JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs
Garden Voices
Forums
Garden Forums Home Forums Nature Forums
Photo Galleries
Garden Galleries Home Galleries
Ask The Experts Tools & Directories
Organization Directory Events Calendar Hortiplex Glossary Zone Finder Garden Bazaar
       
Return to the Soil Forum | Post a Follow-Up

o
Phosphate and root veggies

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings
Posted by tomtuxman 6bNY (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 30, 09 at 12:24

I have had some disappointment growing root veggies (radishes, beets, etc.) because they just don't form lovely bulbous roots as they should. My soil is beautifully friable, well-enriched with compost and nutrients, so it's not a compaction or infertility problem.

Someone on one of these forums suggested lack of phospate as the underlying problem.

Anyone have experience with that? What should I be adding to compost to correct it?

Follow-Up Postings:

o
RE: Phosphate and root veggies

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

  • Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
    Fri, Oct 30, 09 at 13:47

What do the tops look like?

Al

o
RE: Phosphate and root veggies

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Even I think it is mineral deficiency. Because sometimes when everything is alright, with the soil, weather, compost etc, then also there is some problem with the growth or fertility of the plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bokashi

o
RE: Phosphate and root veggies

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

The tops look perfectly fine, leafy, good green color, about 6 to 7 inches high. BTW, this was a kohlrabi seed mix (white, green and purple) that I planted. First time I ever tried growing kohlrabi.

I also posted on the Vegetable forum. Some there thought potassium or potash deficiency. So whatever it is, it starts with a P.

Other websurfing suggesting bone meal or guano would be appropriate. Do they add a P?

Maybe the P that I need is Patience.

o
RE: Phosphate and root veggies

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Is it possible you have the plants too close together?
I notice with radish that space is needed between seedlings, otherwise they struggle to gain height at the expense of girth.

o
RE: Phosphate and root veggies

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

The only way you will really know if it is a nutrient deficiency is if you have a good, reliable soil test done. Contact your county office of the Cornell USDA Cooperative Extension Service about having this done.
You may have a nutrient deficiency or the nutrients may not be in balance, or your soils pH may be limiting the plants ability to uptake nutrients, or an excess of some nutrient could be preventing the uptake of some nutrients.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell CES

  
 

 

 


Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.



iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community
Join | Garden Forums | Home Forums | Exchanges & Trading | Member Pages | Contact Us
© 2006 iVillage Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Policies FAQ | Advertising
  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network