The best way to feed plants is to maintain a healthy soil. Because grass is long term, it is best to look for eco-friendly ways to enrich the soil supporting your lawn. Use a slow-release natural organic lawn fertilizer. A soil test before planting or adding any fertilizer is good idea.

If you establish the measure of the soil’s acidity or alkalinity (pH balance) then you will decide whether to add lime or not. Liming raises the pH balance of the soil i.e its makes soil less acidic.

Most grass varieties do well away from shaded areas. Try and remove any shade casting objects around your lawn. Sufficient sunshine means less moss and weeds.

The best grass has deep roots. Soil should allow for at least 15 cm in depth of the roots. Use a root boosting product to strengthen the roots and be careful not to cut the grass too short

To promote grass vigor, the grass should not be cut too short as it undermines root development. When the grass is below 5 cm there will be higher chances of weed and disease problems

Aeration

If you occasionally have human or ‘motor’ (car) traffic in your lawn or grass, then it is a good idea to aerate. Another way is to check the root’s depth i.e. how far the roots extend. If the roots do not extend past 3-5 cm, the soil should be aerated – to get the much needed air to the root system

Watering is important. Make sure the grass is getting enough water. The amount of water depends on the variety of grass. For example, Arabic and Zimbabwe grass require frequent watering. You must have noticed how lawns go dormant (turning brown & dry) during the hot and dry season and bounce back to green in the rainy season.

With a good watering programme that incorporates water retainers (Absorber) it is possible to maintain the green and lush color on and off season.

See our step by step guide to get you started with quality input for enriched soils, enhanced root mass, safe pest control and conservation of water

Lawn grass varieties found in Kenya: Arabic, Buffalo, Cape Royal, Carpet, Kikuyu, Maadi River, Paspalum, Pemba, Variegated Pemba, Bermuda, Playmix, Evergreen, Shaddy mix, Tiff Sport, Tifton and Zimbabwe grass

IMPORTANT: Seek expert advice on the most suitable grass variety for your location or climatic conditions..

The post Some Tips for Lawns first appeared on Organix Limited.

French beans require at least 50 mm of water per week and a lot of sunlight, so no shades.  You wont miss to see French beans grown in Murang’a, Nyandarua, Machakos, Naivasha, Nyeri, Thika, Embu and Kirinyaga. They can thrive in sandy, loam and clay soils.

With proper care, they should grow right where you are

If you’re looking at planting French beans with Organic products to enrich soils and control pests and diseases naturally, use the following application instructions:

Step 1: At planting time

Apply 20g of EARTHLEE per square metre of planting area. If you are using standard fertilizer (i.e.TSP, DAP, MAP, NPK, CAN, Urea, etc), coat 1Kg EARTHLEE with 50Kg granular fertilizer.

EARTHLEE is humate powder that supplies to crops the active ingredient of Organic Matter.

Thoroughly mix NHANCE seed with the seed before planting at a rate of 100ml / 10Kg.

It is made from freshly harvested seaweed which enhances seed germination and growth.

To reduce the number of times you have to water the crop by 50%, incorporate OKOAMAJI at a rate of 5Kg per hectare with seed and fertilizer during planting.

OKOAMAJI is a biodegradable water retainer.

Step 2: After 2- 3 weeks

To improve nutrient availability and soil texture, apply 50g-100g ASILEE per running meter 2-3 weeks after germination.

ASILEE is a soil conditioner made from natural ingredients, namely; Turmeric, Mangium, Marigold, Ginger, Sesame, Soya, Neem, Pongamia, Mahwah, Castor, Shea, Cashew, Mustard and Natural Ores such as Magnesium Ore and Silica.

To enhance root development, at first trifoliate stage of the French beans apply NHANCE Foliar Apply foliar spray at 2ml per 1 litre of water.

Step 3: Pest Control

Apply ACHOOK, a neem (mwarubaini) based product that is effective against nematodes and other pests. In case of nematodes drench 2ml ACHOOK mixed in 2 litres water per one square metre of crop.  This should be 2 weeks after germination.

To get rid of other insects, foliar spray 1ml ACHOOK mixed in 1 litre of water.

To get these products delivered to you, order from our online shop

The post Growing Organic: French Beans first appeared on Organix Limited.

NURSERY: Prepare a good nursery seedbed to ensure good plant establishment. The seedbed should be raised and be 1m wide. If you can afford it, use seedling trays.

Make sure that you purchase a tomato variety that is suitable for your conditions. There are different varieties[1] in the market;  each having specific qualities related to preferred conditions for growth, their resistance to specific diseases or pests, their maturity period and maximum fruit weight and overall yield per acre.

Make sure to read the label and follow instructions for the variety you pick.

MAIN GARDEN PREPARATIONS

Manure: If you have some manure, apply 10kg of well decomposed manure per square meter prior to transplanting to improve yields of tomatoes.

Water retainer: While waiting for the seedling in the nurseries to mature, at week 3 you should measure and mark planting holes according to the tomato variety instructions.

Next, dig out the planting holes to a depth of about 12 – 15 cm. Apply ½ g of Okoamaji, a water retainer per planting hole.  The Okoamaji particles should be mixed thoroughly with backfill to ensure even spread without exposing to the sun.

The water retainer will reduce your water irrigation frequency by 50% due to its retention capability.

TRANSPLANTING STAGE

Four weeks after sowing seeds in the nursery, when the plants are about 10-15cm high, the seedlings are ready to be transferred to the main planting area

One day before transplanting, drench tomato seedling with Nhance Foliar. Drench solution in the nursery at the rate of 5ml / litre of water. This is important to minimize transplanting shock. Nhance is made from freshly harvested seaweed.

As you transplant be careful to scoop out the seedlings with soil attached to the roots. Ideal time to transplant is on a cool day or late in the evening.

Add 1/2 g of Earthlee per planting hole. Earthlee accomplishes normal function of organic matter which reduces the need for bulk application of organic matter in the soil.

NB: If you are using standard fertiliser like TSP, DAP, MAP, NPK or CAN, coat Earthlee at a rate of 1kg Earthlee for every 50kg of fertilizer.

To minimize pest infestation, apply Achook, a neem based product at a rate of 1ml per 1 litre water. For every tomato seedling, pour 100 ml of the mixed solution.

AFTER TRANSPLANTING

2 weeks after transplanting apply Nhance Foliar mixed at a rate of 2ml per every litre of water. This should be repeated after 2 weeks.

When the tomato plants are 25cm high, top dress with 10g Asilee per plant. Asilee is a soil conditioner prepared from natural ingredients and is certified for organic farming. Asilee enhances the microbial activity in the soil.

PEST & DISEASE CONTROL

Tomatoes like other crops are prone to attack from the elements. Most common of these are nematodes and insects like whiteflies, leaf miners, spider mites, aphids and grass hoppers. Blossom-end rot is a common problem that is caused by lack of calcium and or low soil pH. Diseases that attack tomatoes include early and late blight, powdery mildew, bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt. Most of these diseases may be prevented by using fumigated or solarised soils and certified tomato seed varieties. Proper management is crucial.

To reduce disease risk, choose a nursery site where potatoes, eggplants and peppers have not been grown for the last 3 years.

As a precaution, as the tomatoes grow you should remove the leaves close to the ground to prevent the entry of blight and other fungal diseases.

At the sight of any pests spray the tomato plants with solution of Achook mixed at rate of 1ml to 1 litre of water.

WATERING: After week one, the frequency of watering the tomato plants after transplanting will reduce to 1 or 2 times every week. The Okoamaji will have absorbed and retained most of the water and so be careful not to cause water clog or too much water that may cause other problems.

See Organix products protocol here

[1] Tomato varieties: Anna F1, Bravo F1, Cal J VF, Chonto F1, Faulu, Harmony F1, Joy F1, Kentom F1, Libra F1, M 82, MonaLisa F1, New Fortune Maker F1, Onyx F1, Oxly, Prostar F1, Rambo F1, Riogrande, Samantha F1, Sandokan F1, Strike F1,

The post Planting tomatoes the organic way first appeared on Organix Limited.

Are you one of those people who have an interest in farming or gardening but feel that you cannot practice because you are limited by where you live or that you do not have sufficient space?

Container gardening is the perfect solution. Now you have no reason to procrastinate or give excuses…….

If you are a beginner, stick to the basics. Look around for what is available, for what you can do. Do not overwhelm yourself with big things. If you dwell too much on planning, your garden is highly likely to remain a pipe dream.

So let’s look at the main supplies for your first container garden.

Containers: These will range from the smallest yoghurt can to the largest water bottle. You can literally improvise everything so long us they have enough space for soil that is sufficient for your plant. The size of your container will be dependent not only on the space you have available but on what you want to grow in it. The other option is to purchase planting pots from the supermarkets or roadside nurseries. The containers should allow for holes to let out excess water. You don’t want plants backfiring because of clogged soils.

Grow bags are a good alternative if you want to ‘grow a lot on the spot’

The upside is that you can place containers anywhere. Just look for the most convenient for you and plant.

Growing Area:  Try to observe which is the most suitable area for our container. You need to consider sun exposure of the growing area. Look for spots that will get between 3 to 6 hours of sun per day. The amount of sunlight required may vary with different plants. For example, herbs may not need 6 hours, but less. Make sure you are gathered enough information about the plant(s) you intend to grow.

Try to place the containers at a convenient and visible place, where you can monitor. Try to position them where watering them will not be an uphill task for you. Remember, you can be decorative with your container garden.

Soil: The soil you choose for your container garden is important. In a container garden, the soil needs to light and fluffy. It should not be too dense or tightly packed as roots need access to oxygen and appropriate water retention as well as drainage. You may purchase soil from the roadside nursery if you do not have any other option. Consider preparing a potting soil mix.

Trowel: This will come in handy when planting your plants and removing any dead plants from the containers. A jembe is not needed; at least not after soil is settled well into the containers.

Pruning tool: Hand pruner will be required to trim off dead or dying leaves and light pruning.

Gloves: This is optional. Gloves are useful if you want to cut down on time spent cleaning off dirt from hands and nails after gardening. If you go for this option, look for comfortable, easy to slip in and out and strong enough to protect from moisture and thorns (if this is a likely problem). The choice is yours.

Watering Can: With a container garden, you’ll need a way to gently and easily water your plants. You may go for a watering can or a water hose – all depends on practicality. Whether you use a can or hose pipe, make sure that there is a nozzle attached at the end to allow for shower-like flow to the plants. You don’t want to damage your container plants with too much force.

Plants: The most important. When you are just starting out, just grow what you want to grow. You can buy seedlings from nurseries or go for seeds from the local stores (or agrovets). It is good to enquire from neighbors that may already be practicing gardening and so would be best placed to share about the best varieties or types. You could also search online for most convenient place to make a purchase.

Growbag photos courtesy of Barefoot Soulutions

The post Container Gardening first appeared on Organix Limited.