Originally Posted by NANAMAN

Quotes:
Gosh, upon further reflection, it's not really worth bothering to try to figure out a tissue culture process for Ae Ae (some say it might be possible, including the boss of the lab where Gabe has worked, as I recall) if you can get 20 pups.

Brian, your soil seems darker than what we usually see from someone in Florida. Would you mind saying what you've done to amend your soil? Do you have any idea of your pH and nutrient levels, etc.? I want to mimic your soil conditions...can't do much about my temps and humidity.

Congrats,

Harvey

BLACK GOLD!

That soil looks great I want to be able to get my soil like that, So please share what you did to amend it.
Today 11:03 AM


Dug hole aprx. 5' diameter, added peat, crab or shrimp shell meal, Azomite, and an organic fert. consisting of blood, bone, feather, and cotton seed meals. Tilled it, planted plant, and added 12 to 18 " of horse stable bedding mulch on top. I fertilize monthly with whatever I happen to have on hand,( 10-10-10, palm blend, citrus blend, K-mag, fish emulsion, liquid kelp, etc....). Soil Ph is 6.5 to 7 range , irrigation water ( well ) is Ph 7.2 with low to moderate salinity. I adjust soil Ph with elemental sulfer or an organic fert made for acid loving plants. I don't know what the nutrient levels are, because I've never tested for that, but the soil is all silica sand. Very little top soil 1-2", so the only nutrients are what I add ( I can pretty much tell if they need anything). I mulch 2-3 times per year with horse stable bedding, about 12-18" deep. It has really improved the soil and the worms really love that stuff! I'm going to order another 25 yards of it tomorrow! I also add beneficial bacteria, fungus, microbes, etc. yearly.That's about it!

I've been moving more to using organic ferts. and less chemical ferts., mainly due to the fact that everything I grow, I eat. The soil and the plants seem to be healthier also! The challenge seems to be, supplying heavy feeders ( bananas ), with enough food, ( organically ), to grow and produce large, tasty bunches of fruit. So far so good, but I'm not against supplementing with chemical ferts.. I would like to get to a place where they are used less and less, and eventually, not at all.