Re: Re: gardenwriters Digest, Vol 2, Issue 1

**"Doreen Howard" d*@ticon.net**

Jeff Ball wrote:
.  The question is where is the
> web site that talks about the fertilizer issue?  I am assuming that the
slow
> release forms of fertilizer, synthetic or organic will not harm
micorrhizae.

Jeff,
I've worked with mycorrhizae for 9 years and did a study for the USDA
Research Station on it and heirloom tomatoes.  I'm a believer in the fungi.
Here is site will give you info on the fertilizer issue:
 www.bio-organics.com
It's a commercial site, but the principles know their stuff.

Dumping large amounts of phosphorous and nitrogen into the soil will kill
mycorrhizae.  Their hypae are very adept at mining the stuff and trace
elements from the soil.  That said, mycorrhizae do need some nutrition.  Use
gradual release sources of N-P-K.  Most take that to be compost and other
organic matter.  Fish meal pellets are a commercial fertilizer in the
organic realm that work well with mycorrhizae, as does alfalfa meal and
cotton seed meal.  I even use Osmocote with success at half the amount
suggested on the carton.  The trick is to provide small amounts.
Doreen Howard

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

If you have photos for GWL, send them to gwlphotos@hort.net and they will
show up at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos