Proudly Taking us to Chelsea in 2007.
Live images in March from Melbourne & Chelsea in May.
Please tell your friends. No one else will.

  Gardening Articles for week ending 24th  February 2007
Written by Wally Richards.

PUTTING SOME MAGIC INTO YOUR GARDEN
Gardeners have one desire; healthy gardens and plants that are growing well, fairly free of diseases and pests. Some years ago scientists discovered that Humate and Fulvic acid incorporating more than 77 minerals as well as a number of Amino Acids, derived from prehistoric cycad forest deposits, did wonders for the soil and plants.
Unfortunately, many of the minerals and trace elements which contemporary research is showing to be necessary for full health are no longer readily available in our soils. Modern farming methods have not replaced these in our soils, and so these minerals and elements are less available to the plants grown for food or pleasure. The result is that they are not available in our food. Indeed, recent studies conducted at various agricultural collages and universities show that today's fruits and vegetables are lacking in all the 77 minerals and trace elements with most samples containing 30 or less.
This is why the food in our current, conventional food chain lacks the nutritional values we need for good ongoing health. Our plants are not healthy, our animals/stock are not healthy and we at the top of the food chain also have numerous health problems these days.
Humate and Fulvic acid is readily available in many garden centres under the name of Magic Botanic Liquid (MBL). Extracted in New Zealand from lignite (low grade coal) which is the consolidate of those giant prehistoric forests growing at a time when the planet was mineral rich.
I often mention MBL in my weekly columns and numerous gardeners have tried the liquid in their gardens. The results and feed back that I have received from gardeners using the liquid have been remarkable. One lady gardener rang me the other day and told about a life style block they had purchased some years ago. The soil was of poor quality as a result of past use and they were having difficulties getting plants to grow no matter what they did.
She gave an example of a stand of olive trees they planted 5 years ago which were alive but barely growing since planted. The lady had obtained a bottle of MBL and used it on her roses; the roses quickly responded and now she is proud of what once were poor specimens.
With this in mind she convinced her husband to treat the olive trees to the liquid.
A good drench of the soil and a few sprays over the foliage and hey presto the olive trees are now growing well and looking really healthy.
I cannot recount the number of gardeners that have phoned, emailed or posted me letters telling how their gardens have never been as good as now, since they started using MBL.
One gardener from Auckland rang me up the other day and said “I don't know whats in it, but now I have a fantastic garden.” He went onto to say his garden won the top garden in his area as a neighbough had nominated his garden as an entry for the competition.
What does this magic stuff actually do? Well it does a number of things such as unlocking and making  food or past fertilisers in the soil available for plants.
It helps clean up toxic poisons and chemical residues in the soil because of its high carbon content.
Soil life respond to the liquid and their populations grow aiding the health of the plants.
(Note chemical fertilisers and sprays kill this vital soil life which is a good reason never to use chemicals)
Also found in the humate is humic acid. Humic Acid is a generic term for a complex of acids found in decaying plants. These acids are used in the chelation process. They also are the source of one of the most exciting health discoveries in recent times: Fulvic Acid.
Fulvic acid is only one of the substances in humate, however. Humic substances comprise an immense arsenal of powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, enzymes, amino acids, hormones and antioxidants, to list just a few.
It is like waving a magic wand over your gardens and every thing starts to come to life.
To start off you drench the soil with 20 mils of MBL per litre of water applied with a watering can when the soil is already moist. The same can be repeated every 2-3 months for a season or two.
Later on when everything is doing well a drench in the spring and another in the autumn would maintain the health. Spraying the foliage of plants is also important and will result in better plants and healthier food crops. This can be done two weekly initially, at the rate of 10 mils of MBL to each litre of water. Spray the foliage for reasonable coverage and the soil near the plant at the same time.
Later on a monthly spray should be all thats required.
Often the effects are noticed fairly quickly especially in gardens where chemicals have been used in the past. Organic gardens will also benefit but the improvement will be more in the nutritional value of the crops rather than an increase in the health of the plants. (Because they should be pretty healthy anyway)
More benefits include;  Aids and speeds up germination of seeds. Helps to release locked up fertilisers from past applications especially phosphates. Helps increase availability of chemical fertilisers and organic foods for plants. Helps reduce many common plant disease problems. Cleans up many toxic compounds, chemicals and oil spills in soil. Helps to establish plants in areas where they cant or struggle to establish. Stimulates growth of soil micro organisms. Increases root respiration and formation. Increases availability of micro nutrients. Increases permeability of plant membranes, which enhances nutrient uptake. Increases vitamin content of plants.  Accelerates root development. Stimulates plant enzymes.
MBL contains a number of trace elements such as Si, Mg, S, Mn and more. Increases photosynthesis. Contains silica which strengthens cell walls, helps block disease and regulates cell temperature which increases drought and frost tolerance. Increase pH buffering properties of soil. Retains and releases water soluble fertilisers for plants when needed. Increases soil aeration. Improves soil structure. Makes soil more friable.
Has a capacity to detoxify chemical residues and heavy metals. A powerful, natural chelating agent. Improves taste and shelf-life. Fulvic acid can promote prolonged production, as it tends to delay the aging process. Fulvic acid increases the metabolism of proteins.
You can put some magic into your garden for your own pleasure, increase the nutritional value of your own home grown fruit and vegetables and have the best looking roses in the street. Its Magic.

Problems ring me at 0800 466 464 (Palmerston North 3570606)
wallyjr@gardenews.co.nz Email
Web site www.gardenews.co.nz

Garden Pages and News at www.gardenews.co.nz
Shar Pei pages at www.sharpei.co.nz

Please check out the Event Calendar. If you want your activity included, just let us know. Thank you.