The Helpful Gardener
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Location: Colchester, CT

6.8 pretty much rules out a micro lock-up; everything is pretty available at that point... still the micros for brasssicas aren't exactly the same as spinach... how many years ago was that 6.8 and what have you been adding since?

Could be a nitrogen deficiency; highly bacterial soils can lock nitrogen up IN the bacteria ( they are nitrogen rich with a C:N of 5:1). Moving things towards fungal can unlock all sorts of goodies; calcium 'frinstance, or potassium (which unlocks a little better back around 6.0. Introduciing protozoans would start a poop loop with the bacteria and stimulate some weak acid response, which would boost fungal side. Adding compost almost always makes sense for one thing or another, and it almost never hurts. I'd topdress with good compost. The beauty of natural systems is they are always striving for balance, which is pretty much where we want to go, so adding biology will start to unlock all the nutrient we need. If it is bacterial nitrogen deficiency, the best thing we can do is introduce predators...

HG

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pharmerphil
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Location: Minnesota

The Helpful Gardener wrote:Phil how about using a fungal compost to stimulate a weak acid response? Fungus tends towards acids, bacteria tends toward base... Might you be an organic farmer?

HG
That's a possibility, sorry for the absence, weathers been good, ..no, just an organic gardener HG

kabrina2
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Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:26 am
Location: Delaware

One of my gardening books suggests if the broccoli does not have heads that it could be a calcium deficiency corrected by limestone tilled in for the following season or improper watering. It suggests a minimum of 1" of water a week.



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