Everything about pH – Acidic or Alkaline

1. pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of soil.pH varies between 1 to 14. 1 being most acidic and 14 being most alkaline. 6.5 to 7 is considered as neutral
2. pH varies between 1 to 14. 1 being most acidic and 14 being most alkaline. 6.5 to 7 is considered as neutral
3. Plants extract iron from the soil by roots. If the soil is alkaline irons bound to the soil.Depending on soil pH mineral bound to soil particle or make it soluble for uptake by plant
4. Hydrogen ions are found at very low level. 0.0000001 Molar which is (log10 -7) pH7.pH is concentration of hydrogen ions. The more hydrogen ions are loosely available the lower the pH. The soil would be more acidic not alkaline.

Low the soil pH
Soil that is too acid (having a low Ph between 1.0 and 6.0) will show the following symptoms caused by increased availability of aluminum and a
decreased availability of phosphorus

1. wilting leaves
2. stunted growth of plant and/or root
3. yellow spots on the leaves that turn brown and lead to leaf death
4. blighted leaf tips
5. poor stem development

High the soil pH
Soil that is too alkaline (having a high Ph between 8.0 and 14.0) will show the following symptoms caused by the plants inability to absorb iron. Phosphorus is
also not readily available and the micronutrients zinc, copper and manganese are also in limited supply.

1. Interveinal chlorosis- (light green or yellowing of the leaf with green veining)
2. General leaf discoloration

From the ph scale below, certain plants thrive in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline conditions. If you see your asparagus, cauliflower, lettuce, parsley
and spinach thriving you may have more alkaline conditions if your plants like radishes, sweet potatoes, peppers, and carrots are
struggling since they thrive in more acidic conditions and vice versa.

NPK

1. Nitrogen(Thazai Chathu) – Aids plant for growth, atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen but plant cannot consume directly from atmosphere. So microorganisms(punchai vagaigal) like rhizobium in soil absorbs nitrogen from atmosphere and supplies it through root. Adding urea is a form of adding nitrogen to soil artificially. To aid this happen naturally you can use Azospirillum mixed to soil during initial stages of plant growth.
2. Phosporous(Manichathu) – Helps in flowering. Adding Phosphobacteria to soil helps breaking the phosphorus in soil so it could be absorbed by root of plants
3. Pottasium(SambalChathu) – Found in wood ash or banana peelPtotashbacteria

Note

• Instead of directly mixing Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria to soil add 10 grams for one grow bag along with vermicompost
• Note the expiry date while buying. Keep it in a wet place away from sunlight to prevent micro organism to prevent perishing

Trichoderma viridi and Psuedomonas viridi – Both are for soil fixing microorganism. Should be used along with soil or can be used for seed treatment ()

Theymore Karaisal
Ingredients

1. Buttermilk
2. Coconutmilk

Preparation

1. Take buttermilk and get it fermented for 4 to 5 days.
2. Take Coconut milk and mix it with buttermilk. The ratio of fermented buttermilk and coconut milk should be 3:2 ratio or 1:1 ratio
3. Mix both of them together and keep the mix in a warm place in a vessel with its top closed with piece of cloth for 4 to 5 days for more fermentation

Usage
Now the solution is ready for usage. Add this fermented solution 1:10 ratio to water. 100ml for 1 litre of water. Spray during flowering or when the plant begins to flower

Tomatoes

• When you plant Tomatoes, make sure you take out of seedling tray and plant it in such a way 30 to 40 percent of Stalk is in Soil. This helps in spread of more roots and better fruit
• Pruning of suckers should be done at a time where the suckers could be removed by hand. If you are using scissors to get rid of suckers you are late
• Remove the Fan leaves at the bottom of the stalk
• Add 30ml of Panchakavya or meenamilam per litre added to water for 2 weeks. Add this solution near root of plant when the plant is 3 to 4 feet from ground. This will make the stalk grow thick and adds more strength
• Prevent too much of water and abundant sunlight.Pruning and removing the Stalk leaves will increase air flow and formation of fungus due to wet soil.
• Try to grow as vertical as possible rather than making bushy tomato plant
• 1. To get more flower – use wood ash which is rich in potash or use banana peel
  2. Once it flowers – Add 10grams phospobacteria or potashbacteria with vermicompost once plant starts flowering
  3. To avoid flower wilting – Use butter milk mixed with water. Panchakavya could be used 1 to 2 weeks after the plant starts flowering
  4. To avoid fruit burst – Add Mulching leaves to maintain uniform level of water.Water should be uniformly used for growth. non uniform or excessive watering on sudden would leave to excessive growth of fruit and burst since its skin could not keep up to phase of fruit growth.Even excessive fertilizer would result in disproportionate growth of fruit
  5. To avoid end blossom rot – Add calcium(sunambu) diluted in water to avoid blossom end rot. You can also use egg but takes a while to get
     converted to calcium
• Panchakavya and meenamilam helps in plant growth. Spray meenamilam alone once the plant starts flowering once a week.

Flat Beans – Avarai

• Plant beans other than summerdays. End of July or Mid August would be best time to sow seeds. The plant would flower within month and yield till end of January
• Bury asafoetida near the roots to avoid wilting of flowers. This should be done 10 to 15 days before flowring. Once it starts flowering spray they-moore karaisla atleast twice a week. If that is not possible spray fermented buttermilk at the least.
• Add granuels while once you see the plant is about to start flower.
• Spray Neem oil in gap of 15 days to avoid aswini and other pests