For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

It’s all about the Soil

I have a saying, “If you Eliminate the Cause, You Eliminate its Effects.” When dealing with diseases and pests, it’s the cause (soil) which you must control, or cure, rather than the effect (disease or pest). As long as you treat the cause, the effects will disappear. All diseases start in the soil therefor you must start with the soil.
Always key to Nutrition First.
What are you feeding your soil? If you say “nothing”, then you are just as bad as the person who says “I’m feeding it the chemical fertilizers I bought at the nursery”! Organic Gardener’s have a saying “ Feed the soil first, and then the soil will feed the plants.” Always Seek Balance, When things are out of balance, Infestation, Diseases, and Pests occur. Balance is important to the soil and plants as it is to humans. When things are in balance, stress is reduced, and we get all the proper minerals we need for healthy growth. Healthy soil is important is keeping healthy plants.
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys don’t live in the same place.
Bad bacteria and good bacteria do not share the same soil. Dead soil is not actually dead but instead contains the presence of bad bacteria or fungi or any number of disease sources. This is caused by using chemicals that kill the natural life of the soil. Healthy soil has Mycelium. Mycelium is one of the “Good Guys.”
Avoid High Nitrogen Fertilizers.
The continual use of chemicals in the soil eventually destroys the microbial balance of the soil. Also present are the salt deposits of the various fertilizers, etc., used throughout the years. This causes major changes in the ph levels of the soil affecting nutritional absorption by the plants. This will lead to higher stress levels in all things associated with this soil. The application of not only high nitrogen fertilizers but the application of any type of chemical fertilizer is terrible for the soil, the plants, the insects, the animals, the birds and all humans involved. High nitrogen also promotes the various diseases found in the garden. Why? High nitrogen causes stress & imbalance in the soil & plants, the same way a high sugar diet does in humans. High nitrogen inhibits the plant’s ability to absorb minerals, thus reducing mineral intake and reducing the Brix level. The more natural the mineral sources, the more acceptable the mineral supply.
Poor health and high stress of plants are due to a mineral deficiency.
The Healthier the plant, the less the pest and or disease will affect it. Avoid using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Chemical fertilizers are not complete foods. They provide only a small amount of the total diet required for healthy plant growth. NPK is not a complete dinner for plants!
Stressed Out Plants.
The same rules of pest control apply to disease controls, the higher the stress, the higher the problem associated with it and the harder it will be to control.
Dead or Water Soaked Soil.
Overwatering kills off all of the beneficial microbial life of the soil. Amend with live compost, rock dust, and earthworm casting if available. Your soil should always have plenty of earthworms. Dead water soaked soils have no earthworms. Compost and mulching will increase organic matter and microbial life to the soil allowing bacterial and nutritional resources to increase. Also increases drainage. Rotation of crops is suggested whenever possible. If a raised bed is used, allow the bed to go fallow for one season. Grow a green cover crop instead that year.
Some Diseases are introduced by Viruses.
Destroy diseased plants. Throw away in the trash. Do not compost since most backyard gardeners do not compost in big enough piles in which the temperature is high enough to kill the fungi. Avoid spreading the disease by cleaning your tools with alcohol in-between cuttings. Do not use chemical fungicides. They only will cause more problems both to your health and the health of the soil. Use Compost and or Earthworm Casting tea.
Some Diseases are introduced by Weeds.
Use disease free seedlings and plants. Many diseases are carried from one plant to another by humans, insects, animals, etc. Be especially careful when bringing potted plants with soil into the home. Certain weeds are hosts to pests which carry the disease from one plant to another. Therefore natural weed control of some type is important. Weeds can also provide homes for many beneficial insects so choose carefully.
Some Diseases are spread by Insects.
Many diseases are carried around by insects such as the ant. Control the insect populations in your areas. Learn what insects spread what disease. You will have fewer diseases if you have fewer pests.
Improper Varieties Planted.
Proper placement of varieties is important. Choose a location which gets as much light as needed by the plant for proper growth. Make sure the plants will grow normally in your area. Heirloom varieties are stronger and more suited for organic gardening. Write to Abundant Life Foundation or Seeds of Change. Use Trap crops in addition to various types of traps which attracts the pests away from the garden.
Improper Planting Time.
Observe the correct planting dates on vegetables, etc., for best results. Planting during the wrong time of year also exposes plants to insects that would not normally affect your plants if they had been planted at the right time. Also, temp and amount of daylight are important as is weather conditions.
Improper Watering Techniques.
Avoid overhead watering. Use a soaker hose or a drip system whenever possible. Think of using a subsurface drip line. They have new ones made primarily to be buried.
How Important is it to Identify the Disease?
Diseases in different plants may have the same name but will show different symptoms thus making identifying very difficult if not impossible. While I encourage you to try and determine the disease that is attacking your plant’s, you must remember that the essential treatments remain the same regardless of the condition.
any questions?
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Thanks!
andy Lopez