Gardening Questions

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A Reader has a few questions:

I very much enjoy your articles on gardening in the Malibu Surfside News.- – -

My question is, where in the process do I add the rock dust you mention in many of your articles?  How much? 

Answer:

Best to mix it with the compost as you add it. A good amount of rock dust would be 1 lb per bag of compost. Actually the compost should have been made with rock dust to begin with! You can order a 50 lb bag from AgroWin in Encinitas, shipped to you. Peaceful Valley Farm supplies in Grass Valley North Ca , sell palletized azomite which is easier to apply. I personally use both. Actually I buy 5 different types of rock dust from various places around the world to insure a complete mineral blend.  I also buy Gypsum locally here in Malibu from Anawalt lumber. It is also another form of rock dust. I would mix it together to get a pound of a rock dust blend to go into the beds.  The key here is live compost. Almost everything sold in the stores in plastic bags is not alive with the proper microbes needed for proper assimilation of the rock dust. Aged horse manure is one good source of these microbes , thats why making your own compost or knowing someone that does, is very important. In Malibu, I know of one good source of home made live compost that comes with its own source of earthworms, too. I’ve had it tested for microbes and the lab went nuts with all the variety of microbes it found. Remember, the bacteria eat first and it is their “poop” that the plants eat.

Question:

Do I add a layer of compost near the top of the planter?  I kind of envision a bottom layer of rich compost that deep roots will eventually find, and a layer of compost near the top of the planter to provide early  nourishment to the seedlings.  We want to grow vegetables. - – -

We are total novices at this.  From what I’ve learned, we should install a drip irrigation system.  I very much value your input on this.  We are a totally organic household, no plastics, filtered water, no chemicals.  Both planters have water spigots right next to them.  

I’m not sure if the salt air will impact what we can grow.  Any experience with this?

We are so excited to get started, but, we really want to get it set up correctly to maximize how well our plantings do.  

Sincerely,

James and family

Answer:

Install the drip system using the new types of drips on market which allow you to bury it. Place about 2/3 way up from bottom of bed. I would have a few heads that go to watering above with rest below soil. The salt from the ocean should not damage your vegetables, you will just need to learn which varieties do well in this type of climate. Just make sure they get plenty of direct sunlight, out of wind, and do not over water. Having compost rich bottom layer and rich top layer sound good but seeds do not like it too rich. I would instead mix evenly the compost with the potting soil and add as a top layer of mulch, azalea/gardenia mix. This is actually a great earthworm castings mix with essential Mycorrhiza. Great for both seeds and plants to get started on!

Enjoy your Organic Garden.

Andy Lopez

Invisible Gardener

Any questions? Email me andy@invisiblegardener.com