Best growing practices for organic crops

There is no doubt, the trend for organic grown vegetables and herbs is not only here to stay, but is steadily growing, and the number of growers converting to organic horticulture is rising. The availability of certified organic products in crop production, especially those for controlling various cultural stresses, is still quite limited. An integrated approach, therefore becomes the best alternative in organic horticulture for controlling insects and pests. In conventional horticulture, pesticides and fungicides can be applied to control insects and diseases. Chemical fertilizers can be applied to correct nutrient deficiency. However, in organic horticulture, starting plants in quality growing media enriched with beneficial micro-organisms, like mycorrhizae will provide the seeked qualities for a global and fully integrated solution. Plants will then have better resiliency to stresses throughout the crop cycle.

What makes a good organic growing medium? It starts with the same basic components used in conventional horticulture. You need a balance of good air porosity, good, but not excessive, water retention, a source of plants nutrients for initial growth, a pH adapted to the plants’ needs and beneficial microorganisms. Although the wetting agents and fertilizers in organic growing media are not the same as those in conventional products, media manufacturers have come up with solutions to help assure homogenous water and fertilisation for optimized crop growth. Some media are amended with compost for increased moisture which will help with initial wetting, but in the long run, compost contains a lot of fine particles reducing air porosity and sometimes causing growing medium to shrink. Natural surfactants (yucca extracts) are being used and are by far a better solution, although the initial watering must be repeated more than once to be certain that media is well moistened.

Choosing the Right Growing Medium – Pro-Mix MP Mycorrhizae Organik

Premier Tech Horticulture offers a compost–free, multi-purpose organic growing medium that provides consistent growth for a wide variety of crops. It performs better than most grower-made media. This product is Pro-Mix MP Mycorrhizae Organik and it has the same great qualities as all Pro-Mix media. Pro-Mix MP Mycorrhizae Organik as an organic starter fertilizer charge which gradually releases nutrients with the support of natural microorganisms found in the growing medium. It is also enhanced with MYCORRHIZAE™, a beneficial mycorrhizal fungi that forms association with plant roots enhance nutrient absorption for plants. Mycorrhizae become very important in organic production as organic fertilizers do not immediately provide available nutrients to plants, as with the chemical water soluble fertilizers. Mycorrhizae act as an extension of the plant’s root system to provide extended nutrient absorption area accessing nutrient that would not normally be accessible. Also, it helps plants overcome root diseases and water related stresses, which can be more common in organic crop production.

Pro-Mix MP Mycorrhizae Organik is listed with Organic Materials Review Institude (OMRI) and with Canadian Organic Certifiers that are renown by the industry as a reliable reference in organic agriculture standards.

Other Key Success Factors: Monitoring In-Use Growing Medium

Whether you buy pre-formulated growing medium or mix your own, the pH and EC of growing medium as well as water alkalinity should be measured at the beginning of the crop followed by several times during the crop production cycle. Fertilizers used in organic production release a lot of calcium, therefore it’s is advisable to monitor these levels during crop cycle. It is also strongly recommended to monitor pH of the medium to prevent certain trace elements, such as Iron and Manganese, from becoming unavailable due to pH climb.

For more information about methods for monitoring pH, EC, and corrective measures, contact your Premier Tech Horticulture Grower Services representative.

For more information
Premier Tech Horticulture
1, avenue Premier
Rivière-du-Loup (Québec)
Canada G5R 6C1
T: +1 418 867-8883
Toll free: +1 855 867-5407
www.pthorticulture.com