black gold, fish emulsion, banana peels, etc.

15 years ago

Do you boost your garden soil with something other than compost or Miracle Grow? A few years ago a friend told me that he used something called "Green Sand." I always intended to give it a try. I have also seen advertisements for soil microbes, micronutrients and fungi as sort of a growth booster. So, I was wondering if you have any special soil additive that you use, or have some other special technique to grow a great garden. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

jel48
15 years ago
I haven't tried it yet, but one of the neighbors here told me she throws a banana peel in the hole when she plants a rosebush. I haven't tried it, but she raised beautiful roses.
doucanoe
15 years ago
My dad used to toss his "fish guts", etc. from his fishing trips in the holes nest to trees he planted.

Which always makes me wonder why you couldn't throw that in your compost bin.... But since I don't have the answer, I don't throw that kind of stuff in my compost bin! (grin)

In trying to keep as organic as possible, I don't use a lot of anything on my perennials. Have not much experience with veggie gardening, but I did try horse manure a couple years ago because everyone was talking about it. Even tho my HM was about 3 years "rotted", I got weeds like crazy....not impressed with "black gold".

The compost bin I got last year is brimming with kitchen waste and yard trimmings. I can't wait to try it on my stuff this season!

Linda
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My grandfather fished every morning in the summer and crabbed in the afternoons when the tide came in. The heads and other parts always went into the tomato garden. We had great tomatoes. I would help him clean the fish we caught. Nothing was wasted. Even the clam shells were tossed onto our gravel road. Grandma tossed her dishwater on the hydrangea and rose bushes after meals. Those plants were ginormous. Now I spend $22/gallon for fish emulsion. I am grown now and no longer live on an island in the sea, so I guess this makes do. I bought a pellet gun and shoot rabbits. I toss at least one a week into the compost pile and turn it over. This is some sort of payback, returning a small portion of what they took from me when they were alive. I may stop doing this because decomposing animals really stink.
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AT - here is my perspective on container media: It's all about structure and little else. With just a little understanding about nutrition, it can be relegated to near the status of afterthought - it's that easy if you get the structure right. Many growers try to bring the garden to container culture. They believe that the rich, earthy, black gold called compost must certainly be as beneficial in containers as it is in the garden. Consider tough, that the primary benefit of the finished compost used in our gardens is found in the fact that it improves the structure of mineral soils and helps increase soil life. The nutritional content of compost is actually very low. On a scale of 1-10, with gardening in the earth being a 1, and hydroponics being a 10, container culture is probably a 7 or 8 - MUCH closer to hydroponics than growing in the garden. The compost that enhances the structure of mineral soils can be a significant obstacle in containers for the reasons in my post previous. IMO - The potential for good plant health/growth/vitality is significantly enhanced by soils that retain little or no water in the pore space between soil particles. W/o question, heavy soils with significant amounts of saturation represent an environment hostile to root health, and the amount of water held between soil particles is directly related to soil particle size. It's easy to envision this point if you envision a jar of pudding, and ask yourself how much perlite it would take to make the pudding well-aerated and drain well. Can you see in your mind's eye that it's only after the larger particles of perlite make up about 80% of the total volume that you could hope for improved aeration and a respite from the sogginess of the pudding? One of the soils I make has 5 parts of pine bark, 1 part of perlite, and 1 part of peat or compost. It's not an accident that the fraction of smaller particles, peat or compost, are limited to 1/7 (less than 15%) of the soils total volume, leaving larger particles of pine bark and perlite as about 85% of the volume. That is specifically arranged to avoid the deleterious effects of the fine particles on soil structure, and especially advantageous for plants like Plumeria that quickly come to suffer from wet feet. I'm hoping that my comments are viewed more as an opportunity for people to take a look at some basic soil science than as being difficult or argumentative. I'm just expanding on your last post. In all honesty, a lot of the science related to container culture is open for broad interpretation; more though, is nailed down pretty tightly. While there is some wiggle room for those inclined to try to approach container culture from the general direction of the garden, pursuing the idea that you need to "feed the soil" and do everything you can to promote large populations of soil biota, that approach generally hits the wall when it comes to what to do about the soil's structure ...... The soil biota so valued in the garden devour and reduce the size of soil particles as fast as their populations allow, which of course destroys soil structure. This brings us full circle to the opening idea that container media and a healthy root environment is more about structure than nutrition, with good nutrition being very easy to provide w/o sacrificing structure on that altar. The crux is, roots come first - roots are the heart of the plant, and a healthy plant without healthy roots is not possible. Al
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For years and years I have told my friends and acquaintances that NOTHING will eat a banana peel. My expertise relied on my jogging 3 days a week for years and picking up trash on the road. Kids driving to school late toss out banana skins on the road. Three years later the skin is still there! Eventually, fungi and mold destroy it. Now you have proven me WRONG. I'm 77 and not supposed to be wrong. Now I have to tell people that worms and Mr. LIncoln love to eat banana skins! Thanks a lot! PS. I'm using them now in my garden and worm bed! I can be taught, however reluntanly! Mr. Sam
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Regarding black spot, it is the bane of rose growers. It is an airborne fungi that can also be spread by infected tools, clothing and insects. Free moisture on the leaves from rainfall, dew or excessive watering will favor the development of black spot. A control program begins in the fall with the gathering of and disposal of fallen leaves. Do not put them in compost but rather garbage. In the spring after the danger of frost is past, remove the old mulch and rake the ground thoroughly. I usually dispose of the old mulch. During this time I apply corn meal to the soil and let the ground lay bare to the sun's rays. After pruning the roses and removing any dead canes, as new shoots begin to appear, apply NEW mulch in generous amounts. These cultural pratices will go a long way toward controlling black spot. As leaves start to develope, I start a spray program that consists of 1 tsp. of baking soda and one half tsp. of a dish soap such as dial per gallon of water in a pump-up sprayer. I also fertilize monthly with a roses fertilizer supplied by a local organic nursery. It is applied to the soil and lightly tilled in. I really avoid foliar applications to prevent sun scald in our triple digit summer temps.If any one reading this lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, I purchase this organic rose fertilizer at Redentas. Hope this is helpful in breaking the black spot cycle.
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duluthinbloomz4
15 years ago
Has your soil tested deficient? Green sand is a conditioner - loosens clay soils and/or binds sandy soils. Organic source for potash and other trace elements.

I just topdress all the garden areas with homemade compost each fall; during the course of the season I'll occasionally use Miracle-Gro on some annuals or container plantings. I don't plant edibles, just perennials, shrubs, and a compliment of annuals - and so far haven't seen any need for any kind of fertilizing program.
boyle014
15 years ago
I used to use Miracle Gro, but the last few years, I've been trying to go more organic. I was concerned about the residue of Miracle Gro building up in the soil.

I use composted yard waste and vermicompost and composted manure. When I transfer seedlings outdoors, I mix a bit of potash into the hole before placing them. I also use fish emulsion every two or three weeks. Neptune's, the brand I use, doesn't smell. It's every bit as good as Miracle Gro with less danger of burning the plants. I've also use bat guano to encourage blooms, but I do either guano or fish emulsion--not both. I try to find organic gardening stores that sell this stuff in bulk. Pretty cheap, that way.

Some plants seem to resent fertilizer--I've noticed this with nasturiums especially. I just leave those alone.

So that's my experience. I'd be interested to hear what others are doing.
hoghaven_duluthmn
Original Author
15 years ago
jel48, roses like bananas, eh? I think I saw on Martha Stewart once, that she puts Epsom salt on her roses. I think bananas are a source of potassium and Epsom salts, magnesium. Perhaps just toss in a vitamin pill? I was also reading that banana peels are a cure for warts!

doucanoe, didn't tbe Indians teach the pilgrims to bury a fish with their corn? I am afraid if I try that, I will have a bear or raccoon following me down the row digging it up! Even if I don't get bears, I am sure my dogs would find it and think they had won the jackpot! Pew!

duluthinbloomz, I am just looking at this the same way I think about buying a new handbag or shoes; mostly just for fun. My friend with the Green Sand was big into organic farmer's market gardening. When I started my garden I bought 2 loads of garden soil from a local business. The first load was "Wisconsin Dirt" and cost about $40 - $50 more than the Minnesota Dirt." I kinda thought I had been scammed, but as it turns out, the Wisconsin dirt WAS better. Kinda a tough pill to swallow! I have been getting small trailer loads of the city compost. Do you think its safe for vegetables? I also put a bunch of semi-composted leaves on, and the soil seems very good.

boyle014, good to know about the bat guano and fish emulsion. I saw an article once about the microbes/micronutrients showing comparisons with Miracle Grow, and the article did make the microbial stuff sound pretty good. I wish I could remember what the products were. I used to always get these advertisements for something called GardensALIVE and Agroflash. I am not sure what these products are. I hope to hear some more good ideas, too.

black gold, fish emulsion, banana peels, etc.

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black gold, fish emulsion, banana peels, etc.

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