A handy list of various options for veganic amendments --
from https://www.groworganic.com/blogs/articles/vegan-organic-gardening:
Totally doing this next year!
JV's recipe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWU2lyzPbz8
https://www.facebook.com/events/3309684622596372/?active_tab=discussion
20 litre / 5 gallon peat
1/2 cup dolomite lime (to offset the acidity of the peat)
Mix above, water thoroughly. Then, add in:
3 cups perlite (for aeration)
2 cups vermiculite (for aeration and water retention)
1/4 cup granulated seaweed
1/4 cup colloidal soft rock phosphate
Mix above, water thoroughly. Then, add in:
10 litre / 2.5 gallon potting mix or well-finished veganic compost
Mix above, water thoroughly. Then, add in:
1/2 cup soybean meal (fertilizer)
1/2 cup mycorrhizae (to help build the mushroom base for the root systems)
Other things to consider:
- "Live mulch" in Gatineau
- Promix mycorrhizae (but need to add fertilizer to it: alfalfa meal, soybean meal, & kelp meal)
This is what I'll try. From https://growingorganic.com/growing-guide/comfrey/.
"Place seeds in moist sand, vermiculite, coconut coir, potting soil, soilless potting mix, or paper towel. After this, place it in a baggie, cloth bag, or glass jar with lid. You will want to avoid placing in a paper towel if you can, as it is sterile and does not contain endogenous growth hormones that encourage germination. Additionally, don’t just use peat moss alone as it is too acidic.
To assist your seeds in germinating, add a little kelp (seaweed) to the medium. Since kelp has naturally occurring growth hormones it will help seeds germinate. Additionally, it can help prevent damping off.
Now, simply place the bag or jar in your refrigerator. You will want to keep them in there for the next 30 days (up to 60 days maximum). The reason you are doing this is to break the dormancy of the seeds by creating winter-like conditions. Do not put them in your freezer when moist though.
After this, you will want to plant outside once the soil temperature is between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Just remember, germination results are better when first planted in a warm greenhouse or sunny window.
While the seed is still thinking about sprouting try to keep soil temperature between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If needed, you can use supplemental heat such as a heat lamp or horticulture heat pads. You will want to adjust the thermostat for 70 to 80 degrees.
Since we’ve now created the perfect environment for the seeds to sprout, you should seed them germinate in 10-15 days."
Also http://www.nantahala-farm.com/comfrey-growing2-s.shtml.
Wow! Susan Mulvihill's tip definitely works. Simply wrap the cucumber in a dry kitchen towel (I used these) or dry paper towels, place in a plastic bag (I didn't seal the bag), and place in the fridge. The cucumbers harvested August 15th are looking as good as they day they were picked -- that's 3 weeks ago!
I have 4 or 5 cucumbers in the fridge that I'm not sure when I'll have a chance to eat them all, so I decided to try this tip from Susan Mulvihill. Simply wrapping them in dry paper towel or dish towels (I did two of each), placing them into a plastic bag, then placing into the fridge.
Hoping they'll keep until some of the tomatoes are ready!
Ordered buckwheat seeds today from Baker Creek. Could take up to 8 weeks to arrive, but regardless hoping to try it for example on the garlic and broccoli beds when they're done.
Choosing buckwheat because it seems to have these good qualities:
- fast growing (flowers in 4-6 weeks, then once it starts flowering you have 7 to 10 days to turn it into the soil (or else it can get a little unruly))
- easy to pull out
- once pulled, can be left intact as cover mulch
- breaks down quickly
Need to wait at least 3 weeks after digging in before planting new plants, otherwise the new plants won't grow well.
https://www.walkerland.ca/buckwheat-green-manure-home-gardens/
https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4163
Thursday May 13th 2021
Received my order of tulle today. Excited to use it over the broccoli instead of the Lee Valley cover that's currently there, for improved visibility and more air flow.
I first heard the tulle tip from Susan Mulvihill's new book.
Additionally, here's a great article outlining many uses of tulle in the garden: https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/row-covers-zmaz08fmzmcc
And a video that suggests using duct tape to outline the edges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NccXePsZ-Vg
Handy resource showing the killing temperatures for various uncovered vegetable plants.
But where to put it... so little space and this thing takes over...
https://www.permaculturenews.org/2016/06/03/comfrey-believe-the-hype/?fbclid=IwAR08QKJlLJP-xduLrNoIJZ4J_MqhaBMGsvqa2Ef4HnfWfy5sbaRxUsfKUnk
https://www.growveg.com/guides/grow-your-own-fertilizer-using-comfrey/#:~:text=What%20is%20brilliant%20about%20comfrey,feeds%20for%20concentration%20of%20nutrients.
Click the red button "View Bird List", to see page full of photos of the various common species. Click on photo for more info.
