off, throw them in the garbage, and be done with it.
You may find certain kinds of aphids inside a rolled leaf.
No matter what the color, aphids are always identifiable by their soft, almost transparent bodies, big abdomens (the round, rear section of the body) with tiny prong-like things on the back end, and six legs.
The leaf rolling aphid can be controlled with specific sprays but it takes a strong jet of spray. ln order to prevent re-infestation (outdoors), mark your calendar to spray during the late dormant season.

Etched leaves

Do the leaves contain transparent window-like sections or etched trails through the green?
The etched trails are caused by leaf miner, a small worm that tunnels inside the leaves just under the surface. Hold such a leaf to the light and you might even see one of the worms inside the trails.

Lack of Vitality

In the case of trees or large shrubs, a general lack of vitality can be caused by borers in the trunk and branches.
Examine the bark closely. You may find little holes, perhaps with sap oozing out. Those are the signs of borers, little larvae that bore their way into the wood.
For control spray the whole tree and the soil surface around the tree. With so many new chemicals on the market… check with your county agent for the best treatment options for your area.

Mildew and Other Diseases

powdery-mildew-06302015
The most frequent plant disease you will find is powdery mildew. It’s gray, has a powdery and mealy feeling under your thumb.
Other diseases are generally limited to just a few kinds of plants. You will find descriptions and controls for the serious ones with a quick search of the web.

Poor Plant Care

Leaves that are discolored but reveal absolutely no small insects on the undersides when examined closely with a magnifying lens and show none of the symptoms mentioned above are probably suffering from a physiological trouble.
This is the time to ask yourself about the plant`s environment and care. Any of these causes are possible:
  • Too much or too little sun
  • Too much or too little water
  • Too much or too little fertilizer
  • Wrong kind of fertilizer (the plant may need more nitrogen and less phosphorus and potassium, or some other adjustment in the nitrogen | phosphorus | potassium balance)
  • The plant may need iron (ask locally about this — it’s usually a general neighborhood problem)


Root Problems

Sometimes a plant will become wilty and appears ready to die but shows none of the symptoms mentioned up to this point.
If that’s the way things are, you have only one place left to suspect – the roots.
Gophers could be eating the roots, moles could have dislodged the plants, or any of a number of soil insects could be feeding in the roots.
Dig into the soil and look at the roots, using a hand lens if necessary. Of all possible disorders of plants the initial cause is most often poor drainage.
Waterlogged soil reduces air in soil, encourages mold, rotting, decreases beneficial bacterial activity. Poor drainage may cause build-up of toxic salts from fertilizers and water.

Monday, January 25, 2016

21 Epsom Salt Garden “Cheats” You Don’t Want To Miss!

copypaste from: http://bestplants.com/epsom-salt-garden-cheats/

happy reading!

21-epsom-salt-cheats-dont-miss-red
There are many reasons to use Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) in the garden. It contains magnesium one of what growers call the “major minor” elements. It helps speed up plant growth, increase a plants nutrient uptake, deter pests, increase flavor of fruit and veggies, plus increase the output of vegetation. Read on to discover “other” ways to use Epsom salts in your garden.
Before we look at the big three plants most gardeners use Epsom Salt on with wonderful results: Tomatoes, Peppers and Roses, let’s look at some general application practices and rates you can use with many plants.

Applying Epsom Salt

Below you’ll find basic general methods and rates to apply Epsom salt to plants and soil. NOTE: It is always advisable to have a soil test done before applying any nutrients to soil.
Soil Incorporation – Broadcast 1 cup per 100 square feet, mix well into before planting.
At Planting Time – When planting seedlings or new plants, dig a hole and place about 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in the bottom of hole and cover with a thin layer of dirt, place the plant in the hole and finish planting.
Pre-Planting Soak – Prior to planting, soak root balls in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt diluted in one gallon of water.
Top Dressing – During the growing season, sprinkle about a 1 tablespoon directly around the base of the plant and water it in.
Applying in Liquid Form or Drenching – Drenching plants with Epsom salt improves the overall health of the plant by providing a good dose of magnesium. If your plants are needing a boost, dissolve about one to two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a a gallon of water. Pour at the base of the plant and allow the water-salt solution to soak into the ground. Repeat throughout the season as necessary.

Tomatoes

A healthy growing tomato plant uses up lots of magnesium in the growing / production process. Maintaining the magnesium at the right levels can be accomplished with regular applications of Epsom salt. The results… more blooms, less blossom rot, more fruit, stronger plants, deeper green color, along with taster, sweeter tomatoes.
tomato-epsom-salt
Sweeter Tomatoes – Plants lacking the proper levels of magnesium may also lack sweetness which makes Epsom salt a good, cheap source of magnesium for plants. It is easily and quickly absorbed into the plant. Use the liquid application below…
Planting Tomato Seedlings – When planting new plant, dig a hole and place about 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in the bottom of hole and cover with a thin layer of dirt, then plant the tomato seedling in the hole.
Liquid Applications – Every two weeks mix 1 tablespoon in a gallon of water and water the plants with the solution. Mixing with warm water can help dissolve the Epsom salt easier.
By following the above “recipe” many gardeners report excellent results and good sized, tasty fruit. Try It!

Peppers

Growing peppers are much like tomatoes… they are traditionally magnesium deficient. Applying Epson Salt to them is very beneficial, to their growth, aids in germination, produce greater yields, improved beauty and strength of the peppers.
Peppers need sufficient magnesium levels for robust growth. While growing, soils are depleted of magnesium, adding Epsom salt help restore these much needed minerals, helping plants take in more nutrients and build stronger cell walls.
Follow Tomato Recommendations – Follow the same application rates and recommendations for tomatoes, when planting and weekly maintenance.
roses-epsom-salt

Roses

Rose enthusiast cheer the results Epsom salts deliver to their roses. More vibrant blooms, richer color, darker green foliage and stronger plants. Regular applications increase magnesium levels in leaves which is vital for chlorophyll production process and seed germination. It also helps strengthen cell walls and improves the plants’ inflow of sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Planting Roses – When planting roses, soak the roots in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt diluted in one gallon of water. When you are ready to plant the bush in the ground or pot, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt into the hole prior to planting and cover with a thin layer of soil.
Top Dressing – Once per month during the growing season, sprinkle about a 1 tablespoon per foot of plant height Epsom salt directly around to the base of the plant and water it in.

Use In The Garden & Landscape

Epsom Salt is highly recommended by expert growers to be used on your vegetables but also in the landscape. It is fairly safe, inexpensive and the benefits of adding it to soil to improve plants is well worth the cost. It has been used in gardens for hundreds of years as a “natural fertilizer”. When sprayed or diluted and used as a drench liquid it is much more quickly “available” for use by plants.
Better Flowering, More & Stronger Blooms – Although there is no “firm” scientific study to back the claim… many seasoned gardeners swear that the addition of Epsom salt to their flower garden greatly improves the colors and textures of the flowers they grow. Plants are stronger and produce more blooms. Incorporate Epsom slat into the soil at time of planting and also use as a liquid when watering every 2 to 3 weeks on a regular basis.
Azaleas & Rhododendron – Helps produce more flowers and help plants from turning “yellow” from sulfate deficiency. Apply 1 tablespoon per 9 square feet over the root zone every 2-4 weeks.
Fruit Trees – Producing fruit is a long process for a tree. Magnesium levels often drop during this “long season” where applications of Epson salt can be of great benefit. Stronger plant growth, improved photosynthesis, fruit can taste better, look more attractive, be more nutritious and more weather and disease resistant. Apply 2 tablespoons per 9 square feet over the root zone 3 times per year.
Lawn & Grass – Epsom salt can help in the germination process and aid in health growth of a seed in its early stages. The minerals within the Epsom salt can help grass with a healthier and greener look, and assist grass roots to grow stronger to withstand effects from the environment. For every 1250 square feet of grass apply 3 pounds with a spreader, or dilute in water and apply with a sprayer.
Counter Transplant Shock – When moving plants from one location to another or planting in the ground from pots, roots can be damaged and transplant shock can occur. Epsom salts will help with chlorophyll production and improve nutrient uptake of fertilization, giving plants a big helping hand to make the plants adaption to it’s new environment much easier. After planting water plants in with a solution of 1 gallon of water mixed with 1 tablespoon Epsom salt.
Prevent Leaf Curling – When plants are lacking in magnesium, they may show symptoms of deficiency with leaf curling. Add Epson salt to the soil by sprinkling and watering in or dissolve 1 tablespoon per gallon of water and thoroughly drench the soil.
stump-epsom-salt
Yellow Leaves – Yellow and dull looking leaves often means the plant is lacking the necessary nutrients magnesium or sulfur. Apply Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), adding it to fertilizer placed in the soil once per month. For more direct approach, 1 tablespoon can be mixed with a gallon of water and sprayed directly onto the leaves. Be patient as different plants respond faster than others to applications.
Tree Stump Removal – Epsom salt is known for its absorption properties. It can suck water out of wood, making it easier to remove a tree stump. To remove a tree stump using Epsom salts, drill multiple holes in the top of the stump. These holes must be approximately three to four inches apart. When there is no more room to drill, pour salt into the holes and then add water. Pour Epsom salt onto any exposed roots to dry them out. You may not be successful the first time and may have to repeat the process every three weeks until the stump dies and can be removed.

Plants and Epsom Salt

Palm Trees “Frizzle Top” – landscape palm trees that have a magnesium deficiency get what growers call – frizzle top. It is where the top of the leaves look like they have had a bad hair day and the top is usually yellow or light green. Apply Epsom salts around the base and drench/spray the leaves and crown with a liquid mixture of 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water.
frizzle-top-epsom-salt
Cycads – Epson Salts are an ideal supplement for use on cycads with yellowing looking leaves. A soil application and drench should be used since cycads are slow growing. Mix 1 teaspoon with 1 gallon of water and apply when watering the plant.
Ferns – Epsom salts work wonders on ferns as a liquid fertilizer helping the leaves have a rich, deep dark green color. Elephant ear plants are another plant which benefits from the extra magnesium. Apply as a drench mixing 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to 1 gallon of water.
Yellowing Bougainvillea and Gardenia Leaves & Chlorsis – Bougainvillea and Gardenias are a beautiful and fairly low maintenance plants. But heavy flowering, or the soil pH being off can drain magnesium levels down and yellow foliage can appear… Epsom Salt to the rescue. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup at the base of the plant (in the ground) and use a spray mixing 1 tablespoon per gallon of water.
slug-epsom-salt
Pest Control – Epsom Salt can be used in many instances to provide a natural, pesticide free cure for crawling slimy slugs. Sprinkle where slugs glide along and say good-bye. Epsom salt is also kid friendly, being non-toxic!
Weed killer – Use Epsom Salt as a weed killer by mixing 2 cups with with 1 gallon of vinegar. Add a liquid dish soap into the mixture and put into a spray bottle. Then just spray the weeds while avoiding your flowers and other plants. This should kill the weeds in an efficient way without damaging your plants that you want to protect.
Removing A Splinter – Working in the garden you can pick up a splinter when grabbing a tool handle or tree branches. They can be irritating, painful and very hard to remove. Try this… soak the affected area in 2 tbsp of epsom salt in a cup of water, this will increase the osmotic pressure of the skin and help draw the splinter out on its own accord.