Thank you Hugh and Dave, Just a
little background to the soil and the plots. They are near Tauranga not far
north of the 38th paralell. Very few frosts in the winter but this last season
had quite a few spring frosts. The soil is a sandy loam that has had some light
pummice showers over it a long time ago. The calcuim is low and the potasium
very high, zinc and copper are on the low side too. The whole garden is a night
paddock cow camp or cows bedroom so is well manured from the cow
perspective. When I first came to live here I made a mineral compost with
R.P.R., dolomite, local crusher dust, sulfer,copper, zinc and selenium,
with just enough organic material to compost through three heat cycles and four
turns. After four months there was no visible evidence of any mineral inputs
although the final heap was only double the volume of the minerals added. This
was dressed on at 2t. / Ha. As a result the grass growth rate doubled a
fortnight after application. Most of the land since had 3t. / Ha of twice
but the garden area missed out.
After the lettuces were finnished
we put on a stirred 500 that was made with clay bungs in the horns plus some
chamomile prep and a bit of worm casting, The worms are now shoulder to
shoulder. The grass growth is matching the N. farmer next door.
Warm regards to all,
Peter.
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