But back to Biochar. Apparently if made and used properly it is a more or less a permanent solution to soil drainage problems, soil fertility, soil chemical problems and almost anything that ails you.
Maybe you grow seven hundred pound pumpkins? Or maybe you are the gardener reported on by the BBC this week who raised a record breaking 50 pound cabbage in England. So my question is this: why bother? I want to grow mineralized,organic, pest-free food. But does it really need to be giant?
Calgary Gardener Jack Wootliff asked me earlier this summer how to get rid of his red aphids. I suggested he just spray them with water. He did that and he also sprayed them with soap and water. Well something was paying attention and this week he sent me this updated photo. He still has aphids, but he has added to his diner
It has never been important to me to measure my success in the garden. I’m not a farmer so I don’t make money based on pounds of peas grown. If I run out of something I can always buy it at the Farmer’s market or local store. But new gardeners want to know specifics. They want to know how much they can grow in a pot on their patio or in a straw-bale garden on their boulevard.
Thanks to some sage advice and the willingness to try again, my worm population has again become the thriving environment it once was. I still add coffee grounds to the mix, but as just a small part of the overall blend, making sure, just like humans, they eat a well rounded diet full of fruits, vegetables, and the occasional coffee to boost their early morning productivity!
I hate the thought of cooling nights and fall rains. I want summer to stay on a tiny bit longer. But the truth is it was almost too hot this summer to grow great greens. They perished in dry soil, intense heat and sloppy management (I always seemed to be away when they needed attention.)
