smaller sized organic vegetables

[kani-lehua]

does anyone know why, or at least to me, that organic veggies are smaller than non-organic?

"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."

microsoft error message with haiku poetry

[waynesb]

There's a reason people spend all that money on chemical fertilizers and pesticides: They make it easier to grow bigger, prettier vegetables. Do you want pretty, or do you want healthy?

[DickWilson]

I've found if you fertilize organically, you require a little more than if you fertilize with chemicals, unless you can get bat guano or have good source for chicken guano, in which case, if you keep the insects at bay, you get about equal size. Compost,compost, and amend away. And have a soil analysis done so you know where you're at. Be aware of the PH requirements of the veggies you want to grow as they don't all like the same level.[]

dick wilson

[kani-lehua]

it's not that the veggies/fruit are ugly in any way, just smaller.

regarding amending the soil: yep. have to do that regularly. will check the ph, pronto.

regarding the bat guano: will check into that again. it didn't seemt to do much. the fish emulsion worked better.

"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."

microsoft error message with haiku poetry

[mella l]

smaller is the way of the future?? New hot item is baby bell peppers here in all colors. Use them in salads, or grill, or put into stews!

fish emulsion is outstanding in my gardening experience, also calcium for tomatoes does wonders, as does a smig of lime to sweeten the soil.

mella l

[DickWilson]

Calcium is great for end rot. Fish emulsion also, tends to be a little pricey here, but just about the best, no concerns for weeds. Here's a link on ph for common veggies.[]
http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/phlevel1.htm
dick wilson

[StillHope]

Kani,what you have is normal.
Commercial stuff is "on steroids", only legal ones,unfortunaly...

[kani-lehua]

thanks everyone. i'll have to check into the lime and calcium. this week the veggies are due for another dose of fish emulsion.

mella: yes about the baby bells. i'm growing a "carnival" type of mix which even produces some purple bells.

dickwilson: thanks for the link.

"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."

microsoft error message with haiku poetry

[pslamont]

WE are doing some experiments here in Thailand with an agricultural system developed by the King and Government agencies. Seems that pig poop, mixed with rice husks and chicken manure is the bomb for fertilizer. The pig pen is made with a 3 foot high wall, then rice husks added for at least a foot on the bottom. Pigs root around in it. Chicken roosts are placed at the ends of each pen. They poo in it. Something called "ET" is added (it is sold in USA for breaking down stuff in cesspools). It is an enzyme and totally harmless to the pigs and chickens. It just causes the stuff in the bottom of the pen to compost quickly and thoroughly. Every week or two, a couple hundred pounds of rice husks are added. Of course, these are free here. Carey, what would work that is naturally occurring in Hawaii? RESEARCH, WOMAN!!

Theo did this for only a few months and used the first load scooped out on his garden to amend the soil. He planted the same seeds in the otherwise same soil as all the neighbors. Their corn topped out at 7 inches, with the average ear around 5 inches long. Stalks are around 6 feet. Corn is starchy and tough. Theo's came up with over 12 foot stalks, ears are 8 to 12 inches, corn is sweet and tender. It works well, so we just need to find out what to use in place of the rice husks. Something dry. Some starchy leaf? Something small that breaks down easily. Makes me wish rice were a staple crop on the island. Seems like it should be. With all our rain, rice paddies would sure be easy to establish.

Oh, well, will look for comments and ideas from you all.

Pam

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!