Dear Reader,
I would like to thank all our loyal customers for your support in making June our most successful month. Hopefully you are having a similar season to me: after 6 years of using the Bountea Compost Tea System, I am still getting better results each year. My peas are taller and more lush than last year (ov er 8 feet) and my Kohlrabi are large and sweet (see pics below).
I believe Bountea products are particularly valuable in our current economic situation. Not only are they far more effective than any chemical fertilizer, but this effectiveness is both organic and sustainable. At Organic Bountea, we are very aware of our carbon footprint and use of oil-based products. You can trust that we are dedicated to keep finding ways to reduce our dependence on all non-renewable resources.
The rising cost of oil is reflected in higher transport expenses for all goods, including our own. 90% of plastics and most commercial chemical fertilizers are manufactured from oil. Industrial agriculture's dependence on oil means that fertilizer prices have risen 150%; food prices around the world will automatically increase. So will the costs for anything that is made of, or packaged in, plastic.
However, the outlook is not all gloomy. More people each day are realizing that they need to buy or grow food locally. This is part of the Relocalization movement that aims to build communities based on the local production of food, energy and goods. Seed sales are booming as gardeners grow more of their own produce. An AARP poll found that 1/3 of people over 45 h ave started a new vegetable garden this year.
The 12 gallon Bountea Refill is on special this month so stock up and help your friend and neighbors grow more of their own nutritious food. This months article can help you produce more from your garden as you sow seeds for late Fall harvesting.
Sincerely,
Roland Evans
Organic Bountea
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12% Discount
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For our loyal customers, a further 12% discount on all orders over $50. Just put in the coupon code:
summer08 when you checkout. |
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July/August Garden Tasks
Now is the season to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. This month has few pressing tasks except watering, weeding and harvesting produce as it ripens. Below I give suggestions on  Sowing Summer Seeds in case you are ready for the next round of planting. Unlike the spring rush, this can be spread over July, August and into September. As harvesting proceeds, so does composting. You will need all the compost you can make to feed and protect the soil over the winter.
Composting
The secret of a compost pile that heats quickly and decomposes into fine-grained humus is to provide a welcoming environment for the microbes. They need air, moisture and material that is fairly compact with a balance between nitrogen and carbon.
This is what I do:
- Collected enough organic material, greens (nitrogen) and browns (carbon) to form a 3' x 3' x 2' heap.
- Chop or shred everything as fine as possible (I put everything through a chipper/shredder) and mix it all up
- Water the heap with Bountea or mix in a handful of Soil Life Starter. Make sure it is damp like a sponge but not soggy.
- Cover with a plastic sheet and a layer of carpet
- Turn and mix everything after a week, add moisture if needed and re-cover.
My compost heats up within two days and can be usable in 3 to 4 weeks. Some people prefer slow composting which depends more on fungal than bacterial activity. Then the pile should be layered with more carboniferous material, less moisture and more air
For an effective Deer Deterrent recipe, click here.
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Bountea Compost Tea: Bountea can help plants cope with the stress of too much summer heat and sun. Apply the Bountea in the evening, especially if you are using it as a foliar feed; microbes are vulnerable to ultra-violet rays and loss of moisture. Prepare beds for planting with a good dose of Bountea with M3 included.
We have listened to our customers and are in process of developing a new addition to the Bountea System that will help set flowers and fruit by providing extra Potassium (K). Look for Bountea Big Bloom B3 coming soon
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Sowing Seeds in Summer
As your spring crops of lettuce, carrots onions and peas are harvested, space in the garden begins to open up. The question is, what should you plant next? Now is the time to think about which vegetables you would like to harvest in October and November.
Long season, heat loving crops like corn, tomato, eggplant or squash need too long a growing season to offer a decent return at this late date, unless you have a heated greenhouse. Leaf and root vegetables - lettuce, spinach, chard, collards, and carrots - prefer to germinate at a cooler temperature. If you have ever direct sown spinach seed in summer, you know you are lucky to get even 50% germination.
To maximize the germination of your cool weather crops, try some of these guidelines:
- Search catalog and seed packet descriptions to find varieties that have both a shorter growing season and greater heat tolerance
- Cold treat spinach, onions and lettuce by putting them in the freezer for a week
- Consider soaking and pre-sprouting seeds (not carrots) in a damp paper towel in a zip-lock bag
- Get out your seed kits and plant seeds indoors in a cool room on the floor (tile is best). Cover seed trays with wet newspaper
- Choose shaded spots in the garden or use larger plants to protect seeds and seedlings from the sun
- Cover direct seeded varieties such as carrots with floating row covers, damp newspaper and/or shade cloth
- Water late at night with chilled water or even ice cubes.
Here are preferred germination temperatures for different vegetables with specific growing tips.
Beets below 80F Presoak seeds for 2 hours or sprout
Brassicas below 85F Transplant to firm soil or sow in trenches
Carrots below 80F Keep soil surface constantly damp
Lettuce below 75F Older seeds do best.
Onions: below 75F Sow inside and transplant later.
Pea greens below 85F Pre-sprout and transplant to a cool area
Spinach below 60F Seal in zip-lock bag and freeze for 2 weeks.
Sprout the seeds in the fridge.
Swiss chard below 80F Good substitute for spinach
Try these tips but do not be afraid to experiment with different techniques. With skill and luck, you will surely have a bountiful Fall harvest.
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Care for the soil and care for the Earth with Bountea gardening products.
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