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Are tums just for tomatoes ? Can the right-hand plants repel mosquitoes ? Learn more about these and other unremarkably - partake garden myth and why they do n’t work .
If you ’re concerned in garden folklore , there aremore popular garden myths we ’ve all fall for here .
Popular Garden Tips You Can Avoid
1Use Tums or Eggshells to Fix Blossom End Rot
Nope!If you ’ve had blossom end bunkum ( BER ) on your tomatoes or white pepper , you make out how gross it looks . Part of the yield — often the bottom — make cankerous and discolored — sometimes turning to mush . Although the sleep of the yield is still eatable , it ’s not appetizing . You may also see it in plants in the squash kinsfolk . Yuck !
So how do we set it ?
Well , you ca n’t . Once the damage is done , the damage is done . BER is quite complex and not wholly read . And although the condition is associated with a calcium problem , adding thing that control calcium to the soil is not a root . The government issue is that the plant may not be able to take up useable Ca or hand out it where it ’s necessitate , not that Ca is n’t available in the soil .
So hold the Tums and shell . And good fortune next sentence .
relate :
2Grow Marigolds With Tomatoes
Maybe , but not the path we ’ve been told . The are countless lists of plant consider to “ love ” each other or grow better together . We humans are very good at anthropomorphizing nature !
While there is enquiry showing that some specific plant sexual union can have a specific welfare in a specific situation ( usually controlled options unlike actual garden ) , the whole subject of companion planting has reached mythological levels .
We hunt with huge generalizations while scientific discipline must be specific .
We hear — just do this , it works!—without any hint about what it ’s hypothesise to do .
Here is one good example of how study are misconceive .
A late UK study looked at using French marigold to stop whitefly from progress to tomatoes growing in a greenhouse . They did see a step-down if the plants were grown together , but not if the marigolds were inclose later . Unfortunately , they also saw a decrease in the size of it of the tomato . And none of the tests were done alfresco in the field .
you’re able to see how it ’s quite a leap to turn this into — always turn marigolds with love apple , but that ’s how it goes . We push aside the specifics and run with the soundbite .
Yes , there is much to be discovered in the domain of works relationships . But much of what we ’re tell is too general to fact checker or has not been contemplate . And if there are studies , they apply to research laboratory or greenhouse circumstance , not home garden .
If a gardener says a certain plant combination “ works groovy , ” it ’s a dear shot the plants had the good grease nutriment , adequate water , Dominicus , and elbow room to raise . The “ companion plants ” were happy because their basic — and similar — need were met .
relate : The Problem With Companion Plant list
3Put Worms in a Compost Bin
Wait!There are many ways to create compost and not all of them are dirt ball - well-disposed . This is because some compost piles get much blistering than worms can tolerate .
The universal temperature reach for worms is approximately 59 - 77 ° F ( 15 - 25 ° nose candy ) . That ’s why they stay underground in soil — heating at the surface can speedily dry them out .
When wevermicompost(use worm to convert constitutional waste into fertilizer ) , the worms are happy in the container if temperature stay within the safe range .
Alternately,“hot ” compost pilesare just that : compost lots that stir up up of course as the microbes break down food waste . Yours may be hot without you ever knowing it . But with temperatures potentially contact 160 ° F ( 71 ° deoxycytidine monophosphate ) or more , you would never intentionally add worms because they would electrocute .
Other compost pilesmay never reach these temperatures and worms are attracted to them all on their own . That ’s fine . Just never bring them if you are not certain conditions are right-hand .
4Keep Mosquitoes Away With Certain Plants
We wish!Let ’s apply some logic to this one . Say you have a industrial plant that is proven to repel ( or is of no stake to ) mosquitoes . So , where will the mosquito go alternatively ? How far by could this petite creature possibly go ? Unless carried by wind , that mosquito is still in the garden . And who worry if it ’s on a plant ? We do n’t desire it biting us !
So the industrial plant - repellent idea does n’t make much sense .
Common advice say to make a garden less enticing to mosquitoes but that ’s not really naturalistic .
For instance , it is ordinarily recommended to reduce stand water ( where mosquitoes lay their eggs ) but that piddle is vital for all wildlife whether it ’s on puddles , leafage , and in pool . It ’s not like we ’re going to make a big difference by emptying out containers after a rain .
It is voguish togardening ecologicallyto draw mosquito vulture include dragonfly , damselfly , water striders ( Gerridae ) , razzing , bats , frogs , and Pisces . Encourage the whole food World Wide Web !
This has specifictips for attracting dragonfliesto your garden .
To protect our physical structure frombites , product containing DEET , picaridin or icaridin ( see object lesson here ) , or fossil oil of lemon eucalyptus - PMD ( not lemon yellow eucalyptus essential oil ) have examine efficacy .
Andavoid pesticidesbecause , if you envenom the blighter , you poison the predator too .
Related : Do oil , Candles , and Certain Plants Keep Mosquitoes aside ?
5Avoid Watering Mid-Day
For year it was believed that watering in the hot mid - 24-hour interval sun would magnify the water droplet to sear or burn plant leaves . But , it ’s just not so .
If your plants need water , water them . The more they dry out out , the hard time they will have take on up water , so there is no horse sense in holding off .
Related : Popular Garden Myths We ’ve All fall For
6Plant According to the Lunar Cycles
Not a anteriority . This is another one that belie what science have it away and make planting a garden more complicated . The possibility motley depending on which lunar horticulture calendar you record but they all take that plants will do better if planted during sure moon phases or when the synodic month is in certain augury of the Zodiac .
We know the moon ( and sun ) cause ocean tides , but the idea that our moonshine also micro - cope small object like plants or seed is just not so .
There are plenty of gardener who swear by synodic month gardening and that ’s fine . I just would n’t make pass up the right clip to establish in the growing season to wait for a waxing or waning moon or a sure star sign .
7Add Fertilizer Regularly – No Matter What
No!Many of us have gardened for days without ever usinga synthetical fertilizer , pesticide , or weedkiller , and have healthy , thriving gardens .
While these various commercial products may do what they say , there are environmental toll .
Well - intended home gardener just see blooms and green grass . But the wipeout happens beyond our yards .
Think of how many gardeners and husbandman use this stuff .
rainfall carry the superfluous running game - off into our river , streams , lake , and ponds .
Aquatic lifetime include fish have it in their bodies .
Issues like algae bloom occur , creating stagnate areas that aquatic life can not live in . All from things like surplus nitrogen .
So what can we do instead ?
The alternative is to first read your develop shape includingsoil compositionand work with it .
Consider using slow - release alternatives likecomposted intellectual nourishment scrapsandcomposted animate being manuresthat step by step replenish nutrients in the soil rather .
And let the garden be part of nature .
~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛
