Growing tips for particular crops

All the following suggestions are as an addition to good remineralisation and composting.

Apples

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Fungal Spray should be used three weekly from the beginning of the season
Powdery Mildew spray works well and should be sprayed as soon as an attack is seen

Other considerations
For codling Moth use pheromone traps. If for any reason you can’t get these one or two sprays during flowering can keep codling at bay but increases the risk of black spot.
A lignin rich mulch is beneficial under the trees

Avocados

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
BDMax Phytophera spray has shown good results. It needs to be sprayed over the soil and trees at monthly intervals till the growth returns strongly.
Thrips can be controlled with peppering

Other considerations

Maintain a good mulch under the trees. Magnesium, Zinc and Boron levels need to be maintained.

Phylloxera has also been successfully combated.

Basil

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Basil likes warm weather so to get an early start and to overcome slugs use Warmth Spray between September and November. Warmth Spray can encourage seeding so if seeding starts pick off the heads and spray Etherics 1000 twice in a row

Brassica

All brassica respond well to GBD sprays.

White Cabbage butterfly and Slugs
Apply a Pest protection by spray or watering can as soon in the plants life as possible. If you have bought punnets then water them with PP about four days prior to planting out. It is best to wait until the new leaves have started to grow in the middle of the plant. Once they are planted out water them in with Etherics 1000 or Etherics Seaweed.

Pest protection or Etherics 1000 maybe needed every three weeks or so to keep the bugs at bay. Also spray 501 compound at a two or three to one ratio with Etherics 1000, Etherics Seaweed or Pest Protection .

Heading can be controlled
Too much Etherics 1000 or Pest protection will stop brassica head or hearting up. Spray 501 more often or not as your plants require.

Other considerations
Brassica are very heavy feeding so they like a good amount of compost and minerals with particular emphasis on lime and sulphur. The Chocolate spot that comes in the second or third season is often a sign they need to be rotated to another area to rest that piece of garden
Brassica and Tomatoes do not like each other.

Beans & Peas

Use Etherics 1000 or Etherics Seaweed as a foliar and soil feed every two weeks.

Spray 501 @ 6 inches and before flowering

Flowering and fruit set.
Flowering spray works very well on peas and beans

Other considerations
Avoid over fertilisation with nitrogen based fertilisers, they prefer lime or dolomite.

Beetroot

Use Etherics 1000 or Etherics Seaweed as a foliar and soil feed monthly.

501 comp. at three weeks on a root day.

Carrots.

Use Etherics 1000 and 501 comp. as previously suggested.
In heavy soils sow in a rill of sand.

Celery

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Fungal Spray can be used instead of 501 comp for chocolate spot

Other considerations
Feed and water them well, Etheric Seaweed.
Plant at least one meter apart from each other. They are best interplanted with other crops. Brassica and tomatoes work well

Coriander

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Pest protection will help to reduce corianders flowering tendency while not reducing the flavour. Use early in its growth and then fortnightly

Citrus

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
501 comp. is useful against spring aphids

Other considerations
Maintain Zinc, Magnesium and Sulphur levels, Etherics Seaweed is a good source of Zinc as well as many other elements

 

Cucurbits

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Powdery Mildew spray works well for them. Start using it from the beginning of growth and once the white powder begins you may need to use the spray weekly to keep ahead of it. Once you start on this ‘cure’ phase you should reduce your 501 applications by half.

Flowering Spray works well if the spring and summer is wet and fruit set is inhibited.
Ripening Spray should be used a few times prior to harvest starting 6 weeks before you wish to harvest.

Other considerations
Cucurbits love Sulphur and Lime and generous compost that is not too mature.

Eggplant

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
If you are on a light or sandy soil you may need to use flowering spray through out the season, every few weeks.

Other considerations
Hollow heart to the eggplant indicates a boron deficiency
Eggplant does not seem to like rich soils. They put on lots of leaf and little fruit. Best to be planted on a clayish soil.

Grapes

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Powdery mildew spray works well
Fungal Spray and 501 Comp. helps with other rot fungus’
Flowering, Ripening and Warmth sprays have all worked w

Kiwifruit

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Flowering Spray can be used 5 times from October to January to encourage this seasons pollination and the setting of flowers for the following season. Flowering Spray can replace 501 applications
Spray rates for the BDMax Biodynamic remedy sprays needs to be doubled to 500 mls per hectare for kiwifruit.
Insect peppers have worked well here too

Other considerations
Do the right job at the right time.

 

Lettuce

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Use Pest Protection upon purchase. Use a 3 to 1 ratio with 501comp.
Use 501 on leaf constellation (Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer) days

Other considerations
Mulch and water help a lot.

Leeks and onions.

Use Etherics and 501 as previously suggested.
Other considerations.
They are heavy feeders so compost well and use some Etherics Seaweed.

Passionfruit

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Fungal Spray should be used three weekly
Flowering Spray works well if the light and warmth are slow to come in the spring.
Pest Protection helps with Passion Vine Hopper while 501 comp. can help to reduce the black sooty mould which grows on the fruit.

Other considerations
Feed them well.

Peaches

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Fungal Spray should be added to the other sprays from August till February

Other considerations
Balanced nutrition is vital for organic peaches.

Potatoes

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
Fortnightly applications of Etherics and 501 comp will provide a good cover against blight. If need be Fungal Spray can be used instead of 501 comp.
Other considerations, follow pasture or green crop well. Companion plant to brassica.

Sweet Corn

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
For Cut worm and Army worm
Before sowing spray Etherics 1000 or Etherics Seaweed. Followed by two Pest Protection sprays as soon as leaves appear and one week apart.
The cob fruit worm should not be a problem

Other considerations
Feed them well and plant them close together in clumps to get good pollination.
Companion to cucurbits

Tamarillos

Use Etherics and 501 comp. As previously suggested
White fly is contained well with the use of Pest Protection.

Other considerations
They love compost with cow manure in it. Warmth spray to promote growth in cooler weather.

Tomatoes

Use Etherics Seaweed as a foliar and soil feed every two weeks

On each second feed add a 4 ml capful of 501 comp to the watering can full of water.

Fungal problems should be minimal, however using the RotMin spray can be used for further protection.
RipeMax A spray speeds up ripening

Other considerations
They are heavy feeders and likes immature compost, especially one with old tomato vines in it.

Specific bugs

Green Shield beetle

Pest protection

Aphids

501 compound

Bronze Beetle

Compost, Pest Protection and peppers

Cabbage butterfly

Pest Protection

Slugs

For lettuce and Brassica – Pest Protection
Basil – ThermoMax

Thrips

Etherics Seaweed and compost. Keep spraying all season. Next season will be better

Mealy Bug

501 comp. on the vines and Worm castings around the vines has helped

Birds

BirdScare sprayed twice a week apart and then 2-3 weekly and then as needed

Rabbits

RabbitChase sprayed twice a week apart and then 2-3 weekly and then as needed

Possums

PossumChase sprayed twice a week apart and then 2-3 weekly and then as needed

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