Garden Culture Magazine UK 29 by Garden Culture Magazine

UK EDITION · ISSUE 29 · 2019

Fungi

Life Under the Surface FREE COPY

FREE COPY

Art by Nicholas Di Genova

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Find the Organic in you

Come and meet the Biobizz Team! Find us at Autopot Summer Social (August 17th-18th) and The Hydroponic Expo (August 23rd-25th)

CONTENTS

STEALTH SCIENCE PART V

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

100 HEMP FARMING

94 WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

77 28 I N THIS ISSU E OF GA R D EN CU LTU RE:

THE FOLIAR FRONTIER

15 Foreword

72 Phytomicrobiom - Fungal Defence

17 Product Spotlights

77 Who’s Growing What Where

28 Hemp Farming

80 Fungi - A Food Forest’s Best Friends

36 Living Organic Soil - Digging a Bit Deeper

85 Ask a PhD

44 Organic to Synthetic and Shades Between

86 Detox with Fruit & Fasting

48 Plaintain:The Overlooked Medicinal Weed

94 Stealth Science Part V

54 The Foliar Frontier

100 Are you out of JADAM mind

58 Medicinal Cannabis in the UK

104 5 Cool Finds

66 Veganic Agriculture GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD a fantastic weekend at the HHI expo. It is an oppor tunity to meet amazing people, find answers to a couple of my

events. There are so many passionate, smar t people out

Label

N · ISSUE UK EDITIO

old PRESIDENT l with G Only dea T! U O H Eric Coulombe S CA eric@gardenculturemagazine.com A/B o 60/40 ix HydroCoc /40 m +1-514-233-1539 HydroCoco 60

29 · 2019

Fungi

DIT UK E ION

you to rethink the way you do things, experimenting and

avai labl e at

G WIN GRO OF ART THE

there willing to share their knowledge with us. It motivates

Now

E TUR CUL

questions, and create new questions to answer. I love these

SPECI A L TH A N KS TO: Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Colin Bell, Dr Callie Seaman, Evan Folds, Florian Henrich, Gareth Hopcroft & Ben Blandford, Grubbycup, Nico Hill, Rich Hamilton, Simon Hart, Tom Forrest, and Nicholas Di Genova. D E N G A R

’m writing this in my hotel room in Sydney, Australia, after

CREDITS

· ISSU

MAGAZIN

Life U

E.CO M

Happy Growing,

l ldlabel.n www.go

ace e Surf

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ULTURE

So many of the questions I have about organic gardening are where the ideas for these ar ticles star t — for example, the ar ticle Phytomicrobiom - Fungal Defence, by Florian Henrich. We met at Spannabis; he was so passionate about fungi and told me this fantastic story about how fungal spores move throughout the plant. Now we can share it with you. We are blessed here at Garden Culture to have some of the leading research minds in our industry when it comes to microbiology. In our new series Ask a PhD, Colin Bell and his team of researchers at Growcentia (the creators of Mammoth P) will answer questions from you, our readers, about how bacteria and mycorrhizae work, whether it be indoors or out, hydroponics, you name it. Don’t be shy; email your questions to editor@gardenculturemagazine.

ck! Black Ja

co l HydroCo Gold Labe the only 60/40 is mix that co HydroCo horticulture for holds RHP fication. certi

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But it’s a different story indoors. Maybe my pots are too small, or I’m adding too much or not enough of some critical element. I’m not sure, but I am learning a lot and plan to master it one day. Bacteria and fungus are crucial, but I’m still looking for the door.

E XCU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539

WWW.G

For the past 20 years, I have grown with synthetic nutrients in one hydroponic system or another. I love the control of synthetic nutrients, especially indoors. But I also like the idea of organic growing. The problem is, I’m having a bit of a hard time figuring it out. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on organic growing. Outdoors, all my gardens are 100% natural. My medical herbs, berries, and vegetables are bumper crops every year and have quality and flavour that you can never find at a supermarket. Nothing beats the sun and really rich, microbially active soil.

E 29

honing your skills.

ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com

DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062 ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com PUBLISHER 325 Media INC 44 Hyde Rd., Mille-Isles QC, Canada J0R 1A0 GardenCultureMagazine.com ISSN 2562-3540 (Print) ISSN 2562-3559 (Online) Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

@GardenCulture

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Eric 3 D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • Maxigrow • HydroGarden • The Growers Wholesale • Highlight Horticultur e

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from 325 Media Inc.

Cover artwork: Original drawing by Nicholas Di Genova @nicholasdigenova GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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Unlike other silica products on the market that contain potassium or calcium silicates and take weeks or months to become available, Regulator’s monomeric (single molecule) silicic acid is absorbed into your plant within minutes. The patented and stabilised concentration of monomer silicic acid particles allows for fast response against abiotic and biotic stress factors (environmental and pests), shorter internodal spacing, incredible bio-availability, and increased yields all while utilising natural mechanisms within the plant to gain these benefits. Visit aptus-holland.com to learn more about the entire product line.

Finally, a 100% organic solution for pH regulation Biobizz is proud to introduce Bio·pH+ and Bio·pH-, two quick and easy-to-use products to adjust the pH of any substrate, for any crop.

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BY NICO HILL

Growing hemp was a legal requirement of the Crown, provided you owned a cer t ain amount of ar able l and

HEMP FARMING

he versatile, super fibre can be a solution for almost any problem. Whether you are after textiles, fuel, fodder or dietary supplements, hemp farming can provide you with a bountiful cash crop - provided you’re capable of jumping through all the legal hoops along the way.

“Hemp for victory!”, they said, even goEr, isn’t it illegal in England? Believe it or not, ing so far as to spend a small fortune on Yes, my dear friend, it is – but hey, why some ordinary guys does that mean we shouldn’t go ahead and some of the timeless propaganda you occasionally see doing the rounds on sowork our cotton socks off to make Lord have managed cial media. Even long before this period, Jizzface the third at the top of the pyrato get a foothold growing hemp was a legal requirement of mid some more cash for his castle vault? in the emerging the Crown, provided you owned a cerWe are in a capitalist society after all; a tain amount of arable land. Henry VIII world where as a country, we will happily market that is required it like some fiend. Back then, of sell high-grade weapons, munitions, milicannabis farming course, hemp was the primary resource tary equipment and expertise to the same in the UK too for pretty much everything we made or countries we have named as being the used. As a culture that depended on sea biggest threats to our peaceful, fun-loving travel, it was a necessary backbone of industries at the democracy, whom also perpetuate unfathomably deplorable time, primarily in the form of the miles of rope needed to humanitarian conditions (like Rotherham but a bit worse). carry our dear commonwealth over the waves. Why this same principle of profiteering from simultaneous ly fuelling and vilifying an entire culture shouldn’t be applied to something as insignificant as a plant, is clearly as absurd Perception shift, but backwards as the world in which that situation occurs in the first place. So, it’s funny that nowadays merely mentioning the accursed weed in public will warrant you many a condescending glance or scowl from the brainless NPC’s that somehow There and back again seem to make up the bulk of our collective conscious It was with this cheery disposition and joyful skip in my step (and therefore legal framework). Despite no one of note that I embarked upon a journey to the East of Yorkshire, on even really agreeing with the out-dated rhetoric anymore, route to one of the largest farmers of industrial hemp in the somehow, the consensus is that it remains illegal. country. Fortunately, not all capitalist enterprises need to be viewed with the same disdain as I have for big business Attitudes to legalities are so funny that we even had to and the corridors of government. Believe it or not, some go one step further and let our society give birth to the ordinary guys have managed to get a foothold in the emergperfect anthropomorphic example of how truly maniacally ing market that is cannabis farming in the UK too. self-serving said laws are. Victoria Atkins, MP, as a Home Office Minister for Crime, enforces the government’s line that there is no medicinal benefit to cannabis and staunchly Just far enough away from Hell, sorry I mean Hull enforces laws to that effect. Strangely, by the power of Fortunately, my trusty satnav veered me off the M62 way sheer universal coincidence, her husband (Paul Kenward) before I even caught a whiff of Hull. I haven’t been allowed happens to be MD of British Sugar; the same company that back into Hull since being banished for once questioning somehow managed to get a license to produce and export what they thought was so special about their beloved ‘chip cannabis for medicinal use, to the point of England becomspice’ and then asking why they seemed to have hidden ing the ‘largest exporter in the world’. How’s that for some away all the culture they somehow just got their award for. good ol’ English irony - makes me proud. They did something similar to a king a long while back so,

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HEMP FARMING

at the time, I just took it as a backhanded compliment. Anyway, after some slow country lane driving through the winding fields of lovely East Yorkshire, I pulled up to my destination. The imaginatively titled: East Yorkshire Hemp Company.

The lifespan fr om se e d to cr op was the main thing on my mind here, but it turne d out that is only a small par t of the whole pr oc es s of hemp f arming

Unfortunately for me, excited as a little child come Christmas time, I pulled up amidst a glum and dreary winter period. Even though my rational brain knew that there would be no visible crop growing whatsoever, my irrational mind was half expecting it to be like the centrefold of a High Times magazine and must admit a slight disappointment was felt upon realisation of the truth. It looks and operates just like any other farmyard you would come across; it even has a slight live-stocky type smell to it oddly. If it didn’t have a bloody great big ganja leaf on the front gates, I would have probably driven straight past it.

Deep in the game Nick Voase currently carries the mantle for the family business that has become hemp farming. Previously working for a now rival company doing the same thing, fortune smiled upon Voase at an opportune moment in history, and his own production business was soon underway. “I’d had years of experience in large scale hemp farming before even contemplating doing it alone,” he says. “Now I’ve been flying solo for 14 successful years and demand has gone from strength to strength”.

The lifespan from seed to crop was the main thing on my mind here, but it turned out that is only a small part of the whole process of hemp farming.

“Growing hemp for a fibre means it is harvested around four or so weeks into its flowering period, so it has stretched a considerable amount, but the stems and fibres have not aged too much and become too hard and brittle,” Voase explains. I shuddered at the thought of a crop being torn down in mid-flower, but sometimes needs must be met. “After its short time growing in the field, the entire lot is chopped down and left to lie where it once stood”. What followed was a good few minutes of awkward silence while I internally dialogued and laughed with myself about the juxtapositions with hemp farming and hobby growing.

Nature takes its course Believe it or not, leaving the plants laying in the field is an essential part of the process, even though it does sound a bit like an excuse made up by a farmer trying to put a job off for a few weeks. “The technical term for it is ‘retting’” Voase says, “and you are essentially leaving the plant matter to begin the very first stages of composting. The lignin and other tougher bits of the plant are gently broken down by bacteria and the like.”

credit: eastyorkshirehemp.co.uk

He carried on boasting, “Thousands of tonnes of hemp each year, over my 400-acre site. [If it wasn’t for the thieving scallies from Hull, it might be more.]”

Ok, so they weren’t his exact words, but still it’s proof there can be worse pests than spider-mites.

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HEMP FARMING

This made sense, I guess, and reminded me of the whole coir production process to boot. “The result is a much softer, more pliable plant material, now of an ideal constitution to be processed for use in a variety of ways,” he explains.

After its period of decay on the floor on which it first grew so well, the hemp is then collected, bailed and sent to the barns for further drying and storage

After its period of decay on the floor on which it first grew so well, the hemp is then collected, bailed and sent to the barns for further drying and storage. The bulk of all the work starts now. Voase says the actual farming of the hemp is a relatively small part of the process. “The majority of our workload comes from the various ways in which we process the hemp after it has grown. We farm enough during the summer months to keep us manufacturing the different products all year around.” On-site production of animal bedding material, building products, and briquettes for fuel keep the team busy enough. The remaining usable fibres are then sent to be turned into mattresses and also a tidy-little microgreen grow matt. Overall, it is a highly efficient process from start to finish.

The future is bright It works out that in return for all of his exceptional hard work, “I probably get about twenty quid per kilo of plant material I harvest” Voase divulged. I immediately thought of an incident the week prior where,

after waiting for an hour more than initially advised underneath a by-pass, I acquired a gram of what I was told was some “fire UK Cali danks bro” from a man clearly of stand-up morals and impeccable integrity. That gram cost me the same as my good friend Voase gets for an entire kilogram of his boof, so inevitably, if laws allowed our farmers to grow some of this ‘fire UK Cali danks’ for ourselves, we could all make a whole bunch more cash in the process, right?

Who knows, though? Even if it were the most sensible decision placed under her lifeless, wizened nose, Mrs May would probably shun it much in the same way as any serious plan for Brexit. That was one of the curiosities on Voase’s mind, how Brexit would affect things like licensed seed sources and other such regulations. The problem is, of course, if you asked anyone in power, no one would have a flipping clue, so why bother even worrying? It’s not like the country’s economy or people’s livelihoods depend on precisely these sorts of decisions being made in a forthright manner, is it? Anyway, sarcasm aside, if you do fancy supporting UK hemp farmers (and let’s face it , why the hell wouldn’t you?) hit up Voase’s website: eastyorkshirehemp.co.uk. 3

Nico Hill - Hydro Nerd at InfiniteMonkey.com Nico has been a keen gardener for many moons. Bitten by the hydroponic bug back in 1998, and hasn’t looked back since! After many years as a hobby, Nico’s career in Hydroponics had its start working for Aquaculture in Sheffield, the UK’s largest and most forward-thinking grow shops of the time. He was then hired by Hydromag, responsible for the hydroponic content. From there, he has worked with CANNA, as editor of CANNAtalk, author of the research articles, and delivering seminars throughout the UK to grow shops on the finer details of cultivating in a hydroponic environment. Nico is now writing for companies in the hydroponic industry.

Bio

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Innovative new chemistry for enhanced plant lighting Special chemistry powers the new DAYLIGHT 315W 3K (Agro) and 4K (Daylight) lamps. After fourteen months of development and scores of iterations and long days in the engineering lab the chemistry in the DAYLIGHT 315W 3K (Agro) and 4K (Daylight) lamps has been perfected.

DAYLIGHT is excited to put its stake in the ground as having the industries’ best performing 315W lamp. While delivering a leading photon efficiency of 2 µmol/s s-1 W-1 (3K lamp), DAYLIGHT’s secret to success is its tailored spectrum. Maintaining a very balanced spectrum (3K 92 CRI and 4K 95 CRI!), the lamp’s red and blue output (wavelengths) have been enhanced to support strong vegetative growth with robust flowering.

More Flower, Less Power

Total LOT (1200 x 1200mm) = 38695

Total LOT (1200 x 1200mm) = 48258

BY GARETH HOPCROFT AND BEN BLANDFORD, PHOTOGRAPHY: BEN BLANDFORD

Part 2

Digging a Bit Deeper (Or not at all in our case!) 36

LIVING ORGANIC SOIL

n the first part of this series, we explored the new wave of indoor organic growing using living soils and how this cultivation style can achieve superior results while also being environmentally sustainable. Now, we will more closely examine the components of a living soil mix, how it works, and what can be done to improve it further over time.

A living soil mix is quite different from a standard potting soil, which is often just a blend of peat, perlite, and synthetic or organic base fertiliser designed to last only a few weeks. The ingredients for a standard potting soil are selected mostly based on cost and to allow a smooth production process without any real concern for the quality of inputs. Although a living soil may use peat and perlite as well, the critical ingredient is a high percentage of quality compost. When blended with natural organic inputs and minerals, the mix is allowed to ‘cook’, enabling microbial activity to bring everything to life. This process takes several weeks – not an easy feat for commercial production – and requires specialist knowledge, skill, and attention over this period.

Anything added should be carefully considered as the quality is of the utmost importance. Do not add something unless absolutely necessary. Keep it simple, and nature will provide

Building the Basis of Living Soil A quality living soil structure needs a right balance of water retention and air space, but also must be able to drain freely and dry evenly. There are three components to build a good soil structure: compost, aeration, and organic growing medium. Compost sources will either be from thermophilic compost or vermicompost. Thermophilic compost is made by mixing and building piles of green and brown plant material, and sometimes manures and other natural by-products as well. This helps to encourage biological activity from aerobic bacteria. The compost piles are regularly turned to avoid overheating caused by the feeding and reproduction of the microbial colonies and then, once stable, they mature, allowing a diverse range of microorganisms to develop. Vermicompost uses similar ingredients but incorporates the action of worms to break down the organic material without any heat generation. High-quality vermicompost often uses finished thermophilic compost as a proportion of the inputs. The constituents of compost and how the process is managed are both essential as they form the engine that drives everything else. Compost is a powerhouse of nutrients and microbes and is the life source of your living soil mix. Aeration is vital when building a new soil mix. Aeration additives provide small air spaces throughout the mix to allow root respiration and healthy microbial activity. A functional aeration additive will also add structure to the blend to avoid compaction over time. The most popular options are perlite, pumice or lava rock. Some growers also opt for crop by-products such as rice or buckwheat hulls. Finally, we need an organic growing medium to enable both the roots to grow and microbial processes to occur. Sphagnum peat moss is the most popular choice with growers, but coco coir is also a good option. Peat, however, is acid and needs to be pH buffered with the addition of limestone, whereas coco coir doesn’t.

Buckwheat Hulls

When building your living soil, an excellent ratio to start with is ⅓ compost, ⅓ aeration, and ⅓ peat or coco. Tweaks may be needed depending on the water-holding characteristics of your compost and aeration additive, and the grade of the peat or coco. You can always make a small mix and see how it feels and acts once in a pot. A good rule of thumb is to grab a slightly damp handful, squeeze it, and look for minimal runoff. It should also break apart again quickly when you release your grip. This will encourage strong root development to support vigorous, healthy plants. Once the structure is complete, some additional inputs are required to help achieve a good nutritional balance. It’s essential to use amendments that break down at different speeds and contain a diverse range of nutrients. Some of the best ones are kelp (seaweed), crustacean and neem meal, rock dust, limestones, and gypsum. There are options such as fish meal, alfalfa, comfrey, nettle, and insect frass as well to boost the soil even further. Some growers turn to animal by-products to

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Building living soil

build their soil nutrients, such as blood meal, bone meal, hoof and horn for a quick and cheap fix, but it is important to check the sources of these materials as they will often come from non-organic GMO fed livestock, full of antibiotics and growth hormones. A good soil mix can obtain the nutrient sources from plants and the sea, and when in balance, the nutrients will be released slowly throughout the growth cycle.

Basic Recipe • 1-2 parts kelp/alfalfa/comfrey meal • 1-2 parts neem/Karanja meal • 1-2 part crustacean/fish meal • 6-8 parts basalt rock dust • 2-3 parts gypsum This should be all mixed together then used at 200-400g per 50L of base soil. If using peat in your base soil mix, you will need to use some limestone to raise the pH, around 4-6g per L of soil mix.

The nutrition in living soil comes from the microbes in the compost that start to feed on the inputs and break them down to their mineral forms so the plants can use them. Until the bacteria have done their work, the minerals are locked up in the amendments, and therefore, the plants do not get overfed. The plants release something called “root exudates” into the soil to attract the different microbes they need to release the minerals they want. It is a trade between plants and microbes - exudates for minerals - working together to help each other. This type of exchange is what soil scientists and ecologists call “mutualism”. When growers bottle-feed organic nutrients, they create a similar blast of microbial activity that causes a flash of nutrition, but it is gone as fast as it comes. A well-made living soil will have continuous availability of nutrition.

LIVING ORGANIC SOIL

When building your living soil, an excellent ratio to start with is ⅓ compost, ⅓ aeration, and ⅓ peat or coco

credit: Left Coast Wholesale/GeoPots

Most living soil growers use a mulch layer to cover the surface of the soil, keeping moisture in and allowing root and microbial activity to occur right at the soil surface. Popular materials for mulches are chopped straw, hay, and even stalks and leaves from the previous crop’s waste trimmings. If you can create a good layer of composting nutritious mulch, it will feed the soil as you water. If you have worms in your soil, they will consume the decomposing mulch and create vermicompost on the soil surface. Worms consume decomposing mulch and create vermicompost Soil cooking with microbial growth Another benefit with real organic living soil is that you can introduce worms to your containers and use them as a team of composters and aerators working 24/7 to keep the cycle of nature moving. They don’t eat and digest, but rather filter the decomposing organic matter into its mineral forms and coat it with enzymes that help with the availability of the nutrition. With worms, you can re-use the same body of soil over and over, just like in nature.

With worms, you can re-use the same body of soil over and over, just like in nature

If growing no-till style with mulch and worms, you will also develop a population of other insects that are beneficial to the living soil system. Don’t be put off by these insects; they will protect your plants and keep things in balance. The most common is hypoaspis miles (now called stratiolaelaps scimitus), which feed on fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae. They often build up good populations and also commonly come from the compost source, helping you by patrolling for bad guys. There are many other specialist predator species you can use to combat common grow room pests as well to avoid the need for sprays and pesticides.

Worms can help you re-use soil.

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LIVING ORGANIC SOIL

To get the soil life working well, having more than one plant species growing in the pot can help. Living soil growers often cultivate a ‘cover crop’ such as clover, peas, millet, vetch, and buckwheat. These plants establish quickly and can help fix nitrogen while promoting the establishment and continued growth of mycorrhizal fungi. Cover crops can grow through the mulch layer and help form a living mulch. Once the plant canopy is well established, a common technique is to ‘chop and drop’ the cover crop, allowing it to decompose and become food for the soil microbes and worms.

It’s essential to use amendments that break down at different speeds and contain a diverse range of nutrients. Some of the best ones are kelp (seaweed), crustacean and neem meal, rock dust, limestones, and gypsum

To get the soil life working well, having more than one plant species growing in the pot can help If growing long term in containers, a regular top dressing of amendments and a fresh layer of compost at the start of bloom and again at the end of each cycle keeps everything status quo. If adding some different inputs that you didn’t have in the soil initially, then top dressing is also ideal. Compost teas have been widely used and recommended within the no-till scene. If using compost teas, we suggest making a compost extract instead of a brew. Add compost to water, agitate thoroughly, then apply straight away. This allows the microbial development to happen in the soil, not in a tub of bubbly water. The same can be said about instant microbial teas, which are equally effective.

Cover crops can grow through a mulch layer and help form living mulch

Depending what you’re using in your soil mix and the pot size, some growers like to supplement additional inputs throughout the cycle. The easiest and most effective way is often to top dress; this means dusting the soil surface with whatever you choose to use, and then let it get drenched into the soil as you water. Top dressing the same balanced blend of organic inputs and minerals used for the original soil mix is ideal, or you can use other straight dry amendments such as malted barley powder, insect frass, or comfrey powder.

You can also use liquid additives such as seaweed extract, liquid fish hydrolysate or emulsion, amino acids, humic and fulvic acids, coconut water and Aloe Vera extract to name a few. If you are keen on using bloom boosters, be sure to do your research and find out what’s in them. You don’t need to apply PK booster with living soil, but some organic bloom boosters made from fermented plant extracts are compatible. Many no-till growers tend to make their fermented plant extracts using Korean Natural Farming (KNF) techniques. Of course, anything added should be carefully considered as the quality is of the utmost importance. Do not add something unless absolutely necessary. Keep it simple, and nature will provide. It is recommended to use four 40L to 50L pots per square metre to provide an adequate reservoir of nutrition for your plants. That’s a total of 160-200L of living soil per square metre of the canopy! Choosing fabric pots with handles is a good option, as the plants remain fairly portable if required. Some growers like to plant cuttings or seedings directly into these final pots, but if it is a new soil mix, then it is often best to have plants already established in smaller containers with a good root ball ready to adapt to its new home.

Top Dressing

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ALL PHASE Craft Powder Base Nutrient & Additives VEG+BLOOM features 3 revolutionary one-part base powder nutrients and 2 additives in the UK. Catering to soft or hard water EC’s. We’ve also extensively researched in-house which mediums work best with our formulas. Our ingredients are locally sourced, refined and always batch tested for quality assurance to ensure consistency. Our all-phase one-part base powder formula was fabricated so that you could simply use your local water source as long as it fell between 0.0-0.7 EC. No other company offers this as they always recommend using RO water, which can be costly.

Base Nutrients: RO/SOFT is our most universal and popular one-part base nutrient. A hybrid of synthetics and organics; a pH stable formula for those who have small or large containers and a start water of 0.0-0.3 EC. It is completely soluble in RO water and built for coco, rockwool, or soil. TAP/HARD is a revolutionary pH stable formula for farms that have hard water 0.3-0.7 EC. No other company offers this as “water chemistry” is difficult to educate. With TAP/HARD you can potentially skip the costly RO water filter system and also save on the cost of water. Due to a higher pH in hard tap water, this formula is buffered appropriately so the use of large amounts of pH down can be avoided. Best used in coco and rockwool. DIRTY is a comprehensive formula for those who have a start water of 0.0-0.7 EC and are growing in soil or peat based mediums indoor or outdoor. Enhanced with humics, fulvics, crab meal extract and compost tea powder, this base was intended to provide the benefits of both synethetic and organic additives giving you extra bag appeal.

Craft Powder Base Nutrient & Additives

VEG+BLOOM encourages growers to spend less on extra additives and less time on the mixing and measuring (less human error) and more time on the plants, resulting in exceptional and consistent harvests. Save water, shipping costs, shelf space and minimize human error. Are you ready to reduce your variables?

Additives: PUSH is our foliar spray additive used during vegetative growth that includes bio available calcium, silica, plant stimulants and kelp. The plant hormones allow for cells to divide faster, reducing your overall veg cycle, while increasing cell wall strength and vigor. SHINE is our best product, a flowering bloom additive formulated with phosphites and organics such as compost tea powder for enhanced terpene and resin production. SHINE can be used not only in conjunction with our full nutrient line but can also be used with other base nutrient lines. Distributed in the UK by:

hydroponic-research.com

LIVING ORGANIC SOIL

Mulch layer creating compost

Watering Living Soil The key to living soil is the moisture level; it is essential not to over or underwater the containers. Because they are much larger than that which growers may be used to, they can hold water longer, and if the plant is still small, it may cause overwatering. When starting with living soil, you need to ease the plant in gradually by watering little and often. A good rule of thumb for watering after planting is 5-10% of the total pot volume (40L pot = 2-4L of water). Watch how they use that water by checking the soil surface over a couple of days, then steadily increase the water volume the more they transpire. Keep the top wet without water-logging the bottom. Water will sink to the bottom of the pot, which means there is a risk of overwatering while trying to keep the top moist. You may need to use a pump-sprayer or fine rose watering can to moisten the top layer regularly, rather than drench the whole container. While the plants are small it is best to be extra careful, but once in full bloom, they will be able to drink much more. Typically, a grower using 40L pots will be watering each pot up to 2-4L per day, but some plants may even need a bit more every few waterings. With timer and pump-powered drip irrigation systems, it is highly recommended you know exactly how much water the soil needs in your growing environment before switching to full automation. Autopot irrigation systems that are fed by a valve in the bottom tray or other sub-irrigated planter systems are also suitable for living soils. With systems like this, it’s still important to get the living soil volume per M2 correct (160-200L). It is also best practice to water by hand from the top until the plants need watering every day, then you can automate the bottom feeding. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of growing using living soil and no-till methods is what happens at the end of the growing cycle. Rather than throwing away the soil or adding it to outdoor beds, growers can retain the same containers of soil for re-use. That means no tipping out containers, no dust, and no re-filling. If you look after the soil, it will improve over time, and your harvestable goods will also get better. If intending to re-use the soil from the start, you should already have worms doing their work and a mulch layer creating a compost effect from the top. This way, all that is needed is the addition of new plants as space becomes available. Just dig a little hole and go again!

Reinvigorating Living Soil If you didn’t plan to re-use the soil but still want to, all you need to do is remix it with some fresh compost or vermicompost, along with a few other amendments. Most growers start with the 40L pots and then end up with 50L once they have added around 10% more compost plus the amendments. When remixing, you will need to empty the container, but don’t worry about removing any root mass, as it will get consumed by the microbes. Depending on the pot size the new mix goes into, it may heat up and feel warm to the touch. This is where the microbes are breaking down the quick release inputs for some immediate nutrition, but it will then start to cool down after 7-10 days and be ready to use. Planting a cover crop and waiting to see if it comes up green and healthy is an excellent way to tell if the soil is ready for the main crop. Some companies now sell amendment kits that include everything you need to re-amend used living soil, but remember; it is important to start with highquality living soil, not just regular potting soil. When the soil life is well-fed and in harmony, the plants will grow themselves. Use what is available locally and don’t over complicate anything unnecessarily. Just remember to start with high-quality organic soil, and you will already be halfway to having abundant, glorious produce for your effort! 3

BIO Gareth Hopcroft is a certified plant geek and all round organic gardening devotee. Gareth has been involved in the UK hydro industry for 15 years and is currently the owner of Ecothrive; known mostly for bringing frass to the UK scene through his product ‘Charge’. When he’s not talking about indoor growing or microbes, you’ll find Gareth getting his hands dirty on his allotment or falling off his skateboard. Follow Gareth @ecothrive Ben Blandford is an organic warrior leading the campaign against toxic food and medicines via his company, Indoor Organics, which focuses on helping growers use real soil, natural inputs, worms and microbes to grow plants without the need for man-made fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. An experienced grower with a passion for the ultimate quality in the final product, Ben is dedicated to pushing the standards, always trusting that nature knows best! Follow Ben @Indoor_Organics GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY GRUBBYCUP

Organic to Synthetic and Shades Between

ORGANIC TO SYNTHETIC

t is pretty rare that gardeners grow either completely organically or entirely synthetically, although how one defines these terms makes

a big difference.

Completely Organic An ideal organic setting would be one in which the plant grows naturally, without any intervention from that pest that walks on two legs. In their native habitat, plants can sprout, grow, reproduce, and expire organically with only mother nature to provide for them. It would be fair to say that in a completely natural setting where plants live in the wild is as organic as a plant can be grown. It might be organic and natural, but it also tends to be inconvenient. For example, the natural response to drought is for many plants to die. This can be troublesome for folks that want to consume the future harvest. Simple irrigation such as hand watering can reduce losses, and “improve” on nature. Competition from weeds can be reduced by pulling and removing unwanted plants. Nature isn’t concerned with what plants are desired, merely which plants survive. Humans, however, definitely have preferences, which is why a garden of tomatoes and squash is preferred over a garden overrun with stinging nettles and star thistles. There is also a competition for harvesting the plants. There are bugs and animals which will happily feast on plants regardless of intention for human consumption.

In their native habitat, plants can sprout, grow, reproduce, and expire organically with only mother nature to provide for them

Putting up a fence to dissuade nearby cattle from snacking on the plants may be wise, but it isn’t entirely natural. Usually, even the most staunch organic gardening suppor ter will allow for such practices as growing in nonnative environments, watering, and weeding. Much of the emphasis on organic versus synthetic gardening is put on what additional inputs are allowed beyond water.

Organic Enough Nitrogen is vital for plant growth. While there is plenty of nitrogen in the atmosphere, it is in the form of a gas (N2) which the plants cannot use directly because the pair of nitrogen atoms are held together with a triple bond and are hard to separate once joined. To supply plants with nitrogen to grow, they must get it in a form they can use. What is used as a nitrogen source is a determining factor in how organic it is. There are natural and organic paths to supply nitrogen in a form plants can use. Nitrogen-fixing with lightning strikes or bacteria are organic methods, and so is making use of nitrogen in other plants and animals. Lightning strikes have enough energy to break the bonds between nitrogen atoms, forming nitrous oxides which

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

ORGANIC TO SYNTHETIC

Much of the emphasis on organic versus synthetic gardening is put on what additional inputs are allowed beyond water

form nitrogen acids when exposed to water (such as rain). This falls to the ground where it becomes a nitrogen source for plants. Lightning is notoriously hard to control, however, so isn’t generally a part of a garden’s nutrition plan. Certain bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia (or similar). Some common nitrogen-fixing bacteria are Azotobacter which lives in the soil, Rhizobacteria which lives in root nodules of certain plants (such as legumes), and Trichodesmium which lives in the sea. Living plants and animals contain nitrogen. They share this nitrogen by producing waste products while living (shedding leaves or releasing urea) and as part of decomposition after they have died. Organic nutrients often try to emulate this by being made from naturally occurring materials with minimal processing. One advantage to this is that they can often be collected cheaply (i.e., leaves, lawn clippings, livestock manure, etc.), and require little processing before use, often just maturing or composting. Many organic products use this method in forms such as manures, guanos, ground meals, and composts. Nitrifying bacteria can make natural sources of nitrogen available to plants. Ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4) is converted to nitrites (with an “i” a.k.a. NO2) by bacteria such as Nitrosomonas, which is then converted into nitrates (with an “a” a.k.a. NO3) by bacteria like Nitrobacter. Nitrates are the form preferred by many plants (although some trees can do well by skipping steps). One example would be an organic gardener putting alfalfa meal on a garden plot. The meal decomposes releasing its nitrogen in the form of ammonia. Then the ammonia is converted first into nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria. The nitrates are taken up by the plants. After harvest, the leftover plant material is composted, which can be used to feed new plants, and the cycle repeats.

Synthetics An alternative is to fix nitrogen using artificial (human activity based) methods. Ammonia (NH3) can be manufactured from nitrogen gas (N2) by applying heat, pressure, and an iron catalyst. This eliminates the need for a biological source for the starting nitrogen. Synthetic ammonia can be chemically converted into nitrates which eliminate the need for nitrifying bacteria since that means the steps of ammonia to ammonium, ammonium to nitrites, and nitrites to nitrates can all be skipped. By skipping ahead in the cycle, the plant can have access to the nitrogen in a form it can use quicker. It also means that the nitrifying bacteria won’t have a food source so they won’t be around to help out. The further one takes the synthetic path, the more biological steps can be skipped for a variety of nutrients. Monitoring pH becomes more critical as fewer living microorganisms are used since they aren’t adjusting their local pH to suit themselves. Monitoring electrical conductivity and precision dosing becomes more important as synthetic nutrients can be more potent and susceptible to nutrient burn than their milder organic counterparts (and EC is better suited for monitoring salt based solutions).

Completely Synthetic Wind, rain, temperature, nutrients, atmosphere, and lighting can all be supplied synthetically. With enough equipment, plants can even be grown off the planet in a completely artificial environment, using no natural resources at all.

Balance Most gardens are somewhere between the two extremes. A garden that relies on biological helpers to grow plants tends to be on the organic side. There is less control, but more assistance, and generally, a larger margin for error. Synthetic methods can be more precise, but with that control comes more responsibility and reliance on the gardener’s judgment as there aren’t as many (or in some cases any) biological agents working alongside them to tend to the health of the plant. 3

SO MUCH MORE THAN A GARDENING SHOW

23-25 AUG 2019 23 AUG TRADE DAY 23-25 AUG PUBLIC DAYS

WWW.THEHYDROPONICEXPO.COM

BY CAROLINE RIVARD

The Overlooked Medicinal Weed The exotic, rare, high-potency herb that grows only once in a blue moon is favoured over the ever yday weed that grows abundantly on the lawn or between the majestic rows of our gardens

GARDEN WEEDS

ometimes, we cannot see wonderful things that are right under our noses. Many gardeners are looking for plants that are unique and exquisite. This is often

the case with medicinal herbs; the exotic, rare, high-potency herb that grows only once in a blue moon is favoured over the everyday weed that grows abundantly on the lawn or

Plantain is dull in appearance and as a result, gardeners of ten choose to rip the weed out of the soil

between the majestic rows of our gardens. It’s time to look at weeds from a new perspective, appreciating the simple plants that are well within reach and full of potent medicine.

Powerful Plantain No matter where you live in the world, whether city or countryside, you likely have already seen this humble weed. The genus Plantain includes several species; the most common is Plantago major (also known as broadleaf plantain, ribwor t, or greater plantain), as well as the narrowleaved one, Plantago lanceolata (English plantain or lambs tongue).

Plantain can be your first line of defence against insect stings and bites, scratches, first-degree sunburns, minor wounds, Poison Iv y, or itchy, irritated skin

The modest-looking plant was brought to Nor th America by the European settlers, eventually given the name “White man’s foot” because plantain was found everywhere along the paths of the white man. The weed has very few demands, growing happily between two slabs of concrete or in the freshly tilled soil of the gardens.

Not All Is What It Seems

degree sunburns, minor wounds, Poison Ivy, or itchy, irritated skin. All you have to do is chew on one or two fresh leaves, apply them directly to the affected area, and let the plantain do its magic. The medicinal weed will soothe and cool the skin, but plantain also holds proper ties that will draw things like splinters, dir t, stingers, or even venom, poison, and other infections from the body.

The plant’s anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory proper ties disinfect and help kill pathogenic organisms, speeding up the healing process and repair of damaged tissues. The really good news? Plantain grows in abundance and is a free, extremely safe medicine.

Plantain is dull in appearance and as a result, gardeners often choose to rip the weed out of the soil. It is essential that we begin to look past its bland, green, rubbery leaves, and see the superhero powers they have within them.

If you’re planning on doing any outdoor activities, the tough leaves of the all-terrain plantain can be your first line of defence against insect stings and bites, scratches, first-

Plantago lanceolata (English plantain or lambs tongue)

credit: Biological Records Centre

The First-Aid Kit

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GARDEN WEEDS

Plantago major

Internal Repair Plantain is not only an incredible medicinal herb for external conditions; it also works wonders for the body’s internal organs. From the roots to the seeds, the entire plant is edible and is a wonderful ally of both the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system! The small, young leaves, as well as the immature shoots and green seeds, can be enjoyed as a delicious vegetable. The leaves contain vitamins A, C and K, beta carotene, silica, calcium, and potassium. As for the seeds, they are an excellent source of protein and fibre. When the seeds are mature and brown in colour, they can be used similar to psyllium seeds, which are produced by their not so far cousin, Plantago ovata. Plantain seeds are packed with mucilaginous components, just like pectin. Once the seeds are hydrated, they will form the precious mucilage, a process called myxospermy. •

Take 1-2 tbsp of dried plantain seeds and soak them in a glass of hot water until the mucilage forms. Then, drink to soothe and lubricate the whole digestive system.

Plantain grows in abundance and is a free, ex tremely safe medicine

Taken as a tea, dried plantain leaves will detoxify the body, working well to treat colds and flu, bronchitis, and bladder infections. It is also an excellent treatment for inflamed tissues. Plantain is a demulcent and will relieve minor discomfor t and irritation by forming a soothing film over the affected mucous membrane. •

Infuse 1/4–1/2 tsp (1–3 grams) of the dried leaves in a cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes. Drink up to three cups a day to reap the benefits.

The next time you encounter the plantain weed in your garden, instead of harshly sentencing it to the compost pile, rejoice, dry the plants, and make some wholesome medicine for the year to come! Plantain is a staple of the herbal

A therapist and healer for over 15 years, Caroline’s passion for medicinal plants only began after leaving the city for the quiet country life in Quebec, Canada. Eager to learn, she’s never looked back, using forests and wildflower fields as her classroom ever since. In a time where reconnecting with plants and nature is badly needed, she spreads her love for herbalism by holding teaching workshops about the powers of medicinal herbs and natural remedies.

Bio

apothecary; it’s a wonderful gift from Nature. 3

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Drainage (Recirculating): All of our planters give you the benefit of reducing humidity, contamination, and mould spores while still allowing growers to recapture and recycle their water for reuse or for proper treatment before disposing of.

Water Conservation: The Irrigation Manifold and Micro-Valves conserve water to the last drop by efficiently controlling the delivery of water, nutrients, & oxygen to your root zone.

Here is an example of what the Bucket Company Kits are able to do. You are able to control the water flow of four pots...

(OR MORE)

Antimicrobial: KITS AND POTS AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT COLOURS AND SIZES

Ducting Access

THE WORLDS FIRST

First Medical Planter ever created with EPA & FDA Approved Antimicrobial plastic which eliminates 99.95% of EColi, Mold, Algae, & other harmful pathogens and bacteriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Ducting Seal

ODOR PREVENTION DOOR Designed to provide an air tight seal around the ducting, pull tight with the built in toggles.

Prevention is better than a cure!

The O:door with ducting access comes with a flap at the front to seal the ducting hole closed when not in use.

Industrial Velcro Sealing

Air Tight Zipper

O:doorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s industrial strength velcro provides a strong, secure, and completely air tight seal to the door frame.

The airtight zipper entrance allows easy access to your grow room. Open and close the door from either side with ease.

Ez-Pz Planter

The Planter was designed by growers for growers, the main selling point of The Ez-Pz Planter is that it’s a Universal System that can be used in countless applications from small grow tents to large commercial growing operations. They’re 100% Expandable, whether you need 1 or 1,000, the Ez-Pz Planter Growing System is for you!

Ez-Pz Feeder System™ This feeder system truly is universal, works with nearly all existing piping and all fittings can be easily purchased at most hardware stores. Individual Shut-Off Valves allows you to decide when to feed a specific plant.

The Medical Planter

The Medical Planter™ is the World’s First and Only Patent Pending Medical Grade Planter made with FDA and EPA Approved Plastics. With the same unique design of our Ez-Pz Planters, The Medical Planters keep your planters disease free and your plants healthy by eliminating 99.95% of E-Coli, Mold and Algae in just 24 Hours! The Medical Planter is clinically tested to ensure NO E-Coli, Mold and Algae form along the walls of the planter keeping your growing medium safe from any harmful bacteria or pathogens.

Fully Customizable Spreaders Our Ez-Pz Branch Spreader Arms™ snap onto the outside of your planter keeping stakes out of your roots and eliminating cross contamination. You have the freedom of setting them up anywhere on the planter in any shape or design.

Patent Pending Air Channels Our Patented Air Channels create a steady flow of oxygen to your roots keeping them healthy and helping you to eliminate root rot.

NO TOOLS REQUIRED Designed to make your set up and take down more efficient, everything snaps on and off easily. Whether you’re cleaning your irrigation system or adjusting your branch spreader arms you won’t be fumbling around looking for tools.

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The 16” Wind King Wall Mount Fan is a 3-Speed, easily mountable fan that keeps a gentle breeze moving through your grow room! Used for managing CO2, Heat and humidity in your grow room. It helps circulate the air in your grow room, so it doesn’t become stagnant and helps get rid of warm and cold spots in your room. The Wind King’s revolutionary “O” pattern formation provides superior air circulation and coverage to your work environment. It uses only the highest quality gear construction giving you unheard of reliability.

ADVANTAGES OF USING WIND KING It won’t overpower your plants and burn them. Prevents stagnant air within your room. Lightweight allowing for easy application to your wall. Has the ability to move in an “o” pattern formation. Made from high quality material giving unheard of reliability.

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BY RICH HAMILTON

The Foliar Frontier G IVE YOU R PL ANTS TH E E D G E

THE FOLIAR FRONTIER

If you wa n t a n edge in t he worl d of grow ing, consider f ol i a r f eeding

any growers are searching for nutrients that can give plants a certain edge. Is there something that can make them bigger, stronger and deliver higher yields? There are always new products and fertilisers on the market, but very few of them are original.The wheel is constantly being reinvented. If you want an edge in the world of growing, consider foliar feeding.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; Root s are leaves in the ground and leaves are root s in the air.â&#x20AC;? - Alan Chadwick

Foliar feeding involves spraying the plant with fertiliser, which is then absorbed through the stomata and epidermis of the leaves and into the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system. The process fast tracks nutrients, allowing them to bypass the root vascular system and can be 100900 times more effective than feeding through the roots alone! Research done in the 1950s at Michigan State University found that fertiliser absorbed through the leaves travelled at a rate of about one foot per hour to all parts of the plant.

The process fast tracks nutrients, allowing them to bypass the root vascular system and can be 100900 times more effective than feeding through the roots alone

Not only is it faster, but foliar feeding also provides about 95% of nutrients to the plant compared to only about 10% from soil applications. When feeding via the roots, the plant is at the mercy of many variables that can reduce nutrient absorption, such as transpiration, leaching, pH, temperature, water, pests and diseases. Foliar feeding also allows the grower to dose the plants accurately, and just a small application can deliver a significant number of nutrients. The method is so effective that it is routinely used in most commercial growing environments as a solution for nutrient deficiencies. In the world of hydroponics, growers typically try to correct that problem via the root system. It would, however, be better to treat it through a foliar spray first, and then through the roots.

Probiotics For Your Plants If your plants are already very healthy but you would still like to get an edge on yield, there are multiple options available to you. The top three, in my opinion, would be fulvic acid, kelp seaweed, and fish emulsion, which all promote increased microbial activity and encourage stronger, healthier growth.

It has been shown that applying these active compounds in foliar form results in rapid nutrient absorption along with the correction of specific shortages during critical growth periods. Kelp seaweed extracts alone are between 8-20 times more effective when applied to the leaves than when poured into the medium. Fulvic acid is a beneficial fertiliser and an essential building block to all carbon-based life on Earth; it is created by microbes that break down decaying organic matter in the soil. Fulvic acid is a soil-based organism that produces and releases powerful enzymes to purify the earth and support plant growth. It also provides specific nutrients necessary to accelerate plant development and reproduction. Each fulvic acid molecule contains 60 or more minerals and trace elements that easily bind with other particles from both organic and inorganic materials, transforming them into a soluble form that is much easier for a plant to take up.

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THE FOLIAR FRONTIER

F ol i a r sp r ay ing t he l e av e s w i t h f ish emul sion gener at e s more ca rboh y dr at e s t h at a re t r a nsp or t ed dow n t o t he roo t s a nd rel e a sed a s e xudat e s in t o t he s oil

Fulvic acid allows for elements such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous to enter plant tissue much faster and makes for an excellent foliar feed as it is “transcellular,” meaning it can be absorbed directly into the plant through the stomata in the leaves. Once inside, it ensures as many nutrients are absorbed as quickly possible. Fulvic acid can be used at all stages of plant development and is organic.

Foliar feeding is hugely effective on many different crops including fruit and vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes, spinach, lettuce, and many grains

Kelp seaweed is also a soil-based organism and produces and releases enzymes. It is a product of nutrient-rich oceans, containing over 70 minerals, vitamins, and macro and micronutrients including nitrogen, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium, which together, encourage plant growth, overall health, and yield.

Kelp also contains traces of natural plant hormones that perform and control some particular jobs within the plant. These hormones include auxins, which regulate the speed of growth and the lifecycle of the plant, and cytokinins, which initiate and activate growth processes, provide protection from frost conditions of up to -3°C and help to slow down the ageing process. Betaines are also present, which help to increase water uptake in dry conditions. Fish emulsion is a fertiliser made from whole or parts of fish. It provides a dense dose of bacterial microorganisms, and boasts a typical NPK ratio of 5-2-2, meaning that it is often used in the foliar form as a nitrogen boost. Additionally, it contains traces of micronutrients including calcium, magnesium, sulphur, chlorine, and sodium. Foliar spraying the leaves with fish emulsion generates more carbohydrates that are transported down to the roots and released as exudates into the soil. This stimulates micro-

bial life around the plant’s roots, which produce more nutrients for the plant to take up. Kelp seaweed and fish emulsion have so many benefits for a wide range of crops if applied at the right times. These benefits include improvement of growth and yield, promoting additional budding, extending shelf life of fruits and vegetables, and lengthening the life of cut flowers. It can also be used as a rooting solution for cuttings or watering when planting.

Foliar feeding is hugely effective on many different crops including fruit and vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes, spinach, lettuce, and many grains. It is also an effective treatment for turf on golf courses and football fields, encouraging lush, green growth and helping to prevent frost and drought damage. It combats pests by reducing aphid and spider mite numbers and keeps mould at bay. Feeding your plants regularly through both the roots and leaves could revolutionise your crops health, quality, deficiencies, and yield. As Alan Chadwick (1909-1980), English master gardener and leading innovator of organic farming techniques once said, “Roots are leaves in the ground and leaves are roots in the air.” 3

An industry veteran with over 20 years experience in a variety of roles, Rich Hamilton is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor.The author of Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening, as well as being an independent industry consultant working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide.

Bio

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BY DR CALLIE SEAMAN

Medicinal Cannabis In The UK

An Ever-Changing Landscape There is much confusion surrounding medicinal cannabis and how the industry operates in the UK. This article aims to shed some light on the clouded landscape.

ith the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommending that cannabis be rescheduled within international law (1), the UK is no longer ignoring the potential of the plant for medical purposes. On November 1st, 2018, unlicensed cannabis-based products moved from schedule 1 to schedule

2, meaning it is now legal for consultants to prescribe them as medicine to patients (2). But has the UK finally caught

up with the rest of the world when it comes to medicinal cannabis? Unfortunately, no. Patients who have long been forced to travel to see consultants in countries such as the Netherlands to be treated for conditions such as epilepsy have found that there are few cannabis-based products available in the UK.

MEDICINAL CANNABIS

In a nutshell, the UK drug scheduling works on the basis that any drug that has no medical benefit and has a high potential for misuse be placed into schedule 1. This group includes drugs such as MDMA (“ecstasy”). Research on schedule 1 drugs can only be done with a licence from the home office and prescriptions cannot be written for them. Schedule 2 drugs, however, can be prescribed by doctors with an exclusive licence, even though there is limited evidence on their therapeutic potential. To be classified as a medicine, specific standards must be attained. The manufacturing process and cer tification of the product are rigorous to ensure its safety for human consumption. The active ingredient content must be constant, measurable, of high purity, and microbial-free.

Fur ther purification using chromatography to produce and isolate pure cannabinoids is often performed. Essentially, this is how pharmaceutical drugs are made; pure, clean, solitary ingredients mixed with carriers and binding agents that are easily measured and dosed accordingly. Products like Epidiolex (CBD only) and Sativex

The most researched therapeutic compounds found in cannabis are Δ9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBD). These active ingredients are located in the highest concentrations and fall into the category of cannabinoids, with over 144 discovered since 1940 (and still counting!) (3). These can either be produced by a plant (most often cannabis, but other plants such as hops also produce cannabinoids) and then extracted through various methods, including supercritical CO2 , winterisation, solvent extraction, and heat pressing. These complex extracts are often referred to as full plant extracts because they contain a mixture of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other plant-based compounds.

It may not be a silver bullet that will fix everything, but it is improving the quality of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people’s lives

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MEDICINAL CANNABIS

The fact that cannabisbased medicines can now be prescribed means that more clinical trials can be conducted, and more data can be gathered so that they can be moved up schedule

(1:1 TCH: CBD) were approved in the UK before the November 2018 amendment. However, Sativex, an oromucosal (under the tongue) spray, was only prescribed by specialist doctors for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Thanks to the abundance of suppor ting data and the fact that GMP standards have been achieved, Sativex has been granted schedule 4 status (4).

The UK drug scheduling works on the basis that any drug that has no medical benefit and has a high potential for misuse be placed into schedule 1

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Other synthetic cannabinoid drugs on the market include Dronabinol and Nabilone, which come in the classic pharmaceutical capsule format with the THC compound having been synthesised in a lab to be “identical” to THC. They are schedule 2 drugs, however, and more freely prescribed than the natural flower. The last of medicinal products is Epidiolex, which is purely CBD, and therefore, is not a scheduled drug and can be prescribed by a doctor. High street CBD that can be bought anywhere

falls into the novel food categories and aside from not being allowed to make health benefit claims, does not currently have to meet any other regulations.

What does this change in the law represent then, if there are already products approved in the UK? The rescheduling of cannabisbased products means that full plant extracts and herbal/flower cannabis can now be prescribed by a specialist doctor recognised by the General Medical Council, and as long as the patient is named (5). For example, products from Bedcrocan and Tilray, which come in the form of oil or flower, can now be prescribed but only by a specialist consultant. So, conditions such as chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy (only cer tain types, mainly drug resistant) and nausea from chemotherapy can be treated with the flower.

On February 14 th , 2019, the first bulk commercial expor t of cannabis oil arrived in the United Kingdom from Canada along with an impor t of the first prescription flower from the Netherlands for four different patients. (6) . The primary issue with the process is the cost, with an estimated price tag of £10,000 a year for one patient (7) due to the private prescription and the specialist administrative fees. Looking on the bright side, the fact that cannabis-based medicines can now be prescribed means that more clinical trials can be conducted, and more data can be gathered so that they can be moved up schedule. There is money available from the government

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MEDICINAL CANNABIS

The rescheduling of cannabis-based products means that full plant extracts and herbal/flower cannabis can now be prescribed by a specialist doctor

Doctors want to prescribe but don’t know how to go about dosing, administrating, measuring, and often don’t even understand how effective it can be for various conditions for clinicians to perform trials in humans; however, cannabis is in a league of its own when it comes to being a medicine. The plant is made up of hundreds of different compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids which all play their par t in the entourage effect (8) . Different compounds work together to enhance the therapeutic effects of one another, making it challenging to design a standard clinical trial that the medical council will even consider approving. As a result, very few trials are happening because double-blind placebo tests cannot be employed; producing a convincing placebo flower is difficult to achieve!

Sources: 1.

4. 5. 6. 7.

WHO proposes rescheduling cannabis to allow medical applications. Mayor, Susan. 2019, BMJ, p. 364/bmj.l574. The Missuse of Drugs (ammendments) (Cannabis and Licence Feess). England Wales and Scotland: The Misuse of Drugs (Amendments) (Cannabis andRegulations 2018 https://rebrand.ly/xr8nlq Evolution of the Cannabinoid and Terpene Content during the Growth of Cannabis sativa Plants from Different Chemotypes. Oier AizpuruaOlaizola†‡, Umut Soydaner†, Ekin Öztürk†, Daniele Schibano†, Yilmaz Simsir†, Patricia Navarro‡, Nestor Etxebarria‡, and Aresatz Usobiaga*‡. 2, s.l. : Journal of Natural Products, 2016, Vol. 79, pp. 324-331. 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00949. Medicinal use of cannabis-baseda products and cannabinoids. Freeman, Tom P, et al. s.l. : BMJ, 2019, Vol. 365:1141. The Pharmaceutical Journal, March 2019, Vol 302, No 7923, online | DOI: 10.1211/PJ.2019.20206178 United Kingdom Cannabis Social Clubs: rebrand.ly/snfdn7 Ben-Shabat, S., Fride, E., Sheskin, T., Tamiri, T., Rhee, M.H., Vogel, Z., Bisogno, T., Petrocellis, L.D., Marzo, V.D., & Mechoulam, R. (1998). An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity. European journal of pharmacology, 353 1, 23-31. Sanchez-Ramos, J. (2015), The entourage effect of the phytocannabinoids. Ann Neurol., 77: 1083-1083. doi:10.1002/ ana.24402

The last year has been an exciting year for me, attending many professional events around the globe talking about medicinal cannabis from all perspectives. The primary message being given at these events is the impor tance of education. Doctors want to prescribe but don’t know how to go about dosing, administrating, measuring, and often don’t even understand how effective it can be for various conditions. Surprisingly, the endocannabinoids system is not taught at med school to undergraduate doctors. It cer tainly was never mentioned while I was doing my degree in Biomedical Sciences, either. How are we to expect doctors to prescribe something they know nothing about and that has been demonised for so many years? Thankfully, more education is now being provided, the public is talking about cannabis, and this magical, natural medicine is finally being taken seriously. It may not be a silver bullet that will fix everything, but it is improving the quality of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people’s lives. 3

BIO Dr Callie Seaman is a plant obsessed Formulation Chemist at AquaLabs – the company behind SHOGUN Fertilisers and the Silver Bullet plant health range. She has been in the hydro industry for 15 years in research development and manufacturing and had previously worked on the VitaLink range. She has a PhD in fertiliser chemistry and a BSc (HONS) in Biomedical sciences and loves nothing more than applying this knowledge to pushing the boundaries of nutrient performance.

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BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Veganic

Agriculture

ot a day goes by where we are not warned to take accountability for our actions and change our ways.

Change the way we eat, the way we move, and the way we treat the environment around us. We live in a time where the consequences of years and years of abuse are now becoming very clear; we’re being told to act now, or there is no going back.

An Interview with Bio Nova’s Eric van Vlimmeren 66

VEGANIC AGRICULTURE

“We live in a time where a new veggie burger on a fast food chain menu or supermarket shelf can make headline news”

People are once again beginning to genuinely care about what we put into our bodies and surroundings. The trend is to live ‘cleaner’ and use only the ‘purest’ things possible. New products emerge every day claiming to be all-natural and organic; national dietary guides are being revised to include more plant-based foods and less meat and dairy. As a result, vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian ways of eating are heavily promoted. In today’s world, a new veggie burger on a fast food chain menu or supermarket shelf can make headline news. The Economist is calling 2019 ‘The Year of the Vegan’, with more and more of us jumping on the bandwagon. Although veganism is one of today’s top trends, growing like one is anything but new. Veganic agriculture may not be mainstream, but its gentle approach has long been used to produce fruits, vegetables, grains, and even cannabis.

The foundation of veganic growing is to garden or farm in a way that respects the environment, animals, and human health. Like organic agriculture, the method steers clear of pesticides, chemical fertilisers, and GMOs. But it breaks the mould by eliminating the use of any product obtained from confined animals. According to the Veganic Agriculture Network, fertilisers, manure, blood meal, feather meal, and fish emulsion can all be used when growing organically, but they’re often sourced from CAFO’s and slaughterhouses. Veganics focuses instead on plant-based techniques to improve soil fertility; think mulch, vegetable compost, green manure, wood chips, crop rotation, and polyculture. The motto is “feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plants.” Proponents of the veganic method say the reward is a living soil chockfull of microorganisms that can deliver long-term fertility. It is sustainable farming at its very best.

A Love For Plants “Everything you treat with love grows well. I love plants and always have.” Eric van Vlimmeren has dedicated his life to growing sustainably. He is the founder of Bio Nova, a Netherlands-based company that has been creating nutrient additives and fertilisers for cannabis since the 90s. Although not a vegan himself, van Vlimmeren says veganic growing is his passion.

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@greatwhitemyco

VEGANIC AGRICULTURE

The company’s ‘Veganics’ line of products contain food grade, organic and animalfree ingredients only, yielding high-quality plants

Veganic

Agriculture

“We can feed the crops minerals, but they’re usually full of chemicals,” he says. “Feed them organics, and that’s fish slop. So, four years ago, we started building vegan nutrients, which is the purest possible.” With so much focus on ‘clean’ eating these days, van Vlimmeren doesn’t see why the same principals shouldn’t be applied to growing cannabis. Those crops, he says, should also be free of what he calls ‘garbage’ from the animal industry. “If you want to make medicine, it should be as pure as possible,” he says. “If you take CBD and you smoke your joint, it gets into your body and your mind, so it should be pure. I strongly believe in that.” Especially now, with many parts of the world becoming more liberal when it comes to cannabis. The 59-year-old van Vlimmeren has seen the industry evolve tremendously since first entering it at the age of 16. First, the medicinal market opened up in the United States, followed by the legalisation of recreational pot in Canada, something he says will have a ripple effect around the globe. “If I look back in Holland, [some] lunatics broke the industry down,” he explains. “When it becomes legal, the criminals stop working, so what Canada has done is very smart. Many countries will likely follow Canada’s lead.”

Proponents of the veganic method say the reward is a living soil chock-full of microorganisms that can deliver long-term fertility With the UK now venturing into the medicinal market and more people being able to access cannabis, the Bio Nova founder says it’s more important than ever to treat the plant respectfully. The company’s ‘Veganics’ line of products contain food grade, organic and animal-free ingredients only, yielding high-quality plants. The feedback has been positive, with many growers telling van Vlimmeren they notice improved terpenes, a cleaner taste, and general pureness of the effects. More importantly, the veganic method is all about being gentle on the environment, a value that is very dear to van Vlimmeren. Through everything he does at Bio Nova, he keeps Mother Nature in mind. All of the lights at the company have recently been

“If you take CBD and you smoke your joint, it gets into your body and your mind, so it should be pure. I strongly believe in that.”

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100% Natural Non-toxic to humans Can be used on all indoor plants Insects do not become resistant to a static charge

VEGANIC AGRICULTURE

Who’s Growing What Where in the UK?

See all the urban growers, backyard gardeners, and inspiring communities featured in Who’s Growing What Where over the years.

NEW

visit: GCmag.co/WGWW

Veganic

Agriculture

“I’m a very positive thinker, and I believe in the future, people are going to pick up this way of growing” changed to LEDs; a costly investment, but van Vlimmeren says he’ll get it back in four years. The company runs entirely on wind energy and heats with natural gas, and waste products are carefully sorted and recycled. “It all starts with ourselves,” he says. “We are always voting in all kind of politicians, but that doesn’t make such a difference.” To see that difference, van Vlimmeren believes we need to make small changes together. He hopes to see the ever-expanding cannabis industry set an example when it comes to sustainability in the world of agriculture, and predicts there will soon be more demand for biologically-grown cannabis that is as natural as it can be as it enters the body. “I’m a very positive thinker, and I believe in the future, people are going to pick up this way of growing.” Veganic agriculture is a mindset, and whether applied to cannabis or other crops, the world could use a little more sustainability. 3

Sources: • The Economist, “The World in 2019”: rebrand.ly/vmmbix • Veganic Agricultural Network: goveganic.net/article19.html

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BY FLORIAN HENRICH

Optimising the phytobiome is the key to sustainable agriculture, satisfying our needs in harmony with nature

Phy tomicrobiom For 650 million years, plants have been driving their roots into the soil searching for symbiotic microorganisms and using them to break down nutrients

PHYTOMICROBIOM

W h at T he Hel l A re Mushrooms Doing In M y P o t s ?

hytomicrobiom, or phytobiome, is a complicated word for a straightforward thing: the community of fungi, bacteria, and destructors that live in the root area of your plants. An intact phytobiome suppor ts plants in many different ways, but science is only just beginning to understand the connections between them.

Optimising the phytobiome is the key to sustainable agriculture, satisfying our needs in harmony with nature.

gan using solid fer tilisers by recycling used Agriculture, as it is largely practised substrates and was overwhelmed by the here, is based on innovations of the I began using results, and especially by the quality of 19 th and 20 th centuries and is outdated. the fruits. I worked for several years with solid fertilisers Optimised nutrient uptake, improved various solid fer tilisers, until I finally detolerance to heat and drought, and adby recycling used veloped the recipe that I now distribute equate protection against insects have substrates and under the name FLO. been guaranteed by companies such as was overwhelmed Bayer Agrar and Monsanto, but unforWhen conditions are optimal, plants will tunately, not in an organic way. by the results, release up to 25% of their carbohydrate For 650 million years, plants have been and especially by yield to the phytobiome. Incredibly, they driving their roots into the soil searchthe quality of the donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just randomly enrich the soil with ing for symbiotic microorganisms and fruits carbohydrates hoping that only useful miusing them to break down nutrients. croorganisms will multiply. Instead, they For all of this time, they have been supknow to feed specific, beneficial organplying these microorganisms with the isms. They influence the composition of carbohydrates they generate through their phytobiomes and multiply those microorganisms that disphotosynthesis, and in return, receive the nutrients they solve the nutrients they need. It is essential to note, however, need to live, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. that with the help of salicylic acid, a phytohormone, they can This relationship is known as symbiosis. induce a kind of fever in cer tain root areas and kill the microorganisms living there. Since the late 1970s, it has been assumed that nutrient uptake and the performance of the plants can be improved by dissolving high-purity mineral salts in water with a fixed pH level and then pouring them over the root ball of the plants at regular intervals. After following this approach myself for many years, I had this thought: If you look at the regions with the lushest vegetation on ear th, such as the Amazon Basin, you will not find anyone there correcting the water pH or adapting the composition of nutrients to the separate life phases of the plants. There, the supply of nutrients is ensured through an intact ecosystem that includes living plants, fungi, bacteria, and destructors.

cr ed it:

After coming to that realisation, I star ted to shift my focus from the individual supply of my plants with nutrients to the creation of optimal conditions for fungi and bacteria. My understanding of the relationship between plants and their symbionts has changed fundamentally since then. I be-

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Credit Morning Ear th

PHYTOMICROBIOM

In m y e x p erience, T richoderm a a nd m yc orrhiz a p l ay a cri t ic a l rol e in t he s uc ce s s of orga nic fa r ming

credit: moldresistantstrains.com

The phytobiome also protects plants Today, I understand plants as complete organisms only when they are successfully from pathogenic microorganisms and When conditions connected with their symbionts in a holistic helps prevent soil diseases. Recent are optimal, plants system. Along with living microorganisms, research shows the phytobiome also ear thworms and groundcovers are also used. protects plants from insect pests. For will release up The ear thworms loosen up the soil and comexample, the sucking behaviour of to 25% of their bine the organic residues with the silicates in aphids is influenced by the phytobicarbohydrate yield their intestines to form the valuable clay-huome. Various fungi and bacteria, the to the phytobiome mus complexes. so-called endophytes, also grow from the soil into your plants and up in the leaf tips. They improve the function of Typical ground coverers include clover, Luthe stomata and enable more efficient gas exchange. Other cerne, lupine, chamomile, and more. They are also an excellent entomopathogenic fungi attack and kill insect pests and supchoice for indoor growers, especially clover. The top 5-10cm (2ply plants with the proteins (nitrogen) from the carcasses. 4”) in plant pots isn’t usually interspersed with roots; it is often hard and home to harmful insects or algae. Groundcovers are the remedy, protecting the soil from erosion, loosening and ventilatMycologists (AKA mushroom scientists) repeatedly eming it, and reducing evaporation while also enriching the soil with phasise the impor tance of fungi for an intact phytobiome. nitrogen. Groundcover plants are also known as green fer tilisers. About 30% of living forest soil contains mycelium, such as fungal tissue! To optimise the conditions for the phytobiome, mix 30% coconut with the substrate and make sure it does not dry out. In my experience, Trichoderma and mycorrhiza play a critical When growing with living microorganisms, the soil should always role in the success of organic farming. The length of the be more humid than in conventional cultivation. The result is a mycelium in a single teaspoon of soil can be more than 5km community of plants, fungi, bacteria, organic raw materials, ear th(3 miles), and yet, the length of the plant root itself never worms, springtails, and so much more, making a wonderful home exceeds 20cm (7.8”). for the plants. Trichoderma is a type of mould and decomposes organic raw For my garden, I use the best microorganisms I can buy along with materials with the help of aggressive enzymes; the same enzymes high quality, natural, raw materials; the rest is left to the plants used in liquid products in house and allotment gardens. In myand the phytobiome, which can do what they have been doing corrhiza, a distinction is made between those species whose myfor 650 million years. 3 celium grows exclusively on the outside of the plant root, the so-called ectomycorrhiza, and those species whose hyphae grow inside the plant, the endomycorrhiza.

BIO

Florian Henrich is the owner of Florian’s Living Organics, a company that produces high-grade fermented fertilizers from organic resources in Germany. He also writes articles on organic gardening for several magazines in Europe. He wants people to rethink how they feed their plants, improving their yields without using mineral fertilisers and pesticides.

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WHAT’S GROWING ON

s ’ o h W Growing

t a h W Wh

ere

in the U Kreland & I

Leeds, Yorkshire

Urban Greens

Credit: Nell’s Urban Greens

Nell’s Urban Greens is all about bringing intense flavour to your plate. The city farm grows super fresh microgreens, micro shoots, and micro herbs in a greenhouse and delivers to restaurants, farmers markets, street food vans, and the local community throughout Leeds. All of the produce is grown with the seasons using only organic methods. Nell spends her winters trialling new, exciting varieties and has seen great success with crops such as micro leeks and buckwheat shoots. Her summer crops are designed for chefs looking for unique flavour in their dishes; think micro chervil, a cross between parsley and aniseed with a fresh taste sensation. Beyond new flavours, it’s about nutrition, sustainability, and feeding the local population. Thinking outside the box inside the city. Learn more: facebook.com/nellsurbangreens

Marden, Kent

Fantastic Florals Scent wins over mass production at Chambers Farm Flowers, which specialises in growing unusual and heirloom British varieties on its 5-acre plot. Always keeping the seasons and the environment in mind, the family-run business grows without the use of harsh chemicals or floral foam. It employs a minimal-dig method to support soil life, and the results have been astounding. The once barren, heavy clay earth on the property is now full of wiggling worms! Along with the flowers, wildlife thrives at the farm. The bee population is active, and the property’s pond is home to many croaking frogs and other invertebrates. Rainwater is harvested for all of the farm’s watering needs, and the plant feed is homemade. Chambers Farm Flowers has significantly reduced its plastic use by turning to peat-free fibre pots which have helped ease transplant shock and promoted stronger root development in the flowers. It also means owner Corrina Lowe spends less time pot washing, one of her least favourite jobs! Fresh bouquets delivered throughout the Marden area and slightly beyond. Learn more: chambersfarmflowers.com

Credit: Chambers Farm Flowers

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WHAT’S GROWING ON

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ere

Darlington, Durham

in the Kland U Ire &

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Dublin, Ireland

Credit: Acorn Dairy

You could say that dairy is in the Tweddle family’s blood. They’ve been farming at Acorn Dairy at Archdeacon Newton since 1928; four generations later, they’re stronger and better than ever after officially obtaining organic status in 1998. With their children, Graham and Caroline, Gordon and Linda Tweddle make quality all-natural milk and cream products with traceability. The family’s short-horn cows eat nutritious, chemical-free grass, clover, and herbs, which has been proven to produce milk rich in antioxidants, healthy fatty acids, and Omega 3. They also eat seaweed and apple cider vinegar which have been found to boost the bovine immune system! Acorn Dairy has also brought new life to the tradition of doorstep dairy delivery across the North of England, meaning customers can arrange to have fresh, organic milk in glass bottles brought right to their homes a few times per week. How’s that for a blast from the past? Healthy cows, healthy humans. Learn more: acorndairy.co.uk

Seasonal, Local, Organic

McNally Family Farm is all about keeping things seasonal and natural. Every salad-lovers dream, the farm has been certified organic for more than 20 years and challenges itself to grow something new every year. An impressive number of crops are now grown on the 77-acre property throughout the year, including potatoes, cauliflower, heritage tomatoes, catalogna greens, cucamelons, gherkins, crown price pumpkins and so much more. Anything hardy enough to be grown outdoors is done so, and the ground is rotated every few years to keep the soil healthy. The farm currently has about 50 PolyTunnels where the more delicate and temperamental fruits and vegetables are grown. Keeping things simple, produce is sold directly to customers through food markets and farm shops, and is picked the day before to ensure people are getting ultimate taste and nutrition. Working with the Irish seasons. Learn more: mcnallyfamilyfarm.com 3

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY SIMON HART

The way we farm and develop the land has had wide-ranging effects on fungal populations

A Food Forestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Friends 80

FUNGI

t’s not something we think of that often unless, perhaps, you are Paul Stamets, but the mycelium superhighways under our feet are a critical part of our environment. There is growing evidence that fungi drive their environment, influencing what type of ecosystem builds and sustains above and around them.

The main problem in taking advantage of this is the fact that fungi like a consistent, easy going kind of environment, and humans, well, we create more dynamic circumstances. The way we farm and develop the land has had wide-ranging effects on fungal populations. So how do we square these two ideas? Is there a way to improve the situation for fungi and take advantage of the enormous benefits from having them functioning in our soils? There are ways to reconnect with these fascinating organisms. The first thing to recognise is that fungi are looking for permanence. Most vegetable gardens lead to soil disturbance, so fungi are generally more suited for perennial systems. Enter the food forest - a masterfully intuitive design concept. A food forest is a type of permanent agricultural system that builds a 3-dimensional food-producing space by layering plants together, similar to what you would see in a natural environment. It all starts with an open canopy of well-placed trees up to 120 ft high, such as pecans in rural areas, or semi-dwarf pears in the city. Shorter trees and shrubs surrounded by perennials are sprinkled beneath them and enhanced further with vines, root crops, and ground cover. Food forest designs will generally focus on fruit, nuts, fibre and timber. These types of gardens are slow to build compared to vegetable beds but are more permanent. Because the system is allowed to grow and thrive without much soil disturbance, fungi have a much better chance of flourishing. These fascinating garden dwellers need time to expand, but there are ways to improve their growth.

A food forest is a type of permanent agricultural system than builds a 3-dimensional food-producing space by layering plants together The key to a garden is good soil; the key to good soil is biology, and the key to biology is carbon. Many of us are familiar with feeding carbon to bacteria in the form of carbohydrates, like molasses, but fungi are slower and need different types. A wide range of options are available to the avid gardener: •

• •

•

A Food Forest

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Canopy Understory Shrubs Herbs Roots Groundcover Vines

•

Compost – a standard bullet-proof soil amendment. Compost, worm castings, and insect frass can all provide biology and organic matter rich in carbon. Organic fertiliser – an organic fertiliser will also help with soil carbon levels. Humic acid – the remnants of decomposed plant material, this carbon source is the foundation of any soil system. Wood chips – make sure to age them to let biology start working before putting it into the soil. Wood chips are fantastic for fungi and will generally be full of mycelium in less than a year. They can be spread on the surface or worked into the soil. Biochar – persistent carbon that will not break down over time. If you can find it, biochar will outlast every tree in your garden, staying intact for hundreds of years. It’s like catnip for mycorrhizae. Coarse woody debris – any wood is good wood. If a neighbour is chopping down an old cherry tree, see if you can stick it in your garden. Did some big branches fall off a tree in your yard? Find a place to bury them in the garden. Wood will break down slowly and provide food and habitat for growing fungi for many years. Logs – if you have space and the resources, logs are nature’s nursery, not only supporting fungi but providing multiple benefits to your soil. Whether under the surface or laying on the ground, logs in the garden are second to none for habitat.

2 3

credit: missionEden.net

4 7

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The key to a garden is good soil; the key to good soil is biology, and the key to biology is carbon I have been creating a food forest of my own for 13 years now, and I have used wood in several different ways to build fungi in my 3-acre sanctuary. I was lucky to have an actual forest in the place where I wanted to grow food. The unfor tunate fact was that this meant cutting multiple 120 ft+ trees. The sadness of doing this was tempered by the idea of recycling this carbon into the growth of a new type of forest while keeping the remaining forest healthy. I have built habitat out of wood piles and forest soil; I have buried logs under my pathways and raised beds; I have left logs and stumps exposed to act as nurse logs and have even star ted growing fruit directly in them; I chipped all the branches for wood chips to be top dressed or mixed with soil.

Most vegetable gardens lead to soil disturbance, so fungi are generally more suited for perennial systems There are now eight types of nuts and over 40 types of fruit growing in the forest, alongside more than 200 native plant species (existing and purchased). These are complemented by at least 26 types of fruiting fungi. The wood has done its job by building fungal mass, improving soil quality, and providing habitat for numerous forest-dwelling species beyond fungi, such as native bees. I even had an otter spend a few weeks in a woodpile near the creek one year! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to have a garden that embraces fungi no matter where you live, but it involves being creative (no wood? Maybe straw can help), thinking about carbon (brown layer in a compost pile), and low impact gardening (sell the roto-tiller). Focus on perennial polyculture (lots of variety) and on a multi-storey canopy (different types of plants that fit different niches), and the fungi will come naturally! 3

Simon Hart has been gardening for over 40 years, including work in the 1980s with nutrient film technique and tissue culture. As a garden experimenter, Simon has taken various skills over the years and applied them to his plants, focusing on observation and soil health both indoors and out. Practical hands-on experience has been combined with post-secondary science-based agricultural programs, and in addition to sharing his knowledge with Garden Culture Magazine, Simon continues to guest lecture at local universities and other establishments on a variety of garden topics. Follow Simon @BentleyGrove

Bio

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

ASK A PH.D.

Garden Culture’s

Ask A Ph.D.!

Question: Is there a fungal group that is best suited for use in agriculture?

Answer from: Dr Colin Bell, Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Mammoth Microbes

Arguably, one of the most essential fungal groups to support plant growth in agriculture systems is arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi.

Arguably, one of the most essential fungal groups to support plant growth in agriculture systems is arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These symbiotic fungi function by infecting the outer layer of the root, penetrating the cortical layers and developing arbuscules (i.e., exchange) sites within the host plant root cells. At these arbuscule exchange sites, fungi consume the labile carbon exudates that the plants produce to support fungal growth, while the fungi provide excess phosphorous to the plant that they have scavenged from the surrounding environment.

Under optimal growing conditions, it takes a minimum of 15 days for colonization to occur. This symbiotic relationship is an exchange of nutrients; carbon from the plant to the fungi, and phosphorous from the surrounding soil environment through the fungi to the plant. Glomus is the largest genus of AM fungi, with over 200 known species. Approximately 80% of plant species on Earth have AM fungal associations. Scientists believe that these symbiotic interactions originated over 400 million years ago as these ancient free-living fungi evolved to support both plant and fungal success. It is unclear whether these fungi have plant species-specific relationships. However, only one AM fungal species known as glomus intradecies infect cannabis sativa. AM fungal growth is sensitive to environmental shifts in temperature, pH, and ion (i.e., fertiliser) concentrations. For example, AM fungal infection rates have been

shown to decline significantly with increased phosphorous availability within the rhizosphere. This suggests an active feedback loop corresponding to environmental conditions, which is deterministic of the success of the symbiotic relationship with plants when AM fungi are used in agriculture management practices.

The environment regulates all biology. When using natural solutions in agriculture, it is crucial to understand the function of biology as well as the environmental limitations to maximise success. 3

credit: Western Sydney University

Soil fungi are filamentous, microscopic, hair-like organisms that grow through the soil’s decomposing organic matter and supporting plant growth in both natural and agricultural ecosystems.

Bio

Colin Bell is the co-founder, co-inventor and Chief Growth Officer at Mammoth Microbes. Colin is passionate about science, and received his PhD. in Biological Sciences, specialising in soil microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions. He left his academic position at Colorado State University in March 2015 to launch Mammoth Microbes.When he’s not travelling the world interacting with and learning from cultivators, there is nothing Colin enjoys more than teaching and working with the team at Mammoth Microbes.You can find Colin on Instagram: @colinwbell

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY EVAN FOLDS

with Fruit & Fasting

Humans overeat. Where did the idea that we should eat three meals a day come from, anyway?

FRUIT & FASTING

n case you haven’t noticed, the world is broken. I don’t mean to be dramatic; I’m serious. We might live longer, but do we live better? The developed world eats more than ever, and yet, we grow sicker. We grow plenty of food, yet people go hungry. The U.S. spends more money on health care than any other country,

yet we rank towards the bottom in results. We are more connected through the computers in our pocket, yet lonelier than ever. Something big is wrong. The problems are apparent; they are “open secrets”, but the solutions are few. We have made things so complicated that we have to compar tmentalise them to be able to engage and digest them. The result is “specialisation”, a focus on the tree at the expense of the forest. We’re all in the same room, but we don’t know how to talk to one another.

The developed world eats more than ever, and yet, we grow sicker. We grow plenty of food, yet people go hungry

The realisation I have come to after many years of contemplation and experimentation is that the way we eat is the most powerful tool we have to fix the world. We all need to grow our food to change the food system and change the world. As Wendell Berry said, “Eating is an agricultural act”. Humans overeat. Where did the idea that we should eat three meals a day come from, anyway? The reality is that we are conditioned to eat food in a cer tain way. Here’s an insight I have come to: regenerative health is not about what you eat; it is about what you don’t eat. Over 70% of the average American diet is processed. More than 50% of what Americans eat is “ultraprocessed”, which delivers 90% of the sugar. Our diets are killing us slowly, and progressively faster as we create generational weakness in our foods. Today, one in two people will get cancer in their lifetimes. According to Dr Zach Bush, 46% of children are now diagnosed with a chronic health condition. It’s hear tbreaking. So, “not eating foods” means avoiding things such as fast food or any processed food, but it also means eating less in general. Fasting has now been proven to be of serious medical benefit. One of the main benefits is detox. In the modern world, even the most health-conscious humans are toxic without intention. It comes from seemingly

everywhere; the air, our water, food, you name it. Do a quick internet search for “benefits of fasting”. Fasting also improves immune function and overall health in a holistic way. Fasting allows the body to regenerate itself from the onslaught of the standard American diet (SAD).

I have eaten no meat other than occasional f ish for over f if teen years. But recently, I have taken my diet experimentation to a new level. Since November 2018, I have been practising different types of fasting and following a raw diet consisting of around 90% fruit. Trust me, it sounded crazy to me as well when I f irst considered it, but the results have been incredible, and the clarity and knowledge I have gained through the experience to date have been profound. Through the work of Dr Rober t Morse, I became aware of the impor tance of the lymphatic system. There are two dominant interstitial fluids in the human body – blood and lymph. The volume of lymph in the body is 3-4 times larger than blood, and it doesn’t move naturally like the blood. This is one of the reasons why exercise and techniques such as yoga or rebounding are so crucial to the body. The blood is maintained at all costs at a pH of 7.4 or we die. Everything that might disrupt this balance is moved to the lymphatic system to be removed, along with other acids and cellular breakdown through apoptosis. In the body, the blood is the kitchen, and the lymph is the sewer system. Most of the health symptoms that humans deal with are a result of a compromised lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is excreted out of the body through the kidneys and the urine. The skin is the third

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FRUIT & FASTING

There is a big difference between simple sugar and complex sugar

kidney, so when the lymphatic system is backed up, we can see a range of skin conditions like war ts, pimples, psoriasis, eczema, etc. A compromised lymphatic system is also the root of inflammation, which is at play behind almost all of the degenerative and autoimmune disease that are at all-time highs. Do the research.

Fruits are higher in antioxidants and astringents and will move your lymphatic system far better than vegetables

Fruits are higher in antioxidants and astringents and will move your lymphatic system far better than vegetables. This is why one sees a lymphatic response when fruit is consumed. This was the basis of my diet experiment, and I want to share with you some myths that have been busted for me. Myth #1: We need protein to be healthy. Protein is made up of amino acids. Nine essential amino acids are not produced by the body and are required from our food. Longer chain proteins from animal products are more complex and difficult for the body to digest than plants, and one of the central tenets of a detoxification diet is to mitigate the responsibility the body has to digest what we eat. To detox and regenerate, we need the body to rest. It can take us 3-4 hours to digest meat, vegetables, 1-2 hours, and fruit, less than an hour for most varieties. Sure, you can get all of the essential amino acids from one bite of meat, but you can get the same amino acid profile from a variety of fruits. The goal of detox is to take the burden off of the body. Myth #2: A “square meal” consists of meat, starch, and vegetable. It turns out that the rates of digestion in the stomach have a great determination on the body being able to absorb the nourishment. Eating foods that digest at different rates can contribute to malabsorption. One

way to counter this is to separate fruit from veggies and meat and eat them at different times. Try “mono-meals” where you eat only one thing, preferably fruit. You will feel better and notice an improvement in your digestion.

Myth #3: There is too much sugar in fruit. This is a difficult burden to carry due to our hyper-focus on single ingredients. In other words, the studies that demonise fructose are typically done with artificial fructose or fructose that has been isolated, not delivered through fruit with everything else that makes up a fruit. Rarely do we stop to consider how the entourage effect influences bioavailability and nutrition. There is a synergistic action that fructose has when combined with glucose, polyphenols, antioxidants, fibre, structured water, etc. that is not very well understood. As they say, trust your gut. There is a big difference between simple sugar and complex sugar. Fruit contains fructose, which is a simple sugar. All fruit contains fructose and glucose, but the balance of fructose is highest in fruits relative to veggies. Unlike glucose, the sugar found in abundance in bread and more complex carbohydrates, fructose does not require insulin or extensive digestive enzymes to process. There is also often confusion between fructose found in fruits and high fructose corn syrup. They are not the same. I would love to have a simple explanation as to why all fructose is not the same, but suffice it to say that sugar from Nature is not the same as isolated man-made sugar. Similar to the difference between the poisonous nature of NaCl table salt in comparison with the lifegiving proper ties of sea minerals. Besides, sugar is the main requirement of the human body. Sugar = carbon. That is why we call foods high in sugar, carbo-hydrates.

FRUIT & FASTING

Over 70% of the average American diet is processed

Myth #4: Food is anything that tastes good and maintains life and growth. This doesn’t mean good food should taste bad; only that food science has done a wonder in confusing the human palate.

Pasteurised orange juice from a shelf in the grocery is not juice; it is flavoured sugar water

To illustrate this, let’s look at orange juice. You may have noticed the term “pasteurised” on orange juice labels. It is a nice word for irradiation, which is necessary to make sure the juice does not contain any harmful microbes at the point of sale. The problem is that the pasteurisation process breaks down much of the benefit of the raw juice. Keep in mind, that real juice would spoil in a matter of days on a shelf, which would be bad for business.

The book Squeezed by Alissa Hamilton is an amazing expose of the orange juice industry. The author describes how most of the “Florida Gold” comes from Brazil, how the sugar water left as a result of pasteurisation is reconstituted with custom colouring, mouthfeel, flavours, and even scents formulated by perfume companies. This is how orange juice brands maintain such rigid individualisation and consistency. Beyond this, the FDA allows for ascorbic acid, that is made ar tificially in a lab, to be called “Vitamin C”. As a result, orange juice brands can make claims that they have 100% of your daily Vitamin C per serving in a bottle.

Bio

Evan Folds is a regenerative agricultural consultant with a background across every facet of the farming and gardening spectrum. He has founded and operated many businesses over the years - including a retail hydroponics store he operated for over 14 years, a wholesale company that formulated beyond organic products and vortex-style compost tea brewers, an organic lawn care company, and a commercial organic wheatgrass growing operation. He now works as a consultant in his new project Be Agriculture where he helps new and seasoned growers take their agronomy to the next level.What we think, we grow! Contact Evan at www.BeAgriculture.com or on Facebook and Instagram @beagriculture

Pasteurised orange juice from a shelf in the grocery is not juice; it is flavoured sugar water. You would be saddened to know how often this is happening in our food supply.

So, my diet has busted some myths, but it has also solidified some truths. One is that fruit is the best water we have available. All water is not the same. Dr Gerald Pollack and his “exclusion zone” (EZ water) theory offer a possible explanation for why hydration from plant cells is the ideal way to hydrate the body. I can tell you for sure that when you eat lots of fruit, you don’t carry around a water bottle anymore. Since energy is at the core of all healing, we must choose foods to eat that are high energy, high vibration, have high astringent qualities to pull on the lymphatic system and digest quickly to allow the body the time and energy it needs to clean itself out, strengthen and rebuild, and heal. Fruits measurably have the highest amount of energy of all the foods. The more energetic the foods are that you eat, the more vibrant and healthy you become. Fasting and a high fruit diet is an ideal food for detoxing the body and regenerating health. I’m committed to six months of detox, and then we will see where things go. I’m not going to be eating 90% fruit forever, but I have most definitely changed the way I eat for the rest of my life. What we think, we grow. What we eat, we know. 3

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BY TOM FORREST

Plant Hormones W elcome back to the final edition of Stealth Science! In this issue, we

get to the juicy par t of cultivation:

plant hormones and how they control growth and development.

Photosynthesis, nutrition, and both water and ionic relations are all critical to the structure, ecology and survival mechanisms within our plants, especially under stress. When plants are exposed to varying environmental conditions, it influences their production and use of hormones, thus changing the physiological processes at work.

Hormones inhibit or enhance growth and development while different metabolic activities are simultaneously occurring. They tell the plant when organ development is required and in which direction it should grow. By current scientific definition, ‘plant hormones are natural and synthetic compounds that elicit growth, differentiation or metabolic responses, and they must be active at very low concentrations’. There are only five discovered and isolated hormones and even modern science doesn’t fully understand them. The field of plant biology is always studying ‘new’ hormones with the hopes of adding more to the bunch, but for now, the five main plant hormones are auxins (1880 Darwin), gibberellins (1926 Kurosawa/Brien), cytokinins (1941 Skoog), abscisic acid (1965 Wareing) and ethylene (1924). Auxins were identified by Darwin in the 1880s as he and his son first documented phototropism. They recognised that coleoptiles only bend towards the light when their tips are exposed, meaning the tips must contain the photoreceptor cells. Chemical messengers (auxins), move down the dark side of the shoot to encourage growth. The naturally occurring hormone responsible for phototropism is now known to be indoleacetic acid (IAA). IAA occurs in the highest concentrations, but there are several other known natural auxin compounds (IAN, PAA, 4-CL-AA) and their structure is very similar. You might be more familiar with indole butyric acid (IBA), a synthetic auxin

This five-part series delves into plant science to help you understand why a garden flourishes or flops. Over the course of five issues, we have been discussing the important topics relating to plant biology and physiology, structure and function, covering roots to shoots and everything in between! Understanding the science behind the art of horticulture ensures we can cultivate beautiful, healthier, and more sustainable crops. The Five Classes: • Plant Morphology and Anatomy (see last issue) • Water Interactions • Plant Food and Ionic Relations • Photosynthesis and Phloem • Plant Hormones: The control of growth and development

that is the most commonly sold rooting hormone product in garden stores. It’s quite similar to IAA but has a much better shelf life and light resistance, which makes it commercially viable. There are several other identified synthetic auxins, including NAA, 2.4-D, and Dicamba. Interestingly enough, these can be used as powerful horticultural growth hormones (NAA mostly in tissue culture or rooting stimulants), or as dangerous herbicides (2,4-D and Dicamba), depending on the concentration ratio. Auxins are produced in the growing tissue (the meristematic regions) of the plant and transported via the phloem. They cause a variety of different physiological activities within the plant depending on internal and external variables. Cell enlargement, phototropism, and apical dominance are all directly linked to auxin production. There is a constant movement of auxins within the stem helping the plant to determine organ and tissue differentiation. The accumulation of auxins in rooting hormones leads to the distinction of root cells and the development of ‘adventitious roots’ at the base of the stem. The next group of hormones were discovered in 1926 when Kurosawa studied foolish rice disease. The rice infected with the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi showed excessive elongation of internodes and the plants grew tall and fell over. In 1934, scientists first extracted this fungus gibberellin (GA3), and in 1956, the first plantextracted gibberellins were discovered.

STEALTH SCIENCE

Control of Growth and Development

credit: https://journals.plos.org

Hormones inhibit or enhance growth and development while different metabolic activities are simultaneously occurring.

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STEALTH SCIENCE

There are only five discovered and isolated hormones and even modern science doesn’t fully understand them Today, there are over 136 known gibberellins, and most common plants have around 15-20 different types identified. All the diverse forms are quite similar in chemical composition to gibberellic acid (GA3), and the commercial sales of GA are predominantly from fungus extracted forms. Gibberellins are produced in the meristematic parts of the plants and are transported bi-directionally in the xylem and phloem. Their mechanisms cause rapid cell expansion and the induction of enzymes, leading to increased growth rates. Cell enlargement instigates elongation of the stem and can even induce flowering in some cases. In commercial applications, GA is used to increase tenderness and length in sugar cane and celery, while Anti-GA compounds are used to keep plants short, such as alliums, azaleas, and chrysanthemums. Applications of GA can help certain plant species overcome juvenility or induce flowering, but it drastically varies according to the plant species and application methods. It’s worth remembering that GA and auxins are the ‘go’ hormones, while ethylene and ABA are the ‘stop’ hormones. Still, they closely relate and antagonise each other. Let’s take a look at the history of the ‘stop’ hormones and how they can influence your crops. Amazingly, in 1965, two compounds were discovered simultaneously on opposite sides of the globe. In the UK, Wareing was looking at something that caused the induction of dormancy in winter buds of deciduous trees, while in the USA, Aldicott was looking at the abscission of cotton fruits. Incredibly, they were both investigating the same thing! It’s now called abscisic acid (ABA); it’s not the hormone that induces abscission (that’s ethylene), but it does accelerate it. Abscission is the natural detachment of parts of a plant; usually dead leaves or ripened fruit. ABA induces senescence, the ageing and deterioration processes of a plant and dormancy in certain species (picture ageing leaves on deciduous trees or unhealthy plants). Senescent (ageing) organs contain high levels of ABA and are seen in chlorotic or necrotic symptoms of nutrient deficiencies. Organs under stress (e.g. water stress) will produce ABA and transport it bi-directionally (like GA), where it is metabolised to ‘dihydrophaseic acid’ at the action site.

There is a continuous interaction between the hormones and the actions of ABA. These reactions depend on the concentrations of the other hormones that cause the various responses within a plant. Dormant leaf/flower/bud organs in certain plant species have high levels of ABA and accumulation can prevent seeds from germinating. For commercial purposes, this can replace cold/ short-day requirements in buds and seeds, allowing nurseries to grow certain plant varieties outside of their regular seasons. Both GA and ABA are produced from the precursor mevalonic acid (MVA), and these two hormones act in a closely related correlation for a variety of plant processes. Likewise, auxins (go) and ethylene (stop) have an essential and complex interconnected relationship. Ethylene was used initially to ripen cold-stored fruit from the 1920s. Scientists realised they could pick fruit green, then transport and expose it to ethylene so it would mature closer to market. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Daphne Osborne discovered that it had several other interesting properties. Although it’s a gas that occurs in normal levels in our ambient air (around 5-50ppb v/v), ethylene is still technically a hormone due to its plant growth mechanisms. It is produced in any wounded or senescent tissue and transported via diffusion throughout the plant. Ethylene acts by stimulating degrative enzymes (e.g. amylase to increase sweetness). It also affects the chlorophyll breakdown which causes the colour to change in plants. Interestingly, in varying concentrations, ethylene can be used to break seed dormancy in some larger seeds and induce flowering in pineapples! Its role in organ tissue differentiation prevents photomorphogenesis from occurring, showing a ‘dark’ morphology in light-grown plants.

Credit: BioNinja

ABA is also involved in the induction of flowering, stomatal closure in water-stressed leaves, enzymatic effects, and organ/tissue differentiation. The role of ABA in stomatal closure is a complex and unique property; a high concentration causes the K+ pump to stop, triggering a loss in turgor and the stomata close.

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CLIMATE STEALTH CHANGE SCIENCE

It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a botanical enthusiast; the advances in scientific knowledge are helping gardeners grow superior crop The final formal hormone we need to discuss is the unique collection of cytokinins. In 1941, Van Overbeek was exploring tissue culture in his laboratory in Holland and found that cells would expand but not divide. In the 1950s, Skoog et al. started to examine the role of cell division using coconut milk and how to cause differentiation in roots and shoots. They bought barrels of herring sperm DNA (yes, herring sperm DNA, commonly used as a blocking agent in nucleic acid hybridisation experiments). Skoog and Miller identified the first cytokinin, kinetin, and Miller went onto isolate zeatin from corn which instigated a surge of research in this field. All cytokinins were learned to be substituted adenine derivatives, and there are more than 100 known so far. The production of cytokinins is mostly found in root tips of plants, but also leaves, fruits, and seeds. The compounds are transported through the xylem in the direction of high auxin concentration. Cytokinins bind to ribosomes, which are attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. This mechanism is involved in the synthesis of polypeptides, but unfortunately, that’s more than we can cover in a brief overview article. However, we can look into the different physiological activities of cytokinins and how these are used in modern commercial agriculture. After recognising their role in cell division, the primary use developed into commercial tissue culture applications. We also understand that cytokinins play a crucial role in organ and tissue differentiation; auxins or kinetins alone will have no effect, but when combined will cause rapid meristematic cell division. The required ratio of auxins/cytokinins varies according to the plant species cultivated. Cytokinins are also involved in preventing senescence and abscission, meaning it has an anti-ABA and anti-ethylene action. Applying cytokinins (organically found in sea kelp) will help to retain chlorophyll and delay senescence. This means there are potential uses for slowing deterioration in leaf crops sold in shops. The last physiological role of cytokinins involves its potential release of apical dominance, the process of more energy being sent to the different apical meristems, or tops. It can interact with lateral buds to encourage a more even distribution of growth.

There is advancing study about all of the different functions of plant hormones, and even today, we don’t fully understand the hypothesised ‘flowering hormone’ or florigen. It has been recognised since the 1930s that there are hormones at work when plants flower, but we are just starting to understand the flowering relationship with polypeptides, amino acids, and proteins. Grafting experiments have shown that florigen is common between long-day and short-day plants and is produced in receptive tissues (leaves). It is transported through the meristem to begin transitioning into a flowering bud, although the exact nature of florigen is still a mystery. Photoperiodism and photomorphogenesis both influence phytochromes and hormones within a plant, but unfortunately, these processes and the advanced role of light spectrums is a topic for a future article. ‘New’ hormones such as salicylic acid are not yet regarded as part of the formally discovered and isolated hormone class. Salicylic acid is naturally produced (alongside other auxins) in willow tree bark and has been proven to produce defence proteins and protect against pathogens. Other recent hormone discoveries have shown that jasmonic acid is produced when insects attack a plant, causing a variety of metabolic activities. Different and continuous interactions between hormones mean it is difficult to isolate their individual effects. The control of growth depends on the balance of hormones and the receptiveness of tissue at the site. The quantities of other hormones will drastically influence the effects of applying any further hormones. These also interact with the environmental conditions and individual plant genetics, making it a little bit confusing for farmers. But do not fret; having an understanding of the processes at work will allow you to better recognise symptoms and potential problems in your grow before they become a real issue. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a botanical enthusiast; the advances in scientific knowledge are helping gardeners grow superior crops. This is the final article for our series of Stealth Science. I hope it’s helped you to better understand your floral friends at home. For further information and some friendly gardening banter, please feel free to contact me via Stealth Garden Supplies (Australia) social media pages or our website. . 3

BIO Founder of Indicated Technology Pty Ltd, Tom is a certified horticulturalist and paid consultant working in the Australian medical cannabis industry. After finishing studies in production horticulture (hydroponics) and plant biology; Tom has spent the past 6 years working in the protected cropping space. Tom is passionate about sustainable yet economic cultivation methodologies and also teaches cannabis cultivation as part of university and private education programs. Tom is also the Communications Manager for Stealth Garden wholesale supplies.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY NICO HILL

JMS (Jadam Microbial Solution) is a solution of water, a highly active natural soil base, IMOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and food source; all left to steep together and breed out the biology before applying to your precious crops

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Master Cho’s son has picked up the organic mantle and run with it like some legend

ant a quick and easy way to jump on the organic bandwagon? JMS, or Jadam Microbial Solution, offers a simple method to extract some of the bounties Mother Nature has to offer. No need for sacks of sugar; grab some spuds and you’re on your way!

That’s right folks; Master Cho’s offspring only went and outdid his Dad in an epic show of Darwin-esque evolution that would put even the most ardent ancient aliens’ theorist to shame. After a lifetime of teaching (and maybe some rambling) from his good old Pa (and not in the slightest phased by the pressures of having to continue the family legacy), Master Cho’s son has picked up the organic mantle and run with it like some legend. In doing so, he has opened up a wonderous cabinet of techniques to boost your organic gardening game in the process.

The aim of the game is to get as much beneficial biology alive and well in that solution as possible

Even if you are a hardened, truncheonwielding hydro enthusiast, I’m guessing a fair few of you have, at the very least, come across the concept of compost teas. If you are even remotely interested in reading this article past the hilariously punned title, then you’re likely to be an organic gardening alchemist, or at least on your way to becoming one. Don’t let the Balrog that is commercial horticulture put you off your epic journey; overcome the salty beast and become a veritable white wizard of organic gardening.

So, what have we got here then? The previous reference to compost teas wasn’t just a tedious link to a below average Lord of the Rings pun, which tends to typify what it is we are talking about here. JMS (Jadam Microbial Solution) is a solution of water, a highly active natural soil base, IMO’s, and food source; all left to steep together and breed out the biology before applying to your precious crops. The aim of the game is to get as much beneficial biology alive and well in that solution as possible. As is always the way with nature, the most diverse and active range of life is always encouraged! The whole point of this type of brew is to take advantage of what your local natural world has to offer. Rather than relying on a man in a lab suit breeding microbes in Petri dishes, then to be packaged up with some cleverly spun advertising campaign, why not give Mother Nature the credit she deserves? She cracked on well enough by herself for millions of years without

our ‘expertise’, so I’m fairly sure she might have something of significance to offer. That’s probably the same sort of sentiment that inspired Youngsang Cho when he created it in the first place too.

Not like a cup-a-soup for plants Do not be thinking along the nutrient soup line of things when you see the words compost tea. Trigger-happy tea brewers, particularly those new to it all, often believe that chucking loads of things in and going for an NPK boosting hit is the way, but please do not be so hasty, my friend. We want the biology in the solution to breed, not for it to be stifled by an overly saturated amount of dissolved solids. If you have followed previous instalments of KNF in Garden Culture, you may already even have some IMO’s that could very well make an excellent addition to this process.

Pre-prepared biology aside, the main ingredient you need to make JMS is some soil from the natural world. The soil you choose is really of utmost importance, so don’t go scooping up the first bit you see from the central reservation on your way home tonight. You may need to go somewhere further afield to acquire organisms more suited for plant life. Look for some forestry areas nearby that are thriving; they will have developed a fantastic amount of microbial biology over their many years. Much unlike all the doggers you have probably rudely disturbed on your way to finding them.

Well that’s just some shit in a bucket, isn’t it? Hey there guys – c’ mon. Just because the main ingredient may have been scooped out of your local woods doesn’t mean we should go around derogatorily calling it the ‘shit in a bucket’ method. Yes, the soil you gather from out in the wild world somewhere is the primary factor here, but as long as you don’t scoop us some fox faeces at the same time, you should be ok. So, now you have found a prime example of full living soil from your local woodlands, what else exactly do you need to get this JMS pumping?

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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The whole point of this type of brew is to take advantage of what your local natural world has to offer. Rather than relying on a man in a lab suit breeding microbes in Petri dishes, then to be packaged up with some cleverly spun advertising campaign, why not give Mother Nature the credit she deserves?

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You will need: 1. De-chlorinated water Get rid of that nasty chlorine. It will kill and stifle any biology you try to breed. If you can’t find an easy solution to this, then consider investing in RO filters. 2. Soil From the finest natural regions that you can access. Roughly the same volume/mass as you have potatoes. 3. Some Baked Potatoes Roughly 3 for every 15 litres of JMS 4. Optional additional microbes From your recently prepared IMO’s. 5. Some Salt – 1g per Litre With the recent increase in middle-class douche-baggery, obtaining a natural rock salt is a breeze. Head down your local vegan, hippie-chic shop and let them show you their vast range on offer. 6. Two Fairly Large Cheese Cloths Not with a ridiculously fine mesh. Some larger biology will struggle to get through a mesh too fine, put those bubble bags down my friend – the wrong tool for the job! 7. Zip Ties To tie up the cheesecloths. 8. A stick To hang the cheesecloth bags. 9. A big bag To cover the whole thing and insulate it all.

Get cracking with the knacking Now that you have gathered all the bits and bobs that you need and found a lovely bit of soil underneath your local thousandyear-old oak tree, it’s time to take this biology Mother Nature has provided and start to encourage it to breed. No air pump is needed for this process; it really couldn’t be more straightforward for you to get started. •

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Step 1: Place the potatoes into one of the cheese cloths and gather corners to form a makeshift bag. Zip tie to secure, and attach it to your trusty stick. Step 2: Place the same mass of soil on your other cheesecloth (add IMO’s if applicable). Gather the corner of cloth and zip tie into a makeshift bag. Step 3: Hang two cheesecloth bags in water. Step 4: Stir the salt in. Step 5: Gently massage the bag of soil with your hands. Step 6: Vigorously massage the bag of potatoes to get carbs and starches suspended into the water; you need to mush up the potatoes here. Step 7: Hang the bags in the middle of the bucket – this will create a cylindrical type of current in the bucket, keeping everything dispersed and moving gently. Step 8: Cover the lot with your larger plastic bag to prevent random bits falling in and to help insulate it all slightly. Step 9: Keep in warmish temperature. At around 20 or so degrees it will take about two days. Warmer weather and it will be quicker, and if your temps are too cold, you will need to think about warming it to stimulate the microbial activity. Step 10: Use it! When you come back to look at it, the solution will be slightly bubbly, meaning it has become active. Use it at the peak of this activity! Don’t wait another day as it will start to lose its effectiveness.

One thing that is worth noting, especially when you are searching out that magical local humous, is to make sure you don’t pick up a pest/disease infested handful of soil

Done-Diddley One thing that is worth noting, especially when you are searching out that magical local humous, is to make sure you don’t pick up a pest/disease infested handful of soil. The only positive thing that will come from that is the laughter on your friends’ faces when you tell them your woes of how you just gave yourself plant AIDS because some magazine said it would be a good idea. Anyway, you now have yourself an active solution ready to go ahead and inoculate your chosen root ball. So, go ahead and fill your boots – you might be surprised at how useful some shit in a bucket can be for your garden. It’s one of the easiest methods to get going straight away with and doesn’t require many resources. Minimum input, maximum gain. Thanks, Mother Nature. 3 GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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GREEN PRODUCTS

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Quality and quantity are what every vegetable gardener strives for, and this cucumber and squash trellis is a tool that is bound to please. Available in two different raised bed sizes (1.2-metre square and 1.8-metre square), you can grow clean, blemish-free cucumbers on a sturdy, aluminium frame that can hold heavy loads. The lean-to design makes the most of your garden space, allowing the crop to angle towards the sun while salad greens grow beneath their vines. Large 80mm net mesh make harvesting a breeze! The grille is easy to assemble and folds flat for storage when the growing season is over. Maximise space and yield. Order from Harrod Horticultural: bit.ly/2OgTC6a

Splash Safety Protect outdoor extension cords from rain, sprinklers, garden hoses, and splashes around the pool. The Splashproof Power Plug Socket Protector offers heavy duty security for extension cords around the house and yard. The protector works well with pool pumps, outdoor lighting and fans, Christmas lights, or any light duty tools, preventing electrical shock and tripped outlets. Beyond keeping the cord dry, the capsule also prevents plug and socket detachment by keeping your connections firmly in place. Flexible rubber seals on each end are forgiving enough for cable diameters of up to 9mm. Living outside safely. Order from Amazon: amzn.to/2Yg49Dn

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PIONEER

Grow Books “Two indispensable books” GARDEN CULTURE MAMAPUBLISHING.COM

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Put A Ri n g On I t

Slugs and snails are unwelcome in the garden; make sure they get the message the allnatural way. These copper barriers protect selected plants from the creepy crawlers, which despise metal and will avoid it at all costs.The bands are flexible and easily encircle the plant. One single 40cm band forms a ring 13cm in diameter and 5cm tall. Not big enough? Simply join multiple bands together to reach the desired size. Hook the slotted ends together, rest the ring on the soil surface, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done! The pure copper sheets come four to a package. Kiss pesticides goodbye. Ships internationally from Lee Valley: leevalley.com

Cutting Edge

This tool is so functional you may end up wondering how you ever lived without it in the garden. Initially used in Japan to collect bonsai specimens, the Hori Hori knife makes digging, trenching, dividing, and planting as easy as can be.The ultimate multi-tool is a cross between a trowel and a knife, and the tempered steel blade has one smooth edge and another serrated one - both of them incredibly sharp and effective. Made in Japan, the hand forged high carbon steel blade has a length of 170mm, 300mm including the handle.Your hostas are begging to be split this way. Treat yourself. Ships across the UK from Rutlands: bit.ly/2unPF6I

Spac e -S avvy Garden in g

Short on space? No big deal! Growing edibles is still possible, even when balcony-sized square footage is all there is. VERTICAL VEGETABLES: Simple Projects that Deliver More Yield in Less Space, by Amy Andrychowicz, guides us through growing our gardens upward instead of out.The book offers practical principles to achieving high yields in small spaces and provides information about the fruits and vegetables best suited for vertical growing. It also comes complete with nearly two-dozen DIY projects including trellises, arbours, archways, towers and more. Space should never be an issue. Find it on Amazon: amzn.to/2TWnJFx

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