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March 10th, 2010
Root crops which include carrots, parsnips, turnips, radishes, rutabagas, beets, potatoes are good for gardening. These contain nutrients good for the health and are also easily stored. Maintaining these plants would be easy if you are equipped with enough knowledge. This time, you have to learn how and when you are supposed to apply organic fertilizer for carrots or for any other root crops. This is important because fertilizer helps supply the needed nutrients of the plants.
Unlike vine crops which require less fertilizer, root crops prefer more. They are in need of more nutrients especially that of Phosphorus because it helps in the growth of the roots. It is advisable that organic fertilizer is applied at least three weeks before planting. Since it takes time before the nutrients are released, advanced application will ensure that the soil is already amended once the root crops are planted. Just a reminder though. Before laying down the fertilizer, make sure that you had a soil test to check on the nutrients already present in the soil. This will help you determine the amount of fertilizer that you have to apply. For example, too much nitrogen may result to gritty and not so good vegetables.
When the crops are already growing, you may apply top dressing fertilizer every 15 or days. You can apply it at the surface of the soil or at the plant bedding. For nitrogen application, ¾ to 1 cup per 100 square meters is recommended especially for root crops like carrots, beets, parsnips and rutabagas. The application of both Phosphorus and Potassium however depends on the result of your soil test. Remember that root crops can only thrive on 6-6.5 PH level. You may also add manure for better soil condition but never add fresh manure as it may cause weed problems.
With all these reminders, maintaining your root crops will not be that hard. And since more people are now recognizing the advantages of organic fertilizer, you will not be burdened in looking for the organic fertilizer for carrots or your other root crops.
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March 7th, 2010
For those who have limited space at home, doing vermicomposting may seem impossible. Others would think that you should have a wide backyard in order to recycle your scraps. Well, the good news is, you can do composting no matter how limited your area is. With the advent of countertop composting bin, you can already sort your garbage easily so that those organic scraps will be segregated from the non-biodegradable ones.
There are different kinds of countertop composting bins. All of those have different designs that would perfectly suit your taste. If you do not want a bin that will make your kitchen look ugly, then you can buy those commercial bins. There is the stainless steel compost pail, white stoneware compost pail, bamboo compost pail and more designs. Each of these has its own feature. Some has charcoal filters to avoid and manage foul odors while some are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. You can also choose the size of the bin that would be enough for your counter. Some bins can hold 3 gallons of scraps while others can hold 1 gallon. The price also varies depending on the design that you want.
Meanwhile, if you do not have budget to buy that stylish countertop composting bin, you can also use the plastic containers that you already have at home. Have a container that would fit into your counter; a coffee canister will do. Make sure it has a lid to keep flies from going inside the bin. You can also paint it with the color you want, just make sure that you do not paint the filter.
Whether your countertop composting bin is homemade or commercially made, what’s important is you can have a bin to throw your scraps to. You no longer need to run outside just to dispose your wastes because the bin is just within your reach.
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March 4th, 2010
 Vermicomposting is basically done through the help of composting worms. Breeds such as Red worms, African Night Crawler (Eudrillus eugeniae) or Blue worms can be great for worm composting.
The most common and usually most recommended type is the Eisenia Fetida but many people are also now discovering the potential of African Night Crawlers. These are about 6-8 inches long and the good thing about them is that they are by nature hermaphrodite. Meaning, they both have the male and female organ so even if you have only two worms, they can multiply. Just like the red worms, eudrillus eugeniae also thrive on organic materials such as your food scraps, fruit peelings, grass cuttings, tea bags, coffee grounds and more.
To start with the worm composting process, prepare a container where they will stay. You can also use any box that is about 3 inches in width and 2 inches in depth. Then, put soggy soil in the box. It should be around 8-10 inches. Make sure that the soil is wet, almost muddy.
Once their little home is done, you can already place the worms. You may purchase this kind of composting worm or you can also dig the soil after a heavy rain to get these worms. They will immediately bury themselves in the soil once placed there. You just have to wait for 2-3 weeks before they multiply.
In feeding the worms, remember to cut any organic material into pieces for a faster composting process. With regard to the bin, always place it in a cool and shady place. Maintain a moist soil, otherwise the worms will die. Keep the acidity level at 6-7 and maintain a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
African Night Crawlers eat a lot and are extremely voracious so they are perfect for vermicomposting. The byproduct of Edurillus Eugeniae is very suitable for plants because it is nutrient-rich. With this, you not only help control the wastes at home but you are also able to have more than enough natural fertilizer for your garden.
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March 1st, 2010
` Teaching students (be it elementary or high school students) about Red Wiggler Worms will encourage them to care for the environment in their simple way. Introducing these creatures to them is also like teaching them mathematics, science and biology as vermicomposting through the use of composting worms will include different processes.
Red Wiggler worms for school will facilitate learning. In your part as a teacher, all you need to do is prepare a container that is about 6 inches deep. You may ask the students to bring newspapers and magazines. To allow participation, ask them to shred those while some would drill holes on the container. After the shredding and the drilling, ask the students to place those newspapers inside the bin because these will serve as the bedding for the worms.
After that, you can show them the Red Wiggler worms. Expect different reactions at first. Kids are kids but take that opportunity to explain to them the purpose of the activity, the benefits of doing it and of course, their roles in completing the activity. After that, allow them to hold the worms and carefully place them inside the bin. Feed them with organic materials such as food scraps, grass cuttings. To better implement this in the school, encourage waste segregation so that the biodegradable ones will be used as foods for the Red Wiggler worms. Educate the students that they need to give the worms foods that are as much as their body weight only. Your students once the activity is done will have different questions; just entertain them. Give them the responsibility to also look after the bin each day. Ask them to do simple tasks like changing the bedding, looking after the temperature (should be 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit) and foods of the worms.
In just a month, you can already harvest the castings and use it for the school’s garden. Just imagine how you helped manage the school’s waste and create awareness among students.
If you like this blog post, you will also love to read about:
Red Wigglers for classroom
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February 23rd, 2010
 Vermicomposting is never complete without the composting bin. This is where the Red Wiggler worms (recommended composting worms) will stay and produce that dark, nutrient-rich soil amendment for your plants.
You can buy commercial vermicompost bin like the Worm Factory, but if you have more spared time, you can do it yourself. Just prepare a clean container which is around 6 inches in depth and the size would depend on how many worms you will place in it. The color as much as possible should be dark. Also prepare newspapers, magazines cardboards and grass cuttings if you have.
First, drill holes in the container. You can have around 20 -30 quarter inch holes at the bottom. You can also do this at the sides of the bin. This will serve as the drainage and at the same time ventilation system of the whole bin. Red Wiggler worms need air and oxygen so holes are really important.
Once set, have the newspapers and magazines cut into strips. Soak them into water to make the bedding moist but don’t allow it to be too soggy. You can then place those shredded newspapers in the bin. You may also add a cardboard at the top once you settle the newspapers because composting worms love to feed on moist cardboards.
Note that you are to situate the vermicompost bin in a cool area. You may have it in your garage, basement, under the kitchen sink or anywhere shady. Do not expose the worms to too much light and a temperature of 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit is advisable.
That’s all that you have to do. A vermicompost bin is not hard to make; it’s not also expensive so might as well do it rather than buy it.
You might also be interested in our other post about :
How to Make a Composter or a Compost Tumbler
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Tags: composting bin, Composting Equipment, vermicompost bin
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February 23rd, 2010
You are now probably asking which fertilizer suits your garden best. Is it the organic or the non-organic? We’ll answer your question by comparing inorganic and organic fertilizer. By the end of this article, you’ll know.
We start with organic fertilizer. This includes the animal manure, fruit peelings and vegetable scraps. The advantage of these organic materials is that they encourage microbial activities so if worms will thrive on them, they will bury in the soil allowing aeration and loosened soil. Second, leaching is very minimal. Third, organic fertilizer makes the plants more susceptible to pests and diseases. Also, organic fertilizer works better then chemical because it is environment friendly. When a heavy rain pours, there will be no chemicals to be washed out and driven to rivers which may kill fishes. It can also be cheap if available in the area.
On the other hand, its disadvantage is the release of nutrients depends on the temperature. If it is cold, the nutrients may be slowly processed. Also, the lesser the microbial activity is, the lesser chance for the soil to be loosened and aerated. For organic materials like vegetable scraps, these may also attract dogs and other insects that may damage the plants.
Meanwhile, in comparing inorganic and organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizer has its own advantages and disadvantages. For its advantages, it is available anywhere. Second, the nutrients are already available unlike in organic. You can also control the amount of nutrients to be applied in the plants as everything is already calculated. It is also available in different forms like tablet, granules, liquid and more. Most of all, in just about 14 days, you can already see the outcome if properly formulated. Disadvantages include its chemical concentration which may be contaminated anytime. It can also burn seedlings because of its chemical salts. The rate of leaching is high and it doesn’t have the ability to improve the soil’s water and nutrients holding ability unlike the organic.
The list is still long but with the information presented, organic fertilizer works better then chemical. Now you know.
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February 20th, 2010
 If you are to pursue worm composting, you should familiarize the likes and dislikes of your composting worms. Red Wiggler worms are not really choosy but one mistake may lead to their death. Perhaps you already know the temperature that they need the location, the bedding and all. This time, you have to know the foods that would irritate and make them happy.
Basically, Red Wigglers thrive in organic materials. They enjoy eating dried leaves, shredded newspapers, cardboards, magazines, grass clippings, tea bags, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps, fruit peelings and bread. They can eat half or as much as their weight.
However, you should take note that these composting worms have restrictions too. Though organic material, you cannot feed them with the wastes of your pets. You are also not supposed to give them metals, chemicals, insecticides, paint, oils and plastics. Those insecticides and pesticides are of course not directly given to them. Often times, the grass clippings which you know are organic have been sprayed with those chemicals. Oils and salts on the other hand are usually present in cooked foods. Meat and dairy products are also not good for the worms. Meats and bones of animals are actually good but the problem is, once these are given to worms, they may be smelly and in the end invite insects in the bin. These foods are also hard to eat. In vegetable scraps, avoid giving them cabbage, onions and garlic because these contain limonene. Fruits that are acidic like citrus and pineapple are also not good for the worms
Foods are really important for the Red Wiggler worms. If given proper nutrients through those foods, there won’t be any problem at all.
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February 17th, 2010
You are a gardener and you are faced with a dilemma and that is the use of inorganic fertilizer vs organic fertilizer. This has always been the question of many fruit tree growers and of course, for those who are environment conscious and health conscious at the same time, going the natural way always wins.
The term “going the natural way” actually contains a lot of meaning. First, using organic fertilizers means you are using chemical free material for your fruit trees. Organic materials do have the ability to better hold the water as well as the nutrients of the soil.
To start with going organic for your fruit trees, you first have to know when it should be applied. If you notice that the growth of the fruit tree is slow beyond the normal, then it’s already a sign. Normally, fruit growing trees grow 8-10 inches every year. You can check it on the green limbs budding on the tree. If this is not there, it’s time for you to have that organic fertilizer do the work.
Applying an organic fertilizer is not also a guessing game. You don’t just apply it. Instead, you have to determine the age of the tree, its surrounding if it’s in a lawn and of course the season. When it comes to the trees’ age, you have to apply around ½ pound of nitrogen around the base including the leaf lines if the tree is already five years old. In considering the lawn, find out if it is regularly fertilized because if yes, you won’t have to do that again. Now, you must know that the best time to apply your organic fertilizer is during early spring. Application during summer is not advisable because the trees may bear fruit on the wrong time.
Always keep in mind that fruit trees are in need of nutrients such Phosphate, Phosphorus and Nitrogen. To ensure growth, you apply these in the soil before even planting. If in case there is an overgrowth, you need not apply nitrogen again.
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February 14th, 2010
Mo re and more people are now shifting from chemical to organic fertilizer. While many inorganic are now sold in the market, farmers would now prefer the natural one mainly because of its benefits.
Soil Quality
Organic fertilizers improve the quality of soil. If organic materials like food scraps and fruit peelings are to be used, these will improve microbial activities. Worms and other soil creatures will thrive on these scraps, thus allowing aeration and a more loosened soil. Further, organic fertilizer allows the soil to hold nutrients and water more. It’s also because too much chemicals will decrease the fertility of the soil.
Chemical-free
Organic fertilizers are chemical free. What normally happens with inorganic fertilizer is that there is chemical contamination affecting the soil and even the plant itself. The chemical salt in that fertilizer may burn and eventually kill your plants. Also, if harvesting comes, you are sure that the health of your family will not be risked.
Reduced Leaching
Leaching as we all know can destroy the garden. If you are using inorganic fertilizer and once it is contaminated, leaching will be prevalent causing different problems. With organic fertilizer, this can be prevented.
Balanced Nutrients
You can be sure that there is a balance with the nutrients released by the organic fertilizer. Since nutrients are slowly released, this will be good for the plants.
Environment-friendly
Since everything is natural with organic fertilizer, this will be a great impact to the environment. With chemical fertilizer, it can be washed down to rivers and seas if a heavy rain comes. So when the chemical reaches the river, fishes may die and eventually pollute the water. As also said, too much chemicals can damage the soil.
Cheaper
Organic fertilizer is available locally so it would not really cost much. On the other hand, if you are in the city, you can also produce organic fertilizer by learning the vermicomposting. This is very doable.
Now that you know, you are probably thinking of shifting from inorganic to organic as well. If you do, then do it now.
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February 11th, 2010
Just when you have decided to start your first vermicomposting, you suddenly realized that you do not have the most needed material yet – Red Wiggler worms. it is actually not a big problem. This type of composting worms has been a “click” in the market that is why more and more people are in the business of raising it. if you go through the internet, you’ll see an unending list of those who sell Red Wiggler worms. some have different offers like free shipping, discount and all. It is important that you are meticulous in choosing the right one.
First, you can consider the offers given by that particular store. This will include the shipping method, the fee, discounts and more. You also need to check on their reputation. You cannot just risk your vermicomposting process because of a cheap price for Red Wiggler worms. You should also check the condition of what you’re buying. Should you be far from the store and you want the worms to be shipped in your place, ask how the Red Wiggler worms are packaged or shipped. Will they be removed from their original bedding? These and more factors are the ones that you have to consider.
Aside from buying composting worms online, you can also ask from your friends who used to buy Red Wigglers. Surely, they have their trusted stores.
Going directly to a Red Wiggler worm raiser is as well good because you can directly see the worms. There are those whose hobby is just to simply raise Red Wigglers so you can make a deal with them. You can also visit your friends who have ranch or stable. You can find them in the horse manure. You may also want to visit a farmer who has a manure pile. You just have to be familiar on how Red Wiggler worms look because there are also different kinds of worms there.
You do have a lot of choices on where to buy your Red Wiggler worms. Make the best choice as the composting worms will determine the quality of your vermicomposting.
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