Sorrel, a perennial herbaceous plant, belongs to the buckwheat family with two common types being Garden and French sorrel. It is recognized for its citrus or sour flavor, and its leaves add a tangy taste to salads. Sorrel is hardy, adapted to various climates and its roots are invasive, thriving even in poor soil conditions. It grows best in moist, sandy soil, and its leaves should be harvested when young for a milder flavor. It’s recommended to eat in small quantities due to the high level of oxalic acid.
Here in the Northeast gardening is in full swing in early spring. Some spring tasks are important to do early in the season, whether you are a beginner or a well-seasoned gardener. Soil Fertility: Here are the steps Want to increase your soil’s microbe population …
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Soil Food Chain
Organic matter (OM) is all that is needed to keep soil alive and plants free of disease. One of bacteria’s essential roles is to decompose organic matter. It not only provides the nutrients necessary for the growth of the plants but, more importantly, serves as the food that sustains the soil’s food web composed of billions of microorganisms. See video on the ultimate guide to compost.
Fungi developing on vegetables in compost
Protozoa’s eat bacteria and fungi, giving off ammonium that in turn gets converted to nitrates for the plants to use. They attack nematodes and are food for the worms.
Nematodes play a role in helping to keep the populations of the various organisms under control. By consuming the bacteria and fungi, they mineralize the nutrients.
Role of Earthworms and OM
The increased breakdown of organic matter increases nutrients released in the process of decomposition. As worms burrow, they open up channels that aerate the soil as well as break up any hard pans found due to compaction or other soil disturbances. Worm castings have 50% more organic matter, and higher levels of ammonia, phosphorous, calcium, as well as other nutrients. Restoring the soil becomes simple once this process is facilitated through the addition of organic matter.
Earthworms are one of the major contributors of food for other microorganisms, and their destruction has to do with the treatment and chemical usage the soil receives. Compaction, rototilling and use of chemical fertilizers all destroy the symbiotic ecosystem in the soil.
Worms
Addition of synthetic fertilizers breaks the natural cycle and you then become more dependent on using fertilizers non-stop. This creates a huge negative impact on the food chain.
Maintain the proper soil balance between organic humus or compost, air and water to provide the necessary nutrients for your plants.
Provide a high level of organic matter and humus to the soil to build up an army of beneficial bacteria and fungi. In addition, the good bacteria develop a natural defense system for the plants against disease, and pathogens and pests are kept in check.
Soils high in organic matter hold more water and have less run off as the soil will be loosened and have good drainage (not excessive drainage) and maintains a balance pH in the soil.
Greater drainage goes hand-in-hand with greater aeration due to higher levels of organic matter.
To have good soil we must see that the good bacteria is fed appropriately by adding organic matter, making sure the pH in the soil is properly balanced, having good moisture and good drainage. All this will result in the restoration of the soil.
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Turning your compost pile every three or four weeks is very important. Because it adds oxygen to the process and assist the bacteria in breaking down the organic matter. Turning your compost will provide oxygen to the bacteria and allow it to reproduce. If the …
Description of those materials needed to make compost. Easy to follow list of materials that are need. Additional list of what materials should not be used. Proper video links and additional materials to learn the process
How to make compost or black gold! One of the easiest ways to restore your soil and fertilize your plants is by adding compost. Old time gardeners considered consider compost “black gold” because it is filled with the microorganisms and nutrients needed to grow a healthy garden. Microorganism instantly become available to plants once added to a garden bed. Black gold consist of decomposed organic matter and can easily be made at home.
Compost making needs a few factors:
Using a small composting bucket in your kitchen to a large composting bin outside.
Composting is the process of recycling organic matter such as kitchen scraps, leaves or other plant based organic matter.
As the plant material slowly rots, given the right conditions, it breaks down into soil rich nutrients or “black gold”.
To compost successfully:
organic matter needs to be free of oil and animal products;
water for proper moisture (the microorganism that break down the plant material need moisture to stay alive);
starter material such as finish compost,
soil free of chemicals,
or a fungi like mycorrhiza that will speed the process of decomposition.
To do a large pile outside you will need at least 10 gallons of organic matter and an environment that enables you to establish the right ambient temperatures. The ingredients of the compost should heat up within two or three days to 104° – 122° F or 40° – 50°C.
If you don’t have enough material don’t be discouraged. It will just take longer for the process to finish. Depending on the height and the heat created, compost can be ready within a month. Or longer if conditions are not ideal. Proper turning and watering will give you a final product of “black gold”. See video on Turning a compost pile.
Using Worms
You can add worms to provide an extra added benefit and speed the decomposition. Worms are good when the pile is not hot and it’s not too big. If it looks like it has cooled off, then this is the right time to put those local worms to work.
