Support Kids to the Country at Whole Foods Green Hills in Nashville, TN

Every summer The Farm hosts the Kids To The Country program, which brings children from homeless and refugee centers in Nashville down to the community to experience a little peace and the joys of nature.

KTC has been chosen to receive 5% of the profits at Whole Foods in Nashville (Green Hills) on Tuesday, June 10th.
Everyone who can shop on that day in Nashville helps KTC! Please tell your friends. Thanks a lot!

Visit their web page / Watch the Video

Farm School principal Peter Kindfield dedicates his summers to be the on-site director of the Kids To The Country program.

Fertilizer by the Numbers

If you examine a bag or container of organic and non-organic fertilizer, you'll find there are three prominent numbers on their label – such as 10-10-10 or 10-20-5. These numbers represent the percentage (by weight) of the three major nutrients plant scientists have identified as essential for specific aspects of healthy plant growth.

The numbers stand for, in order: nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K). Each of these nutrients affects a different aspect of how plants grow. You as the gardener can control the feeding of these nutrients to your plants, and time them to correspond to the life cycle of your vegetables.

The first number is the percentage of nitrogen in the bag. A bag of 30-10-5 has 30 percent total nitrogen. Nitrogen provides plants with the ability to produce more chlorophyll, which in turn allows plants to grow quickly and produces lots of leaf and stem growth. Vegetables like lettuce and spinach are made up solely of leaf growth, therefore benefiting from a strong amount of nitrogen in your fertilizer mix.

Typically vegetables begin by producing leaves and must grow to the next stage of maturity before entering the flowering phase. Thus virtually all plants require some amount of nitrogen. Plants deficient in nitrogen will appear a pale, light green. Generally speaking a healthy plant will have leaves that are a deep green.

These Super Sugar Snap Peas grew over 6 feet tall thanks to some Sea Gull Guano.

The second number in the list represents the percentage of phosphorus. Phosphorous corresponds directly the number of blooms the plant produces. This is essential for plants where the “fruit” is the desired end product, such as tomatoes, squash, beans, peppers, berries and the list goes on.

Plants receiving too much nitrogen and not enough phosphorous will have an overabundance of leafy growth, especially when compared to the proportion or amount of flowers. A shortage of blooms ultimately produces less fruits or vegetables.

A deficiency in phosphorous can produce dull green leaves and stems with a purplish tint. Phosphorus is released through the decomposition of organic matter, an important reason to add fresh compost to your soil.

Potassium helps protect plants from various diseases and can make plants more resilient to drought or cool temperatures. It also serves a role in improving root development and helps in the process of photosynthesis. Weak plants are more suceptible to insects. Therefore a healthy plant with adequate phosphorus is more resistant to insect infestations.

Brix - The Sweetness Number

Brix is a measurement of the solids found in plant sap and in fruits and vegetables. It consist primarily of dissolved sugar along with essential and trace minerals. The Brix level can actually be measured using a Refractometer. A refractometer measures the amount of bend or refraction in the rays of light as they pass through the plant sap. Refractometers are sold as both optical and digital tools. While you may pay hundreds of dollars for a digital refractometer, optical units sell for as low as $35, or up to around a hundred bucks.

To measure the Brix even before fruits have developed, you can place a few leaves in something like a garlic press to squeeze out a few drops into the refractometer.

In addition to increased calcium levels, high brix foods also supply more trace minerals such as copper, iron, and manganese. High sugar content makes fruits and vegetables more flavorful. Sufficient levels of minerals make for healthy plants which are more resistant to disease and attacks from insects. A higher Brix reading is also said to help preserve vegetables, increasing their "shelf life," postponing the eventual rotting by as much as 2 to 3 times.

There are two ways to increase your Brix levels. Perhaps the best and long term solution is to keep a high level of humus in the soil, adding compost both at the time of planting and side dressing or working in more once plants have become established.

The second option is through "foliar feeding." This is where you place liquid fertilizer in a spray rig and apply to the plant leaves in the form of a light spray or mist. The intent is to coat the leaves but not to the point that they are drenched and dripping. Some company's sell a "wetting agent" that you add to the liquid mix which helps the foliar feed stick to the leaves.

Seaweeds such as kelp contain lots of minerals are one of the most highly plant foods for increasing your Brix count. Kelp meal can be purchased in bulk and added to compost, directly to the soil or incorporated in your own fertilizer mixes. It is also sold in liquid concentrates for foliar feeding, usually something 2-3 tablespoons per gallon.

At the same time, you do want to be careful not to overfeed with kelp and seaweeds liquids. The supplements also function as a growth stimulant, and may produce excessive leaf and stem growth.

Foreground: Seminole Squash. In back: Three different plantings of sweet corn. Far right: tomatoes in cages.

both books for $35 including shipping

September 12-14, Seven Springs, PA

Thanks as always for your time and attention!

Douglas@thefarmcommunity.com\