A basic Idea about Peat Moss

After discussing on various soil-less growth media in brief in my earlier blog, I have planned to share some more information on the individual media. This is the first issue where I shared some information on one of the most controversial and popular soil-less growing media, Peat Moss. Hope you will like it.

Peat Moss refers to decomposed and dead remain of many components such as mosses, sedges and shrubs etc. But the most common part is Sphagnum Moss. The moss typically grows on top of the bog (deep and wet marshes)and the peat is produced underneath. Ideal condition for formation of peat is wetland where flows of oxygen is not abundant due to the obstruction caused by flood and thus causing slow rate of decomposition. When plant material is inhibited from decaying fully(due to lack of oxygen and presence of acidic medium) then it accumulate as peat. Cool climates are the places where it can be found in plenty. 

Country such as Canada, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, New Zealand are biggest source of Peat Moss.

On the basis of decomposition state Peat moss can be of three types:

Fibric peat moss: It is the least decomposed one among the three types and contains fibers in intact condition.

Hemic peat moss: It is much more decomposed than the Fibric one but not as much as Sapric type.

Sapric peat moss: This is the most decomposed form.

The usage of Peat moss can be plenty, but here I will only focus on its use in agriculture and gardening.

The use of peat moss in gardening and agriculture has became very popular due to its water retaining ability(can hold up to 20times of its weight) and rich nutrient content. You can mix peat moss with soil it will retain the moisture in dry condition and also its proper drainage capacity prevents the excess water from killing the roots.

Peat can also store nutrients although peat by itself is not fertile. Due to this reason it can also used as fertilizer to the soil.

Peat moss is typically very acidic and can be toxic to plant roots. It is recommended to use by mixing with different other media(with soil or go soil-less ). Before adding it to soil make sure you do the soil pH testing. If the surrounding soil is already high in acid content you should not add peat moss as it will hurt the plant very badly.

Apart from Agricultural and Gardening purpose peat moss are also used in different purposes such as source of fuel(in some countries), water filtration, in preservation, balenotherapy etc.

Controversies:

The popularity of peat has also caused some controversy when it comes to resourcing. Though sphagnum grows in many places, it usually accumulates very slowly, at the rate of about a millimeter per year. But its extraction rate far exceeded its re-growth rate. There are some ongoing debate about whether it should be consider as a “fossil fuel” or “renewable fuel”. Though some of the agencies are considering it as a “Slow-renewable fuel”.

 When the demand outpaces the natural production, there is a danger of over-farming. It also lead to a ultimate destruction of bog habitat that support a number of birds, small mammals, insects and microbial habitat.

A last word of caution if you want to use peat moss, or using it regularly take protective measures such as wearing face-masks and gloves. Like every other plant in the moss family, Sphagnum also contains spores, inhaling which can be dangerous. In some cases peat moss contains some harmful bacteria which can cause skin irritation and can cause deceases in case it enters into the bloodstream.

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FAQs about Growing Carrots

This is our next article on FAQ series. Todays edition is CARROTS. Here are some of the questions generally asked about carrot growing.

Which variety should I plant?

If your soil does not have very good drainage capacity growing shorter varieties is best. For a deeper and loose soil you can always select the longer varieties. Read more about soil classification.

How much space is needed?

Though most of the time carrot seeds are planted very closely you need to thin them after germination. For normal loose soil two plants for every one inch of soil is ideal. If the soil is heavy and tight you need to give more space.

What are seed stalks?

Carrots are biennial. They grow from seed to flower-producing plants over two years. Carrots or many other biennial crops, such as cabbage, will produce seed stalks the first year if young plants are kept in cold weather. Carrots which produce seed stalks often lack flavour, are woody and have poor texture.

What is the best soil type?

A light sandy or loamy soil is ideal for growing carrots. For more details Read carrot growing tips.

What are baby carrots?

By definition these are small immature carrots that are pulled before reaching maturity. Now a days there are referred to several varieties of carrots which are smaller in size upon maturing.

What are the health benefit of eating carrots?

Carrots are good for skin. It helps in fighting infections, preventing wrinkles and delay the aging process. Due to the presence of beta carotine it helps in keeping good eye sight. Also it has been reported to fight against cancer.

Why my carrots taste bitter?

In a carrot there are both trepenoids and sugar. Presence of trepinoid makes the carrot bitter. During its growth trepenoid develops earlier than sugar. So if you harvest your carrots too early it will have bitter taste.

In some species the quantity of trepinoid is far greater than others.

Why do my carrots are bolting?

Carrots are binnual plant. That means they flower in the second year of planting. But if you see them flowering in the first year itself that is due to the fact that there might be a change of temperature or a change in day length. Also growing carrots through out summer can make them prone to bolting. There are several bolt resistant variety which you try growing if you want to grow them in summers.

Can I transplant carrots?

You can. But probably you should not. Carrots actually doesnt do too well in transplanting. They are much more erratic.

Why do carrots split or crack?

Inapproprite watering is the major cause of spliting carrots. If you dont like splitted carrots make sure the soil is moistured evenly. Adding coconut coir or peat moss with the soil can solve this problem.

Why there are galls and swelling in the roots of the plant?

It is called a disease caused by root knot nematodes. Click here to read more on this.

Have any more questions? Please post it in the comment box. We will be happy to answer those.

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What is Perlite A Brief Idea About Perlite Uses in Gardening and Horticulture

What is Perlite?

Perlite is a generic term for naturally occurring siliceous amorphic volcanic rock. But unlike other volcanic glasses it expands from 4 to 20 times of its original volume when heated above a point(800-900 deg C). Perlite is mostly made of silica or SiO2(about 70-75%). The rest is the mixture of Aluminum Oxide or Al2O3, and Oxides of Sodium, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium. 3-5& moisture are also present in Perlite.

Perlite is mined through out the world. Countries like Greece, USA, China and Turkey are the fore runners in this.

When perlite is heated above 900 deg C the moisture trapped inside the rock vaporized and escapes and causes the huge expansion of the material. After the expansion the bulk density of the perlite reduces significantly(0.03-0.15gm/cm3). The expansion also creates the most distinguishing feature of perlite its white color. While the unexpanded perlite rock may range from transparent light grey to glossy black, the expanded perlite ranges from snow white to greyish white.

Perlite Uses:

Because of its low density and low price, perlite has many commercial applications. Among which main uses are building and constructions uses, horticultural uses, fillers and filter aids. 

In gardening and horticulture, perlite is used for number of reasons. 

Advantages of Perlite soil in gardening and horticulture:

Perlite encourages quicker germination than any other growing media with quick seedling growth. It can be used by mixing with peat moss or coconut coir and used as a potting mix or it can be used solely provided it kept wet all the time.

Perlite is inorganic, inert and sterile and naturally contains the different minerals which are essential for the growth of the plant. Being inorganic it is free from weeds, diseases and pests.

Perlite is non-toxic and there are very few fire hazards. 

Unlike peat moss, perlite does not decompose very easily(if at all) so you can store and use perlite for many years.

It improves aeration and drainage of the soil mix if mixed with other growth media, or soil.

Perlite are almost pH neutral. So it can also help to reduce acidity of the soil.

Disadvantages of perlite soil:

There are couple of disadvantages also of using perlite as growth media.

Perlite holds water by having a large surface area and within the nooks and cervices of vast pores. But being porous and made of volcanic glass it allows the excess water to drain away much quickly than any other media. So in case you have really thirsty plants, investing in perlite might not be a good choice. 

Perlite is a non-renewable resource. Which means you can not increase its availability as per your likings as in case with coconut coir. 

Other Perlite Uses:

Perlite as an excellent filtering agent. Beside horticulture, Perlite filters are used in many places to filter beer before getting bottled. 

Buy Organic Perlite | Best Deals On Perlite

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FAQs About Tomato Growing

There are several questions that bother many tomato growers. I have tried to compile some of these in this article. Here is a list of all the frequently asked questions about growing tomatoes.

Staking/caging or no support?

Generally determinate types are the ones that are given no support. If you are using indeterminate type then you need to stake them or provide some sort of cage.

Do you need to prune tomatoes?

Pruning is not mandatory for tomatoes. It depends on the surrounding weather as well as your preference. If the weather is too dry and hot, removing leaves can really damage your plant.

Indeterminate varieties are generally pruned, but you can prune the determinate ones also. Modest pruning will lead to early fruiting and will increase the fruit-size (but you will get fewer fruits). More on Tomato Pruning here in this article.

Does mulching help?

Mulchinghelps in maintaining the moisture of the soil and thus reduces the frequency of watering the plant. It also keeps the soil cooler.

What causes poor fruit sets?

A poor set of fruits can be a result of many things. It can be environmental (like too cold or too hot), age of the plant, unfavourable ratio of NPK etc. The best way to avoid these problems is to give the plant its proper growing environment. Check this article to know more.

How to save tomato seeds?

Extracting seed from a fully grown tomato is very easy. I have written an article on this. Please click here if you want to know about the techniques.

What causes leaf roll?

This is a very common phenomena in tomato plants. This is due to the pressure of water which moves through the roots and causes the older leaves to move inwards. If you look closely you will find the leaves are green and healthy. It is not a disease.

What causes blossom-end rot?

Insufficient water is the main cause of this problem. Sometimes lack of calcium can also cause this. Make sure your plants get adequate water. Follow these techniques of watering. The good news is that the fruits are still edible and you can have it just by removing the affected portion.

What is determinate and indeterminate type?

Determinate type: These are also called the bush tomatoes. They dont grow very tall and reach an average height of 4 feet. These are ideal for growing in containers.

Indeterminate type: These are generally called vining tomatoes and can reach up to a height of 10 feet. They require substantial support in the form of stake or cage. Most of the heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate types.

What are the different tomato cultivar?

These can be of several types. Here is a list of all the cultivars from Wikipedia

What is Heirloom tomato? This is the non-hybrid version of tomatoes and lacks any form of genetic mutation. These are mainly maintained by gardeners or farmers in isolated areas and is considered to be a variety that has been passed down through several generations of family because of its valued characteristics.

Why my tomatoes are cracking?

This is also a problem related to water. Too much of water makes the fruit overflown with juice and to release this pressure it cracks. Mulching and proper watering techniques generally solve the problem.

How to prevent cross-pollinating?
The success of this depends on the seriousness of your efforts. Here are some suggestions.

1. Plant different varieties of tomatoes far enough so that the pollen dont reach one another.
2. Use screened cages to grow different varieties.
3. Cover individual flowers with bags.
4. And finally, time the planting properly so that you can avoid same time flowering for different varieties.

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What Is A Cover Crop A General Idea About Cover Crops and Their Benefits

What is a Cover crop?

These are usually the plants that we seed in the garden soil before planting regular plants. They generally happen to be of low cost, nature friendly and easy to grow. The primary function of this is to improve ecosystem quality. Plant them in vacant places; they will work their way into the soil. They are the best possible way to utilize your garden space during off-season. Cover cropping is the backbone of a sustainable annual cropping system.

Why use cover crops?

The benefits are not only limited to larger garden, even small gardens can also benefit from this.

You can easily give your soil a new life just by using cover crops. A revitalized soil means better crop yields in the future. A garden with cover crops mean lesser fertilizer in the years to come.

Weed suppression and pest suppression. The crops cover the weeds and prevent their growth by blocking the precious sunlight.

Cover crops increase soil protection by enhancing water infiltration and reduce run off specially during monsoon.

Cover crops especially legumes increase the nitrogen content of the soil. It helps in increasing overall plant health and increased pest-resistance.

The plants which have tap roots help in soil compaction.

It is very unlikely that you would get all the benefits from a single wonder plant. The key is to mix different cover crops according to you main growing plant. This will meet multiple benefits.

Cover crop seeds:

Cover crop seeds can be of Legumes, Non-legume broad leaves and Grass. You can select the seeds as per you needs. Just remember, While buying seeds make sure they are not genetically modified or treated with any type of herbicide or pesticide.

Cover crop solutions:

Technically, “any plant” can be a cover crop if it has been planted between periods of the regular crop production. One of the easiest and most popular cover crop is grass. It can grow easily in a place where soil drainage is a problem. It is easier to grow than legumes or any other small seeded crops. The fibrous root system of the grass helps in improving soil structure. Apart from grass there are plenty of other plants like Oats, Clover, Groundnut, Soya beans, pumpkin, etc., Having said that you should always give your local plants a priority.

Cover crop categories:

Cover crops can be categorized in few categories. Here are some of them:

Winter cover crops: these are planted in late summer and they become functional in winter. Plants like clover, peas, rye, etc.,

Summer green manure cover crops: Legumes such as soybean, cowpeas Non-legumes like millet or buckwheat are examples of this type. The basic purpose of using these types of plants is to improve the soil condition.

Forage crops: These are short rotation crops. Plants like white clover, red clover, alfalfa,etc., are some of the examples of this category.

Catch crops: Plants such as Rye is an excellent example of this. The primary purpose of this type of cover crops is stop the leaching of nutrient from the soil.

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Crop Rotation You Must Know about this

Crop rotation refers to the process or techniques of rotating different crops on the same plot of land throughout the year. Basically it explains the facts of nature that some plants are complementary to others in the natural habitat. This a must know subject for every gardener and organic gardener in particular. Apart from getting a full bounty of continuous supply of different crops throughout the year, it also reduces the cost of pest management and fertilization.

Benefits:

Some of the key benefits of crop rotation are:

1. Fertilization of soil: One of the most important and crucial impact of crop rotation is it keeps the soil fertility for longer period of time. You need to apply nutrients from outside less frequently than in normal circumstances. As different crops use different soil nutrients you will never run out of any particular nutrient. For example, plants like leafy vegetables or Tomatoes use far too much nitrogen and phosphorus than plants like Carrots and Beetroots. So if you use the same area of your garden to grow Tomato you have to add phosphorus and Nitrogen from outside otherwise you would not get the desired result.
2. Weed controlling: Some crops (like Potato and squash) with their dense vegetation tends to prevent the growth of any other unwanted plants by suppressing sunlight and other environmental factors. And, thus it makes a weed free place for the following crops.
3. Pest management: Crop rotations also help in reducing the amount of pests and disease problems. Some of the plant actually compliment each other in managing pests. These plants are called companion plants. You can read more about these by clicking this link.

The process of Crop rotation:

Before understanding the process of Crop rotation, you need to know little bit about the type of plants and its grouping. This is done based on their common features and requirements.

Most of the common vegetables can be classified into five groups:

1. Brassicas: this group includes vegetables such as Cabbage, Cauliflower, Radish, Turnips, etc.,
2. Legumes: Plants such as Peas, Beans are some of the examples of this.
3. Onions: Onions, Garlic, Leek etc
4. Potatoes: Potato, Tomato etc
5. Roots: Carrots, Beetroots Etc.
   
   
   
   
   First thing to do is to divide your gardening space in roughly Four equal parts. Then, plant different plants in different sections. As for example for first year plant peas, beans and other legumes in section 1, Cabbage, cauliflower Radish, etc., in section 2, Tomatoes in section 3 and club Onions and roots like Carrots or beetroots in section 4.
   
   Then after a year move the vegetables anticlockwise to another section. This is a four-year rotation plan. You can divide your garden area according to your rotation plan.
   
   
   
   Hope you enjoyed the article, please share your thoughts regarding this post.
   
   

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