Here we are in the last of May in the south. What have you done for your garden for general plant health?
I will tell you what I have done for mine and it starts with Chitosan as a pre-plant/transplant application. I usually start my soil conditioning with a 2% mixed solution of OII-YS adjusted to a pH of less than 5. I will say that I have been doing this same thing for the past three years and I know that my soil has a residual supply of Chitosan. With that being said when we think of using a Chitosan solution in any soil environment, we generally consider it will take a few years based on soil type to reach substantial levels for availability for the plant. A heavier soil may bind Chitosan quicker than a sandy soil.
With tomatoes we need to consider placement in the garden first. I usually rotate my garden every year based on where my legume crop was placed the year before because of the fact that legumes fix nitrogen from the air. So, with that in mind I will place tomatoes where peas or other legumes where place the year before. In other words, have a plan for garden layout every year. This also works for other transplanted vegetable plants. And even your seeded crops i.e., okra, corn, or any you plan to grow.
Growers that grow tomatoes every year will rotate their plants to decrease or suppress prominent diseases that affect growth. With the use of Chitosan products there is hope that we can maybe control or suppress these prominent plant diseases.
I know these are some random thought but it’s something to really think about as we approach this years garden production.
Happy Gardening!
S Flint/Mississippi
