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Can these wild temp. changes affect my greens?
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Author:  quiltmama [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Can these wild temp. changes affect my greens?
I had planted some spinach and mustard greens at the end of Oct. They came up and grew fine for a while, then just stopped. About 1/3 of it is full grown, and the rest is in stages from 1" tall and up. It has good color, no bugs, and I have had the soil tested, so it's okay.

What happened? We have had some temp. swings from a light frost to 75 degree days; can that stunt it's growth? If so, what can I do about it?
Author:  Dirt Doctor [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just curious - who did the soil test?
Author:  quiltmama [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Back in Sept., I posted a question about ph.

When I did, I put the results of the soil test from the LSU AG Center.

Here's a copy from that post:
~~~~~
I brought 2 soil samples (I have currently 4 beds, and am building 4 more) up to the LSU AG center for testing. Everything came back high, including the PH. Here's the results:
______________Bed 1________ Bed 4
PH........................... 7.07.....................7.37
Phosph, ppm.......1406.00..............1867.00
Potassium, ppm.....843.00................811.00
Calcium................3086.00..............3444.00
Magnesium...........1661.00..............1150.00
Sodium.................. 250.20.................391.80
Sulfur....................... 81.60...................40.24
Copper...................... 2.15......................2.07
Zinc...........................76.70...................74.10
~~~~~~~~

I have since had the ph tested again, and it is in the 6.75 to 7.0 range. I now have all the beds planted (raised beds, 4 x 12), and mulched with old hay or straw.
Author:  Dirt Doctor [ Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:26 am ]
Post subject: 
The most important piece of information is missing from that test - the organic material or humus level. Building the biological activity with healthy compost and other living materials, also products that will stimulate life - like molasses, will do more good than anything. What amendments have you used so far?
Author:  quiltmama [ Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Because my dear husband had always done the gardening, and he is a big believer in tilling & chemicals, I didn't use any native soil.

I used a technique I found on an organic site in New Zealand. I put several layers of newspaper down (with no advertising flyers), then boxes, directly on the St. Augustine grass, so it will all break down.

Then I used your Dirt Doctor's Potting Soil as a model. I added 1/3 compost, 1/3 well rotted horse manure, 1/3 garden soil from the local nursery. I then added some peat moss, lava sand, soft rock phosphate, brown sugar, blood meal, bone meal, wood ashes, cornmeal, and diatomaceous earth.

Since I first posted this, my spinach has started yellowing close to the ground. I don't know what I did wrong. It is not too wet, since all of my beds are 4 x 12 raised beds (8"thicK).

Please give me some advice.
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