Seaweed, comfrey, compost and horse manure are the only additives I have ever used in my raised veg organic beds, planted around with pollinating flowers not too far away. The only thing I really struggled with was purple sprouting broccoli, which got a serious infestation of shield bugs munching them. I picked off hundreds, then netted them but must have missed a few, so couldn’t save the plants. I did use some tomato feed (which I got to use on the roses) on my poorly looking toms recently though, and didn’t even think about what’s in it, so thanks for highlighting that, Fairygirl!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Seaweed, comfrey, compost and horse manure are the only things I have ever used in my raised veg organic beds, planted around with pollinating flowers not too far away. The only thing I really struggled with was purple sprouting broccoli, which got a serious infestation of shield bugs munching them. I picked off hundreds, then netted them but must have missed a few, so couldn’t save the plants. I did use some tomato feed (which I got to use on the roses) on my poorly looking toms recently though, and didn’t even think about what’s in it, so thanks for highlighting that, Fairygirl!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
organic or nearly organic is best, and challenging too. You have to accept a few losses, and certainly have to do a bit more, but also have to know a bit more. Ancients tended to use a lot more companion planting than the monoculture obsessed present. Give em something they like to eat approach. Chemicals are a easy fix sure, but can rob you of a learning experience. Tuning in to your environment is always a better solution. Just starting out? Use a few things to get some success under your belt, that keeps you interested. Once interested learn how to get yourself off the chemicals, not as easy as it sounds. Youtube is a world of suggestions to experiment with. But with challenge comes fun, the satisfaction of overcoming. The beauty of the modern age is choice, use what you have to and learn how not to. Above all enjoy.
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