khurtekant wrote a new post
3 CommentsI can’t speak much about the “stimulating” properties of any of these products, but my sense is that the bacterial and fungus based products hold the most promise. My only personal experience is with Actinovate, a strain of streptomices bacteria, which is used to prevent root-rots and damping off. I had had seed-root-tip-rot problems in the past, when planting pre-sprouted peony seeds in potting soil for their months-long cold period. But once I started using this product, it seemed to be quite beneficial, as once used as drench at potting, and once again months later, as the first one-leaf shoots began to emerge in spring , I ended up with pretty much 100% success at brining all these pre-sprouted seeds through the summer. For some reason, this product became hard to come by in the small amounts it was originally sold, so I had to switch over to a fungus-based fungicide product, and didn’t appear to have nearly the same rate of success. Whatever the case, my antidotal impression was that at one year, the weight of the seedlings I got using the bacterial product was better than I got in subsequent years.
I suspect the mechanism behind these products is still somewhat mysterious, but the pictures you’ve shown from Don Smith are impressive to say the least !
And a fourth video.
More of Adelman’s peonies, but this time later in the season when the lactifloras are in full swing.
@helmut-dorner informed me about some interesting video footage which was shot at Adelman Peony Gardens in the USA. It consists of two videos actually. The first below is like a visit to their show garden, highlighting some peony varieties in bloom at that time. They are shot name plate first and then the whole plant so you get a good idea about…Read More
All peony roots have been planted. I hope everybody can say the same as Autumn is the best time to do so 😃
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Interesting stuff, Koen!
I’m looking into these kind of things more and more also. Although not so much doing the scientific approach as you are.
Right before last planting (about 6 weeks ago), I dipped all our planters in two products of SoilTech: Root&Shoot (nutrient solution and humid and fulvic acid) and Optima Soil Humi B (humic acid with high Boron). I have followed advice on this from quite spectacular results in other cultures. When planting as late as we usually do on our rather stiff clay soil, the planters sure can use a little extra help settling. I hope to notice some results in spring.