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mycorrhizal fungi/ gurken

martyspencer007martyspencer007 Posts: 22
in Fruit & veg
hey all
First off i started using mycorrhizal fungi this year after a friend told me he swears by it, i had read there are no signs of the fungus working but i have for the first year tiny little mushrooms all over the place, it could be a coincidence because its been so warm and humid recently?

second: because the the month of may was so shocking i only got my stuff in the ground on the 29th of may, everything is moving along and looking good, how long do cucumbers and crystal lemon cucumbers take to get large. they say gardener are patient people, that's not my experience lol

last point: i bought some 100 percent cold pressed neem oil with azadirachtin because i have some trouble with aphids at the mo. it says you should test it on 1 plant first, how long do i leave it to make sure it does't have an adverse effect on it
thanks in advance 
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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've never used MF, nor neem oil and I've seen not one shred of proper scientific research to justify my purchase of either.
    Devon.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Well @Hostafan1 who needs scientists to look into MF when you're convinced they don't work. 
    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robin-Sen/publication/266390473_Mycorrhizae/links/543027880cf29bbc12766db1/Mycorrhizae.pdf

    That was the 2014 update by the RHS...I think they reported also in 2019 but can't find it. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    amancalledgeorge said:
    Well @Hostafan1 who needs scientists to look into MF when you're convinced they don't work. 
    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robin-Sen/publication/266390473_Mycorrhizae/links/543027880cf29bbc12766db1/Mycorrhizae.pdf

    That was the 2014 update by the RHS...I think they reported also in 2019 but can't find it. 
    I didn't say MF didn't work, I said I see no science behind buying it to add to already good soil. 
    Please don't put words in my mouth.
    Devon.
  • martyspencer007martyspencer007 Posts: 22
    very helpful thanks  ;)
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    ...I've seen not one shred of proper scientific evidence to justify my purchase of a garden fork, tomato seeds, rake, daffodil bulbs, apple tree, tea mug, pea netting, barbeque, garden chair...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited June 2021
    stephentame said:
    ...I've seen not one shred of proper scientific evidence to justify my purchase of a garden fork, tomato seeds, rake, daffodil bulbs, apple tree, tea mug, pea netting, barbeque, garden chair...
    Seems a fairly stupid comment. 
    Presumably you've seen from your own experience that these thing definitely work, otherwise whey would you buy them?
    I've seen no evidence that ADDING MF to already good soil has any benefits whatsoever. 
    Please show evidence of some double blind experiments which show otherwise.
    Devon.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    In answer to some of your questions  :),
    Re: the mychorrhizal fungi, l use it when planting roses and have never seen little mushrooms appear. As you say, l think it's just coincidence. 

    The cucumbers take around 12 weeks (can't answer for lemon cucumbers l'm afraid, never heard of them ).
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-cucumbers/#:~:text=You can start harvesting cucumbers,into October if it's warm.

    As for Neem oil, personally l've never used it, but the answer to your question may be "24 hours". Have a read of this.
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm

    Hope this helps.
  • myclayjunglemyclayjungle Posts: 162
    MartySpencer007- I think you got off lightly for mentioning mycorrhizal fungi!  I asked about it recently on here and was told it was sold to gullible people! I class myself as a gardening newbie instead  :)  I've been using it on various fruit, veg, flowers in both pots and in the ground and not seen any mushrooms or fungal growth. I haven't done a comparison and it may well be rubbish, but I have a packet to use up!   Is the area just too moist? 

    As a newbie, I can't compare to other years, but I have both crystal and 2 other cucumbers growing. The crystal was a seedling from a garden centre and the others from seed.  Mine seem to be on a grow slow mode!  I was hoping the warmer weather would make a difference, but doesn't seem the case so far. Fingers crossed they kick into action soon!

    I can't comment on neem oil.
    Coastal Suffolk/Essex Border- Clay soil
  • martyspencer007martyspencer007 Posts: 22
    myclayjungle said:
    MartySpencer007- I think you got off lightly for mentioning mycorrhizal fungi!  I asked about it recently on here and was told it was sold to gullible people! I class myself as a gardening newbie instead  :)  I've been using it on various fruit, veg, flowers in both pots and in the ground and not seen any mushrooms or fungal growth. I haven't done a comparison and it may well be rubbish, but I have a packet to use up!   Is the area just too moist? 

    As a newbie, I can't compare to other years, but I have both crystal and 2 other cucumbers growing. The crystal was a seedling from a garden centre and the others from seed.  Mine seem to be on a grow slow mode!  I was hoping the warmer weather would make a difference, but doesn't seem the case so far. Fingers crossed they kick into action soon!

    I can't comment on neem oil.
    in all fairness i'd never heard of the stuff but i watch alot of gardening stuff on tv and YouTube and they were talking about it. and coincidentally i bought a solid fertilizer with it in. but from what I've read and seen it looks great. "Today we know that approximately 90% of all land-based plants are connected through what is called the mycorrhizal network" not my words but i had watched something about this on the discovery channel 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Mycorrhizae Fungi Inoculant Products

    There is no doubt that mycorrhizae fungi play an important role in plant growth. They help aggregate the soil which in turn provides plant roots with better access to water and oxygen. Their symbiotic relationship with plants helps them access water and nutrients. It is only natural that companies want to sell these fungi to you. Don’t fall for it.

    mycorrhizae fungi

    Mycorrhizae fungi (white hairs are the mycorrhizal fungi)

    Mycorrhizae Fungi

    Mycorrhizal fungi (mycorrhiza) are found in all soil where plants grow. They form large networks of fine filamentous growth throughout the soil. They associate with plant roots; some even burrow into the roots to create an even greater association with plants. About 80% of all plant species form some type of association with these fungi.

    Think of mycorrhizal fungi as a vast network of very fine plant roots. They are not plant roots, but they behave in similar ways to plant roots. They burrow into nooks and crannies in the soil and collect water and nutrients for the plants. In return the leaves of plants send sugars to the fungi as food. Given this important association it is natural for one to think that it would be beneficial to add more mycorrhizal fungi to the soil. For a more detailed description of mycorrhizal fungi, have a look at this publication by Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott.

    Facts About Mycorrhizae

    1. Garden soil already contains vast quantities of mycorrhizae, or at least it does if any kind of plants grow in it. Adding more is a waste of money, since they are already in your soil.
    2. Manufactured mycorrhizae consists of 2 or 3 types of fungi. It turns out that there are hundreds if not thousands of different kinds in your soil and some of these are very specific to certain types of plants. How do you know your plants will benefit from the 2 or 3 types you buy?
    3. Manufactured mycorrhizae are heat sensitive. If the container is left in a greenhouse, or a transport truck too long, the heat kills the fungi. There is no way for you to know that the product you buy contains active fungi – they could all be dead.
    4. Manufactured mycorrhizae are of a specific species, almost certainly from an area that is foreign to your soil. It is possible that these foreign species inhibit the growth of your native species. You have no way of knowing but it is never a good idea to import foreign species of any kind into your garden.

    There is just no good reason to buy mycorrhizal fungi for your garden.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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