If you want to grow food successfully in containers, nurturing soil life can make a huge difference. Worm compost, for example, is full of microbes and life. Add it to your containers and you will get more vigorous growth, and far fewer pest and disease problems. Discovering this, was the biggest turning point in my growing (more important, even, than self-watering containers), transforming sporadic successes into something more consistent.<\/p>\n
The healthy organic soil in the natural world supports a web of life including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes as well as larger creatures like worms and slugs. These organisms play a vital role in the life of plants. They break down organic matter to make the nutrients available for plant roots. They condition the soil and create air spaces and tunnels in it \u2013 improving aeration and drainage. And they compete with other more harmful organisms in the soil, ones that will damage your plants if left unchecked.<\/p>\n
There are several different ways you can add life to containers<\/p>\n
Worm compost is particularly rich in soil life. It\u2019s my number one choice for adding life to containers. When matter is passed through the worm’s body it becomes inoculated with all sorts of tiny life forms. So worm compost contains bacteria, fungi and other microscopic goodies (as well as worms!).<\/p>\n
2. Homemade compost<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Homemade compost is also rich in life. It\u2019s not quite as rich in microbes as worm compost, but still lively! \u00a0<\/span>Ad<\/span>d<\/span> 15 \u2013 30% by volume to new compost to inoculate with life.<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Leaf mould<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i>I don\u2019t know many people growing in urban spaces who have the space or access to enough leaves to make leaf mold (would love to hear from you if you are). But if you do \u2013 or have a supply \u2013 this is another ingredient teeming with life. It\u2019s a particularly useful ingredient for making seed sowing mixes as it is also low in nutrients.<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Manure<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i>Manure is also rich in microbial life. In urban places you can often find it \u2013 free or at low cost \u2013 \u00a0at City Farms or police stables. Manure varies tremendously in quality and the goodies \u2013 and nasties like drug residues \u2013 that it contains \u2013 so ask around and try in small quantities first.<\/span><\/p>\n Bokashi is Japanese method of composting food quickly in a tightly sealed bucket. Benefits of bokashi are that you can add almost any food (even meat), it works quickly, can be done in a very small space, and doesn\u2019t smell (much).<\/p>\n For reading more interesting and useful articles, kindly visit:\u00a0blog.khetigaadi.com<\/a><\/p>\n Visit our page for more information about <\/span>Tractor<\/span><\/a>, Agricultural implements, <\/span>Tractor Price<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Tractor Videos<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Tractor Games<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n5. Bokashi<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How Compost Helps Your Soil<\/h2>\n
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