Re: Rot

From: celia storey <storey@aristotle.net>

> I did find a place that sells " Play Sand " in 10lb bags, I
> think this might be used with the remaining Godzilla next month
> to make a place for it.
>
Dahliaman,

Your conditions may be vastly different for LAs, but here in Arkansas I
would not use sand around mine. LAs need so much moisture, it's better to
plant them in heavy clay. Clay is hard to moisten once it's dry but it
holds water a long time once it's wet. And it keeps the plants upright.
Sand drains too easily.
Also, the sand you're talking about, Play Sand, at least in the form one
finds it hereabouts, is such a fine texture it acts as a water barrier.
I've seen water bead up and roll off Play Sand.

From your description of watering a few days in advance of digging your
bed, I suspect you have that awful cement-like sandstone conglomerate or
decomposing granite I saw in southern CA. Yikes! Still, wonders might be
accomplished. Sanford Roberts told me that the best LAs he ever saw grown
in California were grown by Valera Chenoweth, who started with that awful
DG dirt and amended the heck out of it with steer manure (which I know you
approve!), rabbit poop, alfalfa pellets and even mushroom compost --
humus-rich amendments. She also made a big point of sulphuring the soil,
because hers was naturally alkaline, and LAs do prefer a slightly acid
environment.

celia
s*@aristotle.net
Little Rock, Arkansas, USDA Zone 7b
-----------------------------------
257 feet above sea level,
average rainfall about 50 inches (more than 60" in '97)
average relative humidity (at 6 a.m.) 84%.
moderate winters, hot summers ... but lots of seesaw action in all seasons



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