Blogspot - Interia Dezain

Plants Tolerant to Juglone Walnuts and hickories produce the chemical juglone, which is exuded from all parts of the plant. This chemical can inhibit the growth rate of nearby plants, a phenomenon known as negative alleopathy.   The following lists of plants tolerant to juglone were compiled from published sources. They are based on observation under various settings, but few plants have been experimentally tested for sensitivity to juglone. The plants highlighted in green are species I have personally observed growing seemingly unhindered in and around the under story of Juglans regia. Walnuts from our Gardens   Many factors affect sensitivity, including level of contact, health of the plant, soil environment, and the overall site conditions. Aside from juglone, a mature walnut will cast a very heavy shade and young sun demanding plants will not survive in these conditions. The lists provided here are strictly guides and cannot be considered complete or definitive. 20 yr old ...

Autumn is a great time to plant out. The adequate rainfall and consequent soil moisture levels at this time of year are perfect for the newly establishing plant roots.  Although it may be cold above ground, the warmer soil temperatures make it possible for plant root growth to continue for longer and settle in before the spring growth bonanza.  Here's a step by step guide to planting out including a few things to consider before and after planting. A few things to consider before planting  The best time to plant is when the soil is moist after a rain. If the soil is very wet, treading can cause compaction so avoid working on very wet soils particularly if your soil is clay. In choosing the position for your plant, bear in mind the light, fertility, water, temperature, space and community needs of the organism. Consider the maximum size of the plant and how it will relate to the surroundings of the position you have chosen. For plants that require  cross pollination...

This week the majority of the tomatoes from the Polyculture Market Garden Study   had cracks around the tops or along the sides. We weighed out 6.100 kg of tomatoes in good condition and  16.325 kg of split tomatoes, ok for preserving in jars but not suitable for market. A further 2.925 kg of tomatoes were in poor condition only fit for the pig and chickens who did not seem to mind at all.    The tomatoes in our 9 yr old residential garden also suffered although not as badly.       So why have our tomatoes cracked up this week ? Here's some info on  tomato cracking and how to deal with it in the ecological garden. What is cracking?   Cracking is the splitting of the epidermis around the calyx or stem scar (top of the tomato). There are two types of fruit cracking in tomatoes. (a) Concentric cracking, which is a splitting of the epidermis in circular patterns around the stem scar.  Cultivar 'Black Krim' shows high susceptibility both...

What are C4 plants? Basically they are plants that undertake photosynthesis in a different way enabling them to continue to grow during hot and dry conditions. To better understand this lets quickly recap on photosynthesis. All plants require carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in order for photosynthesis to occur and plants obtain this carbon dioxide via tiny openings on the underside of the plant leaf, these tiny openings are called stomata. The stomata also provide the exit of  H 2 O  from the plant. When soil water resources are low small openings usually on the underside of the leaves called the stomata close to reduce the loss of water from the plant. This also reduces the incoming carbon dioxide as plants absorb CO2 through these same stomata. Without C02 plants cannot photosynthesis and growth halts.  When a plant is wilting it has reached this point. Some plants have adapted to overcome this and one particular group of grasses and tropical plants, the C4 plants, ...

We're proud to announce we have an additional 2.5 hectares protected from the encroaching monotony of intensive farming. The strategic purchasing of scattered plots throughout the area means that effectively 53.5 ha are off limits and the wonderful diversity of wild flora and fauna coupled with an extraordinary quantity of heritage fruit and nut trees in this area are much more likely to survive for our children to enjoy.   New Plots purchased in June 2015  Revenue from bio-nursery sales, our market gardens and educational courses sustain our project and help us to achieve our goal to protect and promote the regeneration of ecosystems here and beyond. We continue to commit to using all profit from our activities for the purchasing of land with high ecological value currently under threat from intensive agricultural development. The land, once under our stewardship, is managed with respect for its inherent value and vital ecosystem services. A view from the land    ...