We'd like to bring your attention to several of our Vegan (non-animal) Organic Plant Food options available at Mary's Heirloom Seeds. Many of you have inquired so we thought it would be nice to give you a basic intro.
All of our plant food, soil amendments and inoculants at Mary's Heirloom Seeds are non-GMO and organic. What's an inoculant? Check out our Endo-Mycorrhizae, also called Mary's Root Boost.
Humates (Coarse Grade) derived from Leonardite shale and a natural source of humic substances and trace minerals from New Mexico. Contains 45% humic acids. Use to increase micronutrient uptake and improve efficiency of applied and existing nutrients. Coarse grade for soil application only.
Humate is a generic name for humic materials -- salt forms of humic acid. They are most commonly low grade lignite coal. Humates regulate water-holding capacity, have extremely high ion exchange capacities, and reduce soil erosion by increasing the cohesive forces of the very fine soil particles. Very low concentrations of humates have been shown to stimulate seed germination and root growth. They have also been shown to stimulate desirable soil microorganisms
Derived from leguminous perennial alfalfa plant used for pasture and cover crop. Primary benefit of this pleasant smelling meal is increasing organic matter, although it is also a valuable plant-derived fertilizer.
NPK analysis is 2.8-0.29-2.4
Contains trace minerals and triaconatol
Excellent addition to the compost pile for nitrogen content and absorbency
Azomite rock dust is a naturally mined volcanic rock composed of over 70 minerals and trace elements that are essential for optimal plant health. The rock formation in Utah from which Azomite is mined was formed when volcanic ash merged with sea water. This mixture of volcanic ash and sea water created a unique source of trace minerals and elements that moist soils are void of. Just like humans, plants require many minerals to reach peak health and vigor. Re-mineralize your soil with Azomite and your plants will thank you and reward you!
Organic Kelp Meal (1-0-2) is dried and ground Rock Weed (Ascophyllum Nodosum), which grows in the cold clean waters along the New England coast, and is known as the best marine plant available for agriculture today Full of trace Minerals, Carbohydrates and Amino Acids, helping create a strong root systems and makes a very healthy plant. It should be tilled in the soil before planting or can be top dressed, incorporated into potting soils, seed beds and composting material. **Or make your own liquid feed** Organic kelp meal is ascophyllum nodosum, which is widely recognized as one of the finest marine plants available for agriculture today. It is a natural and cost effective enhancement to any soil fertilization and conditioning program
Greensand is a mined mineral rich in soil conditioning glauconite
Contains potash and other minerals from natural marine deposits
Excellent soil conditioner
Carrying a formulation of 0-0-0.1
Greensand turns dense, heavy clay into manageable soil. Greensand is a naturally-occurring iron-potassium silicate that can increase soil's moisture absorption by up to ten times. There are more than 30 trace minerals and nutrients in greensand, with high concentrations of Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Silicon (Si), Oxygen (O), Magnesium (Mg), Aluminum (Al), Sodium (Na), and Hydrogen (H). These minerals release slowly into the soil in just the proportions that plants need.
We have several articles available to help you get started. Different plant varieties have specific nutrient needs. For example, Tomatoes and Squash are considered "heavy feeders" whereas Lettuce is not.
I guess I should start out by explaining the term "heavy feeder." In garden-speak, a heavy feeder is a plant variety that requires more nutrients than your average plant. For this article I'm talking veggies. If you're growing a veggie garden or you've ever grown a garden then you probably know that nutrients are very important. Sun and soil are important as well (and SEEDS) but nutrients also play an integral role in plant health. Most "all-in-one" type of fertilizers have an "NPK" rating. NPK stands for Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (potash). What does each nutrient do? In addition to other properties, Nitrogen helps plant foliage to grow strong. Phosphorous helps roots and flowers grow and develop. Potassium (Potash) is important for overall plant health.
For step-by-step growing instructions, feel free to check out my Growing Tips & Videos page. There is a wealth of info available!
The classifications below are based on having fertile soil at the start. If you have sandy soil or clay soil, amending the soil is important.
Heavy Feeders include Asparagus, Broccoli, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Melons, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkins, Squash and Tomatoes.
For heavy feeders, work your organic nutrients into the soil approx 3 weeks before planting. If you have already planted, making your own liquid feed is very easy with the right nutrients.
For Eggplant, Peppers, Squash and Tomatoes I usually fertilize every 3-4 weeks, with the first fertilization at planting for the first 9 weeks. Each variety of nutrients will have their own set of instruction. The organic nutrients I use call for approx 1 tablespoon at a time. During the approx 9 weeks I side-dress with homemade compost, compost tea or DIY Alfalfa Tea fertilizer for one or all of the "feedings."
Be careful not to fertilize too close the the stem or base of your plant. Nutrients should be applied at the "drip-line" of the plant to keep from burning your plant.
Moderate Feeders include Beans, Bok Choy, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, GREENS: Kale, Lettuce, Spinach and Swiss Chard.
Beets, Carrots, Leeks, Onions, Radish and Rutabaga are all light feeders. If your radish grows spindly then it needs calcium. Otherwise, just make sure your soil is fertile and you should be good to go.
For moderate and light feeders, work your organic nutrients into the soil approximately 3 weeks before planting. If you have already planted, making your own liquid feed is very easy.
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Before I give you my recipe I need to be very clear. ALFALFA is considered a "high risk crop." This means that Alfalfa is on of the top 10 Genetically Modified plants in the US.
From the Non-GMO Project, High-Risk Crops (in commercial production; ingredients derived from these must be tested every time prior to use in Non-GMO Project Verified products (as of December 2011):
Alfalfa
Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)
Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)
Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)
Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres)
**I am still looking for accurate figures for CURRENT GE Alfalfa** Unfortunately, that info isn't always readily available. Alfalfa is the #4 crop grown in the US behind Corn, Soybeans and Wheat.
This is why I chose to offer Organic, Non-GMO Alfalfa Meal at Mary's Heirloom Seeds. It wasn't easy to find and it certainly wasn't cheap. Non-GMO is the way to go!!!
Making a Liquid fertilizer is pretty easy. I used make Seaweed tea every year but not everyone has access to seaweed. Now I make Alfalfa Tea. It's also important to mention that while I call it "TEA," I DO NOT DRINK IT! Just need to clear that up. Making Alfalfa Tea You'll need:
Directions: Fill bucket with water, let it sit from 1 to 4 days. The result will be a thick tea. Apply generously to the root area of shrubs and flowers or use as a foliar spray after straining the solids out. The longer it brews, the better it is but the worse it will smell.
From Mary's Heirloom Seeds, Derived from leguminous perennial alfalfa plant used for pasture and cover crop. Primary benefit of this pleasant smelling meal is increasing organic matter, although it is also a valuable plant-derived fertilizer.
NPK analysis is 2.8-0.29-2.4
Contains trace minerals and triaconatol
Excellent addition to the compost pile for nitrogen content and absorbency
Roses respond especially well to alfalfa meal
WSDA Certified Organic Alfalfa Meal
Alfalfa Meal can help restore soil and bring back its full growing potential. With a unique 3-1-2 ratio, Alfalfa Meal is an all natural, organic fertilizer that replenishes sugar, starches and proteins that help keep your plants growing healthy and strong. Alfalfa helps plants create larger flowers and increases the tolerance to cold. Good for all flowering plants. Research has shown that using more is not better.
This recipe can easily be cut in half by using 1/2 cup Alfalfa Meal and 2.5 gallons of water. You can also make a HUGE recipe in a large trash can if you just multiply the ingredients. It's easy to make and very healthy for your plants.
I mentioned in my last article The Importance of Living Soil that I've been reading more and more about soil and soil organisms. I've known about Mycorrhizae for a long time but we've just now added it to Mary's Heirloom Seeds to help YOU grow a bigger, more productive garden.
From our website,
Why should everyone use mycorrhizae? Mary's Root Boost Mycorrhizae is Endo Mycorrhizae which is the type that is beneficial to over 80% of plant species including most leafy green plants and vegetables.
Mycorrhizae is a fungi that has a beneficial relationship with a plants roots. When Mycorrhizal fungi comes into contact with a plants roots it begins to colonize, or multiply, on the roots and begins to spread out into the surrounding soil. These strands of mycorrhizal fungi effectively become an extension of the roots and can increase the absorbtion area of a plants root system by 10 to 1,000 times. This allows the root system a more efficient intake of nutrients and water.
They are particularly effective for agricultural plants that have high water and nutritional needs. Over 50,000 University studies have highlighted the benefits of mycorrhizal colonization on the health and yield of plants.
Benefits Include: Reduces Drought Stress Reduces Watering Reduces Transplant Shock Increases Yields Increases Overall Plant Hardiness Promotes Rooting Promotes Nutrient Uptake Here's what I found from the experts
What is Mycorrhizae?
Mycorrhizal fungi include many species of fungi, like mushrooms. They all have long filaments that resemble roots, and they grow near plants with which they can share a beneficial relationship. They seek out plants that have tiny bits of food dripping from their roots. They then attach themselves to the plant and extend their filaments into parts of the surrounding soil that the plant can’t reach. A plant would soon exhaust its small area of surrounding soil of nutrients, but with the help of mycorrhizal fungi, plants benefit from nutrients and moisture found further from home. In addition, they produce glomalin, a glycoprotein that helps stabilize the soil. Not all plants respond to mycorrhizae. Vegetable gardeners will notice that their corn and tomatoes thrive when there are mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, while leafy greens, especially members of the brassicas family, show no response. Spinach and beets also resist mycorrhizal fungi. In soil where these resistant plants grow, the mycorrhizal fungi eventually die out. Source
Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow. Lately I have been fascinated with Soil and all of the living organisms found in the garden. Here's what I've found from the experts... From Organic Guide, "The life sustaining ability of soil is best understood by appreciating the complex cycles of decay and erosion. Its natural formation occurs in a series of layers starting at the surface but gradating down to the deepest bedrock. The surface layer is where active decomposition begins. Exposure to atmospheric elements, surface warmth and moisture helps to break organic matter into loose mulch like material. At the microscopic level, this layer is teeming with a diversity of bacterial, fungal and algal life forms. In combination with larger organisms like beetles and worms they provide the additional recycling activity to enable minerals and nutrients to be retrieved from the decaying organic matter and returned to the soil. Another family of soil based micro-organisms are involved in relationships that enable plants to absorb nitrogen from their roots. Ideally the layer directly beneath the surface will be humus rich topsoil. The quality of this topsoil will depend on the amount of organic material available near the surface and the activity of the recycling organisms."
"Soil organisms, which range in size from microscopic cells that digest decaying organic material to small mammals that live primarily on other soil organisms, play an important role in maintaining fertility, structure, drainage, and aeration of soil. They also break down plant and animal tissues, releasing stored nutrients and converting them into forms usable by plants. Some soil organisms are pests. Among the soil organisms that are pests of crops are nematodes, slugs and snails, symphylids, beetle larvae, fly larvae, caterpillars, and root aphids. Some soil organisms cause rots, some release substances that inhibit plant growth, and others are hosts for organisms that cause animal diseases. Since most of the functions of soil organisms are beneficial, earth with large numbers of organisms in it tends to be fertile; one square metre of rich soil can harbour as many as 1,000,000,000 organisms."
Some soil organisms have a close, mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship with plants. Two examples include rhizobia and mycorrhizae.
Rhizobia are bacteria that form symbiotic associations with legumes such as beans and peas. The bacteria form nodules on the roots of the host plant in which they fix nitrogen gas from the air. Rhizobia supply the plant with nitrogen and in turn the plant supplies the bacteria with essential minerals and sugars. It may be helpful to add Rhizobia in the first planting of beans and peas in a soil area. Afterwards they will be present.
Mycorrhizae are specific fungi that form symbiotic associations with plant roots. Found in most soils, they are very host-specific (i.e., each plant species has specific species of mycorrhizae associated with it).
The Latin word mycor means fungus and rhiza means root. The terms “mycorrhiza” (singular) or “mycorrhizae” (plural) refer to the tissue that forms when fungi and roots develop a mutually beneficial relationship. Enlarging the surface-absorbing area of the roots by 100 to 1,000 times, mycorrhizae create filaments or threads that act like an extension of the root system. This makes the roots of the plant much more effective in the uptake of water and nutrients such as phosphorus and zinc. In exchange, the fungus receives essential sugars and compounds from the roots to fuel its own growth. Some species of mycorrhizae can be seen on roots, while most are invisible to the naked eye.
Mycorrhizae improve plant health. They enhance the plant’s ability to tolerate environmental stress (like drought and dry winter weather) and reduce transplant shock. Plants with mycorrhizae may need less fertilizer and may have fewer soil-borne diseases.
A by-product of mycorrhizal activity is the production of glomalin, a primary compound that improves soil tilth. In simple terms, glomalin glues the tiny clay particles together into larger aggregates, thereby increasing the amount of large pore space, which in turn creates an ideal environment for roots.
Indirectly Beneficial Soil Organisms
In addition to directly beneficial organisms such as rhizobia and mycorrhizae, there are a large number of soil organisms whose activities indirectly help plants. Soil organisms collectively decompose organic matter, resulting in two principal benefits.
First, as soil organisms decompose organic matter, they transform nutrients into mineral forms that plants can use; thus this process is called mineralization. Without soil microorganisms, insects, and worms feeding on organic matter, the nutrients in organic matter would remain bound in complex organic molecules that plants can’t utilize.
Second, as soil organisms break down organic matter, their activities help improve soil structure. Improved soil structure provides a better environment for roots, with less soil compaction and better water and air movement. Many gardeners know that organic matter improves soil, but it is important to note that its beneficial properties are only released after being processed by soil organisms.
Soils naturally contain these decomposers. Adding decomposers to the soil or compost pile is not necessary. Rather nurture them with food (organic matter) and good aeration and drainage (air and water).
I hope you've enjoyed our all of the information I have compiled so far. Are you growing your own food? Without a doubt, healthy soil is essential for healthy crops!
We've had quite a few questions about soil nutrients and amendments this past week. If you have additional questions after reading through our articles please send us an email.
If you're growing a veggie garden or you've ever grown a garden then you probably know that nutrients are very important. Sun and soil (and SEEDS) are also important. Nutrients play an integral role in plant health.
Most "all-in-one" type of fertilizers have an "NPK" rating. NPK stands for Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium(potash).
What does each nutrient do?
In addition to other properties, Nitrogen helps plant foliage to grow strong. Phosphorous helps roots and flowers grow and develop. Potassium (Potash) is important for overall plant health.
Minerals are VERY important to healthy plant growth. For that reason we have added several NEW options
Azomite rock dust is a naturally mined volcanic rock composed of over 70 minerals and trace elements that are essential for optimal plant health. The rock formation in Utah from which Azomite is mined was formed when volcanic ash merged with sea water an estimated 30 million years ago. This mixture of volcanic ash and sea water created a unique source of trace minerals and elements that moist soils are void of. Just like humans, plants require many minerals to reach peak health and vigor. Re-mineralize your soil with Azomite and your plants will thank you and reward you!
Contains potash and other minerals from natural marine deposits. Excellent soil conditioner. Greensand is a mined mineral rich in soil conditioning glauconite.
BOTH of these plant nutrients are important for "heavy feeders" such as Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Pumpkins and Squash
Humate is a generic name for humic materials -- salt forms of humic acid. They are most commonly low grade lignite coal. Humates regulate water-holding capacity, have extremely high ion exchange capacities, and reduce soil erosion by increasing the cohesive forces of the very fine soil particles. Very low concentrations of humates have been shown to stimulate seed germination and root growth. They have also been shown to stimulate desirable soil microorganisms.
These were fast to mature and really tasty. I am new to gardening and didn’t thin my seedlings well enough so many of them did not produce much of a root but that’s okay because we definitely got to use the greens! Photos are of the turnips from the garden to my kitchen and the dish we made with them. Some turnips in the photo are not the purple top variety but overall I think the purple top got larger than the others I planted.
This was the first time I have grown greens of any kind and it was a success! The plants are beautiful with the purple veins. I over crowded my raised bed with these accidentally but they still did really well. I started seeds indoors and had a hard time germinating (due to my own fault being new to seed starting) but still planted what I had outside when the time came. I was surprised when I saw the seeds that didn’t germinate indoors started coming up shortly after being outdoors. That’s how I ended up overcrowding my raised bed but on the plus side I now have a ton of healthy great tasting food in my backyard. Photos are of the greens from my garden to my kitchen.
This is my favorite plant in my garden right now. I started my seeds last winter (2022) and planted in spring 2023. My mullein survived the insane high temperatures over summer and was a refreshing pop of green all winter. I am eagerly awaiting the flower!
These are so much fun. They sell out fast and I try to get at least 1 every year. Last year I was lucky enough to grab 2. I love trying new things and these are a mixture of flower, herbs, and vegetable. One of my favorite carrots came from here. It’s one of three that I grow every year because it’s fun!
When I bought these I had the intention of testing Mary’s seed Garlic with the sprouting store bought garlic from my fridge. I will be doing another review later after I harvest and I’ll post a picture then. So planted these in raised beds. Both in full sun and planted in different beds. I did the exact same thing to both. My store bought sprouted garlic all died. My Mary’s is still alive and forming it’s bulbs. This was just too good not share!
